Metallography & Coatings Lab Technician

ADP; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

FTAI Aviation Ltd. is seeking a Lab Technician for metallography and mechanical testing in Orange, CA.

The role focuses on evaluating thermal spray coatings, including tungsten carbide, aluminum bronze, and chrome carbide, through sectioning, polishing, microscopy, and mechanical tests. The candidate will perform metallographic preparation, microstructural analysis, hardness testing, and tensile testing, ensuring data accuracy and adherence to specifications in a full-time on-site laboratory

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in a metallurgical lab environment.
• Ability to interpret metallurgical structures under a microscope.
• Proficiency with hardness testing (Rockwell/Vickers) and tensile testing equipment.
• Strong measurement, caliper/micrometer use, and data documentation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare metallographic samples end to end (sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing).
• Examine coating microstructure and evaluate porosity, oxide content, and thickness.
• Capture and document microstructural images; compare to criteria and standards.
• Conduct hardness testing and ensure proper loads and indenters.
• Set up tensile tests and record load, elongation, and failure mode.
• Maintain lab equipment, calibration records, and safety procedures.
• Generate test reports and flag nonconforming results.

Skills

Metallurgical testing

Microscopy analysis

Data recording

Independent work

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate in materials science

Tools

Rockwell hardness tester

Vickers hardness tester

Tensile tester

Polishing equipment

Job description

FTAI Aviation Ltd. is seeking a Lab Technician for metallography and mechanical testing in Orange, CA.

The role focuses on evaluating thermal spray coatings, including tungsten carbide, aluminum bronze, and chrome carbide, through sectioning, polishing, microscopy, and mechanical tests. The candidate will perform metallographic preparation, microstructural analysis, hardness testing, and tensile testing, ensuring data accuracy and adherence to specifications in a full-time on-site laboratory