Laboratory Technician

Laboratory Technician - ChemMasters

Location: Madison, Ohio

Reports to: Technical Director

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

ChemMasters (Madison, OH) is a privately held family owned company with a strong legacy in the specialty chemicals sector. ChemMasters manufactures concrete sealers, coatings, and curing compounds used in infrastructure, commercial, and industrial projects. ChemMasters has a nimble, entrepreneurial culture, long-standing customer relationships, and a strong commitment to customer and operational excellence.

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented technician who enjoys hands-on laboratory testing and wants to grow in coatings and construction chemistry. This role is a team-focused member of the quality control department at ChemMasters, a manufacturer of specialty coatings and construction chemicals. ChemMasters is a family-owned, growing company with a positive culture and a reputation for quality products, innovative technology and service. The technician will provide key product testing support to ensure compliance with internal and external standards, with room to grow, including the potential to lead other technicians in the future. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and a team where quality work is seen and valued.

Key Accountabilities

• Product Development (10%): Execute product development support tasks in pursuit of strategic company goals, including formulation development of paints and tinted coatings for industrial applications.
• Raw Material & Cost Analysis (5%): Conduct investigations with new raw materials to leverage supply chain, quality, and cost improvements.
• Quality Control (70%): Test production batches against specifications, flag out-of-spec batches and recommend adjustments, issue Certificates of Analysis (COAs), keep retain samples, maintain accurate test records, and calibrate and maintain laboratory instruments.
• Production Troubleshooting (10%): Coordinate with operations and lab personnel to resolve production challenges, lead root cause analysis, and improve batch quality.
• Sales Support (5%): Support customer complaint investigations and new product launches by providing test data and sample evaluations to Sales.

Functional Role Requirements

• Supervisory Responsibilities: None, with potential to manage technicians in the future
• Mathematical and Computer Skills: Basic algebra calculations, working knowledge of Excel and accurate data entry
• Physical Demands: Infrequently manipulate sample pails weighing approximately 50 pounds
• Language Skills: Comprehend technical industry literature, maintain accurate test records, prepare experimental analysis reports, and generate compliance documentation
• Environment: Work within a manufacturing facility in accordance with standard laboratory PPE policies
• Safety: Follow SDS guidance, chemical hygiene practices, and proper handling and disposal of laboratory waste

Experience Requirements

Must Have:

• 3+ years of laboratory testing experience, or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with 1 to 3 years of laboratory testing experience
• Background in coatings, sealants, construction chemicals or a related field
• Ability to follow SOPs

Preferred Candidates:

• BS chemistry degree
• Familiarity with standard coatings QC test methods, such as viscosity, pH, specific gravity and weight per gallon, % solids, Hegman grind, drawdowns, dry time, and spectrophotometric color measurement and tint matching
• Experience in one or more of the following chemistries:
• Industrial paints and color packs (surfactant and pigment dispersions)
• Acrylic/latex, styrene acrylate and wax emulsions
• Silicate, silane, siloxane and silicone treatments
• Alkyd, water-reducible and thermoset coatings (epoxy, 1K and 2K polyurethane, methyl methacrylate, vinyl ester)
• Cement-based dry blends and concrete curing and sealing compounds
• Experimental design knowledge
• Six Sigma or related training
• Experience with Batch Master or other formulating software
• Comprehension of industry standard specifications, such as ASTM, AASHTO, and DOT regulations

ChemMasters is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.