R&D Lab Technician - Plastics Additives

Milliken & Company; Hilltop (SC); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Milliken & Company is seeking an R&D Lab Technician for Plastics Additives at our Spartanburg, SC headquarters. The role supports sample preparation, plastics processing, and analytical testing across R&D, regulatory, shipping, manufacturing, and commercial teams.

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm with potential outside-hours work. Responsibilities include maintaining a safe lab, handling additives, developing formulations, operating processing equipment, and recording data with accuracy to

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science, or a related technical field (or an Associate's degree/high school diploma with ~5 years relevant work experience in lieu of a degree)
• Hands-on chemical/laboratory experience - safely handling and mixing chemicals, documenting experiments, and operating lab equipment
• Proficiency in the scientific method, critical thinking, and problem solving, with strong math/formulation aptitude
• Ability to follow SOPs and work independently as well as in a team, with strong organization and attention to detail while prioritizing multiple assignments
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of Copilot, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized lab environment and participate fully in lab safety processes
• Handle chemical additives safely; maintain inventory records and shipping/regulatory documents (SDS, COAs) within digital lab systems
• Prepare and organize incoming samples for testing and trials
• Develop formulations and prototypes of plastic resins, additives, and colorants
• Operate plastics processing equipment and support processing trials from material staging through sample collection and troubleshooting
• Conduct pigment/color evaluations and powder analyses
• Measure plastic material properties and execute analytical testing (GC, FTIR, DSC, MFR)
• Maintain detailed data records across digital notebooks and work systems with accuracy
• Analyze data and communicate results to stakeholders across projects
• Collaborate with Plastics Lab, Analytical, Regulatory, Shipping, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams

Skills

Lab testing

Formulation

Data analysis

Documentation

Communication

Education

BS/MS in Chemistry/Engineering/Polymer Science

Assoc. degree with 5 yrs experience

Tools

Copilot

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow's breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people's lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken's curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

R&D Lab Technician - Plastics Additives

POSITION OVERVIEW

This hourly position is part of Milliken's Plastics Additives business, supporting new product and applications development within the R&D organization. The role executes sample preparation, plastics processing, and analytical testing, and coordinates across R&D, analytical, regulatory, shipping, manufacturing, and commercial teams. The position is located at our corporate headquarters in Spartanburg, SC. Hours of work are typically Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, but may require work outside normal hours.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized lab environment and participate fully in the Milliken lab safety process
• Handle chemical additives safely; maintain accurate inventory records and shipping/regulatory compliance documents (SDS, COAs) within the digital lab management systems
• Prepare and organize incoming samples of plastic resins and other additives for testing and trials.
• Develop formulations and prototypes of plastic resins, additives, and colorants
• Operate plastics processing equipment (single/twin-screw extruders, injection molders, blending/mixing, pressure filtration) and support processing trials from material staging through sample collection and troubleshooting
• Conduct pigment/color evaluations (color spectrophotometers) and powder analyses (bulk density, particle size, flow properties)
• Measure plastic material properties (physical, thermal, optical) and execute analytical testing by GC, FTIR, DSC, MFR, and related techniques
• Execute non-standard tasks for exploratory R&D work and develop, validate, and transfer new test methods to the broader organization
• Maintain detailed, accurate data records across digital lab notebooks and work management systems (TSRs), ensuring accuracy and traceability
• Analyze data quantitatively and interpret results to draw sound technical conclusions
• Communicate results through reports; provide proactive updates, flag risks, and keep stakeholders informed across concurrent projects
• Collaborate with team members and coordinate across adjacent functions - Plastics Lab, Analytical, Regulatory, Shipping, Manufacturing, and Commercial - and cross-train with R&D peers to transfer knowledge and bridge role transitions

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BS or MS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science, or a related technical field - OR an Associate's degree/high school diploma with ~5 years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree
• Hands-on chemical/laboratory experience - safely handling and mixing chemicals, documenting experiments, and operating lab equipment
• Proficiency in the scientific method, critical thinking, and problem solving, with strong math/formulation aptitude
• Ability to follow SOPs and work independently as well as in a team, with strong organization and attention to detail while prioritizing multiple assignments
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of Copilot, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

QUALIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• 2+ years hands-on lab experience in a polymer, plastics, or chemical environment; background in the plastics/polymer industry
• Experience with plastics processing/testing equipment - twin-screw extruders, injection molding, single-screw extruders, dry-blending/compounding
• Method development/validation and statistical analysis (DOE, JMP or Minitab)
• Familiarity with SAP or other ERP systems
• LIMS or electronic lab notebook experience

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].