Overview:

This position performs a wide range of support tasks to assist technical personnel.  Carrier out lab scale experiments and assists with pilot trails.  Operates and sets up sometimes complex equipment.  Observes safety precautions and follows safety procedures.  Performs testing of samples along with identifying and troubleshooting problems with equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Operates a wide range of sample making and testing equipment.  The candidate must also have the capability to assume accountability for maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment as assigned.

• Ability/capability to perform bench scale experiments and produce bench scale prototypes.  This work involves calculating ingredient amounts, accurately weighing out materials and following recipes to make coating formulations, testing coatings for requested attributes and coating basepaper using lab coating equipment.   The successful candidate will have or develop the skills necessary to produce consistent samples according to an experimental plan.

• Assists with the operation and maintenance of lab spaces, including ordering and managing and handling material/chemicals according to a chemical hygiene plan.

• Uses R&D based computer programs to fulfill key job functions which include calculating coating recipes, submitting samples for testing, managing chemical inventory and maintaining electronic records using the Electronic Lab Notebook system.  In addition, the ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook to analyze and communicate results is necessary.

• Assists with pilot coater trials by helping to make up coatings and processing the resulting paper. The candidate must be able to move coating material bags and containers, lifting to 50 pounds.  This type of work can be for full days, up to several consecutive days. The work also requires rolls to be cut/sampled and the paper samples lifted from the floor to table cutters according to ergonomic guidelines.

• Reports for work during the core hours of 7am to 5pm, but on an infrequent basis, must arrive as early as 6am to participate in tasks such as pilot coater trial support.

• Operates a variety of bench testing equipment in the Print Test Lab.  This requires the ability to qualify and maintain qualification to operate appropriate Print Test tasks, including IGT, SIG and Lodcel.  Subject to administrative controls, the candidate could perform this testing for several consecutive days.  In addition, the candidate should be able to learn and perform instrument calibrations and sample submittals as required.

• Cuts, prepares and appropriately stores sample packages of paper from bench, pilot and mill scale trials.