Materials Lab Technician

Radiant; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Radiant is seeking a hands-on Laboratory Operations Specialist to support metallography, mechanical testing, and overall lab activities in a high-precision environment.

You will prepare specimens, perform ASTM-compliant tests, and help maintain equipment, calibration, and safety protocols. The role requires strong attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to manage multiple competing tasks in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Experience handling metallography and ASTM standards.
• Safely manage hazardous wastes and operate under fume hood.
• Ability to document testing activities and data.
• Strong attention to detail and time management.
• Able to read drawings, schematics, P&IDs.
• Team player with ability to work independently.
• Maintain calibration and inventory of lab consumables.

Responsibilities

• Support metallography operations involving sectioning, mounting, polishing, and etching of specimens per ASTM standards.
• Perform mechanical testing, including tensile and compression tests, hardness, shear, torque, and bend testing per ASTM standards.
• Prepare test specimens, including documenting, measuring, machining, maintaining traceability, fixturing, and instrumenting.
• Safely operate box and tube furnaces for thermal testing reaching 1000 C.
• Experience with assembling pneumatic systems to support inert gas environmental testing.
• Support material qualification campaigns including corrosion, thermal degradation, and tribology characterization.
• Assist with liquid nitrogen transfers to test equipment.
• Support engineers with equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, complex test ups, and documentation tasks.
• Serve as a calibration custodian of all metrology and test equipment.
• Maintain documentation of testing activities including data logging, event logging, and equipment issues.
• Contribute to improvements relative to workflow, work instructions, test procedures, and equipment documentation.
• Maintain laboratory organization, inventory of consumables, and test specimens.

Skills

Metallography

Safety consciousness

Hazardous waste handling

Inventory management

Mechanical testing

Thermal testing

Calibration

Documentation

Reading drawings

Teamwork

Time management

Tools

Lathes

Mills

Bandsaw

Drills

Electronic test equipment

Sensors & measurement

Microscopes

Job description

• Support metallography operations involving sectioning, mounting, polishing, and etching of specimens per ASTM standards.
• Ability to work safely under the fume hood.
• Safely handle and dispose of hazardous waste substances including acids and flammable liquids.
• Maintain inventory of polishing fluids, etching reagents, and laboratory consumables.

Mechanical Testing

• Perform mechanical testing, including tensile and compression tests, hardness, shear, torque, and bend testing per ASTM standards.
• Prepare test specimens, including documenting, measuring, machining, maintaining traceability, fixturing, and instrumenting.
• Safely operate box and tube furnaces for thermal testing reaching 1000 C.
• Experience with assembling pneumatic systems to support inert gas environmental testing.
• Support material qualification campaigns including corrosion, thermal degradation, and tribology characterization.
• Assist with liquid nitrogen transfers to test equipment.

Laboratory Operations Support

• Support engineers with equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, complex test ups, and documentation tasks.
• Serve as a calibration custodian of all metrology and test equipment.
• Maintain documentation of testing activities including data logging, event logging, and equipment issues.
• Contribute to improvements relative to workflow, work instructions, test procedures, and equipment documentation.
• Maintain laboratory organization, inventory of consumables, and test specimens.

Compliance

• Comply with Radiant's health and safety policies.
• Apply and maintain 5S activities.

Skills

• Willingness to work on unique and complex projects.
• Ability to navigate multiple tasks with sudden changing priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong observational skills.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to source proper equipment.
• Experience with operating machining equipment such as lathes, mills, bandsaw, and drills.
• Experience with electronic test equipment, sensors, and measurement instrumentation.
• Familiarity with microscopes or Keyence inspection equipment.
• Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to read drawings, schematics, and P&IDs.