Metallography Lab Technician - Coatings & Testing

FTAI Aviation LLC; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

FTAI Aviation Ltd. in Orange, CA, seeks a Lab Technician – Metallography & Mechanical Testing to perform metallographic, hardness, and tensile testing on thermal spray coatings in a hands-on bench role.

Responsibilities include preparing samples, evaluating microstructure, capturing images, and recording data to verify against specs. Requires 4–5 years in a metallurgical lab, with Rockwell/Vickers and tensile testing experience.

Qualifications

• 4–5 years of hands‑on materials or metallurgical lab experience.
• Ability to interpret metallurgical structures under a microscope and distinguish coating defects from preparation artifacts.
• Proven operation of polishing equipment, Rockwell and Vickers hardness testers, and tensile testing machines.
• Solid measurement and math skills; comfortable with calipers, micrometers, and image-analysis tools.
• Careful, detail‑driven documentation habits and the ability to work independently on a full test queue.
• Ability to follow written procedures and work instructions precisely.

Responsibilities

• Prepare metallographic samples end to end: sectioning, mounting, grinding, and polishing to a scratch‑free finish for microscopic evaluation.
• Examine coating microstructure and evaluate porosity, oxide content, unmelted particles, coating thickness, bond line integrity.
• Capture, measure, and document microstructural images and compare with criteria and standards.
• Conduct hardness testing using Rockwell and Vickers equipment; calibrate and set loads and indenters.
• Set up and run tensile tests, and record load, elongation, and failure mode.
• Maintain lab equipment and records; ensure calibration and safety compliance.
• Support root-cause investigations and process development trials as needed.

Skills

Metallography lab

Hardness testing

Tensile testing

Microscopy interpretation

Documentation & data

Procedural compliance

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate in materials science

Tools

Polishing equipment

Rockwell & Vickers testers

Calipers & micrometers

Image analysis software

Lab data systems

Job description

FTAI Aviation Ltd. in Orange, CA, seeks a Lab Technician – Metallography & Mechanical Testing to perform metallographic, hardness, and tensile testing on thermal spray coatings in a hands-on bench role.

Responsibilities include preparing samples, evaluating microstructure, capturing images, and recording data to verify against specs. Requires 4–5 years in a metallurgical lab, with Rockwell/Vickers and tensile testing experience.