Entry-Level Testing Technician

AKRON RUBBER DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY; Barberton (OH); On-site; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Team events

Job summary

Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) is seeking an Entry-Level Testing Technician to support weathering, aging, and durability testing on rubber and polymer materials. You will learn to operate equipment, run established tests, and record observations as part of a growing team in Barberton, OH.

There is a strong emphasis on training, developing skills, and taking ownership of repeatable testing processes without requiring prior polymer science experience.

Qualifications

• Reliable, positive, and ready to learn.
• Listens carefully before jumping in.
• Asks questions and follows procedures.
• Pays attention to details and speaks up when something looks wrong.
• Enjoys some routine without needing every day to look exactly the same.

Responsibilities

• Set up and run established weathering, aging, corrosion, and durability tests after training.
• Load specimens, monitor equipment and exposure conditions, and keep tests running as intended.
• Record observations and results carefully so customers can trust the data.
• Work with a changing mix of products and projects – some routine, some unusual – and learn more equipment as you grow.

Skills

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn

Reliability

Safety awareness

Job description

Entry-Level Testing Technician – Weather & Durability

Do you ever wish you could control the weather? Polymer science needs you.

In our laboratory, you kind of can. We artificially age rubber, plastics, coatings, and finished products using controlled sunlight, heat, humidity, rain, and salt so customers can learn how products may perform after months or years in the real world.

No polymer science experience required. This is a fully supported, train-from-the-ground-up role for someone who listens, learns, asks questions, and eventually takes ownership of simple, repeatable testing processes.

Location

• On-site at 75 Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH 44203

Schedule

• Full-time

What You’ll Do

• Set up and run established weathering, aging, corrosion, and durability tests after training.
• Load specimens, monitor equipment and exposure conditions, and keep tests running as intended.
• Record observations and results carefully so customers can trust the data.
• Work with a changing mix of products and projects – some routine, some unusual – and learn more equipment as you grow.

What Does “Artificial Aging” Mean?

• Instead of waiting years to see what nature does, we reproduce parts of the environment in a controlled, repeatable way:Xenon arc & carbon arc – Put sunlight and weathering into fast-forward using intense light, heat, moisture, and controlled exposure cycles.

  Weatherometer testing – Create repeatable combinations of artificial sunshine, rain, humidity, and temperature – basically weather with a control panel.

  Salt spray – Build an intentionally miserable coastal environment inside a cabinet to study corrosion resistance.

  Heat & environmental aging – Expose materials to elevated temperatures or other controlled conditions to see how their properties change.

  Why it matters: sunlight can crack rubber, heat can harden it, water can weaken it, and salt can corrode what it is attached to. Our customers want to discover those changes before years pass in service.

Who We’re Looking For

Reliable, positive, and ready to learn.

• Listens carefully before jumping in.
• Asks questions and follows procedures.
• Pays attention to details and speaks up when something looks wrong.
• Enjoys some routine without needing every day to look exactly the same.

Training & Growth

You will work alongside experienced technicians until you are comfortable running the process independently. The goal is not just to push buttons – it is to become the person we trust with the process.

WATCH IT > DO IT TOGETHER > DO IT YOURSELF > OWN IT

No degree required. Manufacturing, automotive, maintenance, warehouse, quality, trades, or machine-operation experience can help, but the right work history and attitude matter more than a technical résumé.

Who is ARDL?

Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) is an independent, internationally recognized laboratory specializing in testing, development, and problem-solving for rubber, plastics, and other polymer materials. For more than 60 years, ARDL has helped companies across a wide range of industries turn material challenges into reliable solutions.

Benefits

ARDL offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Paid vacation and time off
• Quarterly employee events and team activities that support a positive workplace culture and employee engagement