Lab Technician - 3rd Shift

Wacker Chemical Corporation; North Canton (OH); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Wellbeing Fund

Hybrid Work Arrangements

401(k) with Company Match

Education Assistance

Career Development

Community Involvement

Job summary

WACKER is seeking a Lab Technician for the 3rd shift in North Canton, OH. The role supports development and optimization of RTV and heat-curing silicone elastomer formulations using lab-scale equipment.

You will conduct formulation screening, performance benchmarking, and testing across hardness, tensile strength, viscosity, and environmental resistance while maintaining meticulous records and compliant lab practices.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; Associates preferred.
• 1-3 years in lab, product development, quality, or related tech experience.
• Experience in chemical, materials, polymer, or manufacturing env is beneficial.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established procedures.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision; strong organizational and time-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support development and optimization of RTV and heat-curing silicone elastomer formulations.
• Compound, mix, process, and evaluate experimental silicone formulations using lab-scale equipment.
• Conduct formulation screening, benchmarking, and comparative studies against commercial products.
• Operate and maintain lab instrumentation and test equipment (mixers, curing ovens, tensile testers, rheometers, hardness testers, environmental chambers).
• Accurately collect, analyze, and document test data using laboratory information systems and reporting tools.
• Manage raw material inventories; ensure proper chemical handling, storage, labeling and disposal per EHS requirements.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks, test records, and technical reports per quality systems.
• Follow safe work practices and process instructions; sample in-process and finished products.
• Maintain 5S workplace organization; participate in training and other duties as assigned.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Independent work

Time management

Communication skills

Team player

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associates preferred

Tools

Laboratory mixers

Testing equipment

Elastomer testing

Rheometers

Tensile testers

Job description

Do you want to take responsibility and make a difference with your work? With your expertise, we can achieve great goals together. We are WACKER - Reliable. Determined. Ambitious. As one of the world's most research-intensive chemical companies, we've been making countless products that are an integral part of your everyday life possible for over 100 years. From vegan food to resource-efficient buildings to solar cells, we develop sustainable solutions that change the future.

To strengthen our team in North Canton, we are looking for you as a(n) Lab Technician - 3rd Shift.

The Lab Technician is responsible for supporting the development and optimization of RTV and heat-curing silicone elastomer formulations for industrial applications. Compound, mix, process, and evaluate experimental silicone formulations using laboratory-scale processing equipment. Conduct formulation screening, benchmarking, and comparative performance studies against commercial products and competitive materials.

Testing and Evaluation

• Hardness (Shore A/D)
• Tensile strength and elongationTear resistance
• Compression set
• Cure characteristics
• Viscosity and rheology
• Adhesion performance
• Thermal aging and environmental resistance
• Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation and test equipment, including mixers, curing ovens, tensile testers, rheometers, hardness testers, and environmental chambers.

Data Collection and Documentation

• Accurately collect, analyze, and document test data using laboratory information systems and standard reporting tools.

Equipment Maintenance and Lab Operations

• Managing raw material inventories, including silicone polymers, fillers, crosslinkers, catalysts, pigments, and additives.
• Ensuring proper chemical handling, storage, labeling, and disposal in compliance with EHS and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining detailed laboratory notebooks, test records, and technical reports consistent with company quality systems.

Compliance and Safety

• Perform Safe work practices.
• Reading, following and completing in process instructions, including documenting work steps and results.
• Sampling of in-process and finished products.
• Maintaining housekeeping.
• Reporting upset conditions and mechanical breakdowns.

Cleaning & 5S

5S is a workplace organization method designed to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity. The 5S's stand for:

• Sort (Seiri): Remove unnecessary items from the work area.
• Set in Order (Seiton): Organize and arrange items so they are easy to use and label everything.
• Shine (Seiso): Clean the workspace and equipment regularly to maintain standards and identify issues.
• Standardize (Seiketsu): Establish procedures and schedules to maintain the first three S's.
• Sustain (Shitsuke): Make 5S a habit and part of the culture through training and regular audits.

The "Shine" step specifically refers to cleaning the workplace, keeping tools and equipment in good condition, and ensuring that any problems (such as leaks or wear) are quickly identified and addressed.

Training Participation

• Enthusiastically accept required training in techniques, equipment and safety and train others as needed.
• Other Duties Assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED, Associates preferred. Must be able to lift up to fifty (50) pounds on occasion.
• 1-3 years of laboratory, product development, quality, or related technical experience preferred.
• Experience working in a chemical, materials, polymer, or manufacturing environment is beneficial.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established procedures.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Collaborative team-oriented mindset.
• Experience with laboratory mixers, physical testing equipment, or elastomer testing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and technical data recording.
• Sound written and verbal skills to share and receive information with a variety of team members and external agents.
• Extended periods of walking, standing, reaching, pulling, grabbing, stooping, bending, and twisting.

What do we offer?

WACKER strives to reward its employees in a fair and equitable manner. Our Total Rewards Package considers employee wellbeing and is comprised of compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance & recognition, and career development.

• Compensation and Incentive plans
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance effective day 1
• Paid Time Off in addition to personal days and holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Wellbeing fund
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements
• 401(k) with company match
• Education Assistance Program
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Support for Community Involvement

A minimum requirement for this US-based position is the ability to work legally in the United States on a permanent unrestricted basis. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, including any type of US permanent residency (e.g., for a green card).

Wacker is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively promote the equality of opportunity for all who are qualified and bring the requisite experience, talent, skill and potential, without regard to age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.