Lab Technician Level 1

Job Summary

As a Lab Technician I, you are the foundation of our testing operation. You will receive and log incoming samples, prepare test specimens, run tests across our full test menu, and record the data that becomes our customers' deliverable.

This is an entry-level position and we provide all required training. You are not expected to know laboratory testing on day one. You are expected to show up ready to work, take direction well, and build real skill with intention. Training and day-to-day direction come from our experienced technicians and the Quality team. As you demonstrate competency on a test or activity and a member of Quality signs you off, you take that work on independently.

Sign-off is earned through demonstrated ability — not handed out with time served.

Clear advancement exists for the right person. This seat leads to Lab Technician II or Quality Technician I.

We can teach you how to run every test in the building. We cannot teach you these:

• Dedication. You show up, on time, every day, ready to go.
• Work ethic. You take on the task in front of you, including the unglamorous ones, and you finish it.
• Attention to detail. Accuracy in measurements, in documentation, in observations. A transposed digit or a blank field on a worksheet is a real problem for a real customer.
• Integrity. You record what actually happened, not what should have happened. You flag problems immediately instead of hoping nobody notices. Our accreditations depend on the honesty of every data point.

If those describe you, we will handle the rest.

• Receive incoming samples and verify they match the accompanying work order documentation.
• Log work order information into the laboratory management system: customer name, order number, sample count, required tests, and any special instructions.
• Assign unique identifiers to each sample and apply labels for full traceability through the testing process.
• Stage samples in designated receiving areas, organized by work order and priority.
• Immediately flag any discrepancy between sample condition and the work order — wrong quantity, damaged parts, missing specifications.

• Prepare test specimens by cutting, grinding, mounting, and polishing as required by the applicable test standard.
• Confirm sample preparation meets specification requirements before handoff: no defects, correct dimensions, proper surface condition.
• Prepare test panels for process qualification work including anodize, plating (electroless nickel, zinc, cadmium, chrome), and chemical film tank qualifications.
• Maintain organized staging of prepared samples linked to their work orders throughout the prep process.
• Keep prep areas, tools, and equipment clean and organized at all times.

• Perform tests according to industry standards (ASTM, AMS) and customer specifications.
• Work under direct guidance while learning each test.
• Once Quality has signed off on your competency for a specific test or activity, perform it independently going forward.
• Follow all specified conditions and parameters exactly, and flag deviations immediately.

• Record all required data on the applicable test worksheet: sample , test parameters, equipment used, environmental conditions, start and stop times, and raw observations.
• Keep worksheets legible, complete, and accurate. No blank fields. No approximations without notation.
• Record data only — determinations are made by the Quality team, not at the Level I position.
• Report anomalies, parameter deviations, and unusual observations immediately, and document them on the worksheet.

• Operate all lab equipment according to established procedures and manufacturer…