Field R&D Ops Specialist - Travel, Prototyping & Impact

NPK; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NPK International, Inc. is seeking a hands-on field liaison between our Research & Development team and the crews who use our products in the field. This role involves outdoor work, building relationships, and solving practical problems on active jobsites across the country.

This position requires traveling up to 75% nationwide, a focus on safety, and collaboration with field teams to improve equipment and processes.

Qualifications

• High School degree.
• Experience in construction, welding, manufacturing, skilled trades, field operations, or a related hands-on environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Mechanical aptitude and curiosity for improving equipment and processes.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% throughout the United States.
• Commitment to OSHA regulations and safety best practices.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with field superintendents, foremen, and ground crews.
• Observe operations and gather feedback on daily challenges and opportunities for improvement.
• Identify operational, mechanical, procedural, or equipment-related issues affecting safety, productivity, or quality.
• Translate field feedback into actionable recommendations for the R&D team.
• Support development, testing, and evaluation of prototypes and process improvements.
• Coordinate field trials and collect performance data and user feedback.
• Drive continuous improvement by helping implement practical solutions.

Job description

NPK International, Inc. is seeking a hands-on field liaison between our Research & Development team and the crews who use our products in the field. This role involves outdoor work, building relationships, and solving practical problems on active jobsites across the country.

This position requires traveling up to 75% nationwide, a focus on safety, and collaboration with field teams to improve equipment and processes.