Metallurgical Lab Technician

Jobtailor

Macomb (MO)

On-site

USD 55,000 - 85,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Triumph Group is seeking a Metallurgical Lab Technician to support aerospace lab operations, including sample preparation, hardness testing, and documentation. You will manage test pieces, maintain traceability, and ensure compliance with internal procedures and customer specifications.

The role requires following ASTM/AMS methods, maintaining lab cleanliness, and assisting with audits and training to uphold NADCAP standards in a high-precision environment.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Technical certificate, associate degree, or relevant manufacturing/laboratory experience preferred.
Experience in aerospace manufacturing, heat treat, materials testing, quality inspection, machining, or metallurgical sample preparation preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare metallurgical samples for evaluation and documentation.
Perform Rockwell hardness testing with daily verification and proper technique.
Maintain accurate records and traceability for all test pieces and paperwork.

Skills

Metallurgical Testing

Rockwell Hardness Testing

Specimen Preparation

ASTM/AMS Test Methods

Part Traceability

FOD Control

Basic Shop Math

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree in relevant field

Tools

Automatic Cut-Off Saw

Rockwell Hardness Tester

Vickers Microhardness Equipment

Microscopes

Visual Production Systems

Job description

The Metallurgical Lab Technician supports daily metallurgical laboratory operations for aerospace manufacturing, heat treat verification, and customer-required laboratory testing.
This position is responsible for preparing test specimens, controlling test-piece flow, performing defined laboratory checks, maintaining records, and supporting metallurgical evaluations in accordance with internal procedures, customer requirements, applicable ASTM/AMS standards, and Nadcap Materials Testing Laboratory expectations.
Perform daily check-in of product received from Heat Treat, including review of work order books, verification of part counts, confirmation of test-piece or sectioned-piece quantities, and update of applicable operations.
Manage test pieces, coupons, carbon bars, v-notches, and other laboratory samples, including procurement, tracking, stamping, routing, staging, retrieval, and control of samples needed for current work orders and future testing.
Stamp or sign off assigned operations only when work has been completed in accordance with the applicable router, work instruction, customer requirement, and internal authorization.
Support product movement through the metallurgical lab and onward to the next operation, ensuring that parts, test pieces, and paperwork remain properly identified and traceable.
Enter MS1 splits, close out assigned operations in Visual or other production systems and maintain accurate status visibility for jobs requiring metallurgical laboratory processing.
Perform routine FOD removal, maintain laboratory cleanliness, and ensure that work areas, test pieces, containers, saws, and support equipment are kept in a condition suitable for aerospace product handling.
Perform designated Rockwell hardness testing, including daily verification, verification record completion, proper scale selection, part support, test location control, and escalation of suspect or invalid results.
Review, file, retrieve, and organize certifications, heat treat records, x-ray records, test records, and other supporting documentation required for product traceability and customer shipment packages.
Collect and archive test coupons, heat treat certs, x-ray material & reports according to work order numbers, label boxes, organize records, and archive documentation so that records can be retrieved efficiently during audits, investigations, or customer reviews.
Operate the automatic cut-off saw for approved sectioning activities, including setup, part identification, controlled cutting, coolant checks, swarf removal, and cleaning after use.
Perform routine saw maintenance and housekeeping, including weekly cleaning, coolant filling, and removal of accumulated swarf or debris.
Section customer, or internal test parts in accordance with approved instructions, maintaining orientation, location, identification, and traceability of all metallurgical samples.
Prepare metallographic samples for evaluation, including mounting, grinding, polishing, cleaning, and preservation of areas of interest such as case depth, IGO/IGA, white layer, nitrided layers, carburized/decarburized regions, and coating or near-surface features.
Maintain proper sample identification throughout preparation, testing, evaluation, storage, and disposal.
Conduct white layer removal, IGO/IGA sample evaluations on site at vendor location, then perform customer-specific metallurgical cut-up evaluations on said samples.
Document actual test readings, verification results, specimen preparation details, etchants used when applicable, equipment identification, and other required information on laboratory forms or electronic systems.
Assist with certificate generation, customer documentation, and material verification activities for customer-specific work packages.
Support internal audits, NADCAP self-audits, customer audits, job audits, and observation-of-test activities by maintaining complete, organized, and retrievable laboratory records.
Participate in training, qualification, competency checks, internal round robin testing, proficiency testing support, and other activities required to demonstrate laboratory competence.
Escalate nonconforming conditions, suspect data, damaged samples, missing paperwork, equipment concerns, calibration issues, traceability breaks, or unclear requirements to the Metallurgical Engineer, Quality, or supervision before proceeding.
Assures product quality and manufacturing accuracy by properly using inspection equipment
Maintains product quality documentation by keeping accurate records and files, such as Material Certifications, First Article Inspection Reports (AS9102), Inspection Method Sheets (IMS), First Piece Inspection Read and interpret aerospace blueprints and geometrical tolerancing
Has knowledge in the use of all types of standard inspection measurement equipment, such as micrometers, dial bore gauges, internal and external thread gauges, use of sine plates and indicators.
Inspection process can involve use of various chemicals and solvents
Contributes to cost-effective operations by troubleshooting equipment and makes recommendations for new or replacement parts and/or equipment
Solves problems by working closely with suppliers
Contributes to team effort by maintaining a positive attitude
Train other inspectors (or operators) as required in inspection methods
Complies with all company policies and procedures
Fosters positive relationships with internal and external customers
Ensures adherence to applicable Triumph Group internal, federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to compliance and takes responsibility to ensure ongoing conformity with such rules and regulations

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certificate, associate degree, or relevant manufacturing/laboratory experience preferred.
Experience in aerospace manufacturing, heat treat, materials testing, quality inspection, machining, or metallurgical sample preparation preferred.
Ability to follow written work instructions, laboratory procedures, customer specifications, and ASTM/AMS-based test methods.
Ability to maintain accurate records, perform basic shop math, understand part traceability, and work within production systems such as Visual, Job Tracker and Visual Plus.
Ability to handle customer hardware carefully and maintain FOD control, cleanliness, sample identity, and work order discipline.
Ability to use or learn laboratory equipment such as automatic cut-off saws, mounting equipment, grinders/polishers, Rockwell hardness testers, Vickers microhardness equipment, microscopes, and related measuring equipment.
Formal metallurgical laboratory training and documented qualification are required before independently performing higher-level technical tasks such as hardness testing, microhardness verification, metallographic preparation, white layer preparation, IGO/IGA preparation/evaluation, or other NADCAP-controlled laboratory activities.
Training will be provided.
Must be able to recognize when a result, sample condition, or process condition is abnormal and stop work or eliminate the issue before product acceptance is affected.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in metallurgical laboratory operations, including specimen preparation, testing, and compliance with ASTM/AMS standards. Proficient in using laboratory equipment and maintaining accurate records for aerospace manufacturing and quality inspection.

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