Industrial R&D Technician

Westlake; Leola (SD); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake seeks a hands-on R&D Technician to provide lab and engineering support for product development, testing, and plant initiatives. This role blends practical lab work with administrative coordination to keep lab operations efficient.

You will work onsite at our Leola, PA offices with occasional tasks at Wayne, PA. Training provided for machining, welding, and measurement; and you will help manage materials and project documentation.

Qualifications

• Technical field education with hands-on technical or trade experience
• Hands-on assembly, testing, and lab work experience
• Mechanical and technical aptitude including machining or welding
• Exposure to lab operations and shop environments preferred
• Strong organizational skills for technical and admin tasks
• MS Office skills (Excel/Outlook/Word) preferred
• Onsite only: commute to Leola, PA; occasional work in Wayne, PA

Responsibilities

• Support Engineering activities as the primary lab technician
• Weigh, blend, and prepare materials for development trials
• Assemble and test pipe samples for R&D, product certification, plant initiatives
• Perform machining, welding, and precision measurements (training provided)
• Maintain lab organization, equipment readiness, and inventory flow
• Support prototype development and act as a resource for machine shop activities

Skills

Technical aptitude

Machining/welding experience

Lab operations

MS Office

Organization skills

Education

Technical field degree/experience

Tools

Measurement tools

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples’ lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

The R&D Technician provides hands-on laboratory and engineering support to advance product development, testing, and plant initiatives. This role combines technical lab execution with administrative and project coordination responsibilities, ensuring efficient lab operations and accurate tracking of engineering activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

R&D / Laboratory Support (Approx. 75%)

• Serve as the primary day-to-day lab technician supporting Engineering activities
• Weigh, blend, and prepare materials for development trials and testing
• Assemble and test pipe samples in support of R&D, product certification, and plant initiatives
• Perform hands-on technical work including machining, welding, and precision measurements (training provided as needed)
• Maintain lab organization, equipment readiness, and material inventory/flow
• Support prototype development and act as a technical resource for machine shop activities

Administrative & Project Support (Approx. 25%)

• Process transactions including requisitions, purchase orders, coding, and invoice tracking
• Monitor and track Engineering project spend and related invoices
• Provide limited project coordination support, including scheduling and follow-up (approx. 1 day/week)
• Maintain essential administrative processes required to support site operations

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Education background in technical field with experience in technical or trade fields (e.g., engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial technology)
• Hands-on experience with assembly, testing, technical construction, lab work or similar
• Demonstrated mechanical and technical aptitude (e.g., machining, welding, measurement tools, lab testing)
• Exposure to lab operations, material handling, or shop environments preferred
• Strong organization skills with the ability to manage both technical and administrative tasks
• General computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel, Outlook, Word) preferred
• This is a fully onsite role. Must be able to commute daily to our Leola, PA office. Occasional work will also be required at our Wayne, PA R&D office
• Standard office hours with some flexibility

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position has a transitioning work environment. Office/computer, manufacturing plant. The noise level in the plant environment is usually high, as normal for a manufacturing plant. Some of the work in the operating units may require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel toe shoes, fall protection, hard hats, etc.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here.You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.