R&D Laboratory Technician - Fire Safety

UL, LLC; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401K

Paid time off

Job summary

UL Solutions’ Research and Development team seeks a driven laboratory technician to support testing and evaluation of fire and energy safety problems, including lithium-ion battery events. You will help design test fixtures, run experiments, and coordinate work with engineers and scientists in a fast-paced environment.

Day-to-day duties include assembling test setups, operating data acquisition systems, preparing materials, and maintaining lab spaces.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 2-year university degree in engineering or related discipline preferred.
• Hands-on laboratory work and mechanical design/assembly experience required.
• Forklift, boom lift and scissor lift qualifications preferred.
• Willingness to train in active firefighting in IDLH environment.
• Ability to obtain SCBA certification; existing certification preferred.
• Strong multi-project management and customer service skills.
• Proficient use of hand tools and power tools; strong communication with customers.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support in design and construction of test fixtures and test programs.
• Designs and builds test setups based on specifications and discussions with engineers.
• Examine test samples and interpret instruments, blueprints and wiring diagrams.
• Develop test procedures per lab standards and safety policies.
• Engage in firefighting activities during live tests under supervision.
• Set and operate data acquisition suites for custom tests.
• Assist scheduling and coordination of lab workflow.
• Maintain clean, organized, and up-to-date lab spaces.
• Integrate continuous improvement concepts into the job.
• Attend meetings and communicate across teams to complete tasks.

Skills

Test fixture design

Lab equipment setup

Data acquisition

Project coordination

Forklift certification

SCBA certification

Firefighting training

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

2-year engineering degree preferred

Job description

The UL Solutions Research and Development team is seeking a driven and team-oriented laboratory technician to work with us on research and testing of emerging fire and explosion safety problems. Many of these problems will focus on the energy and fire protection industries, including lithium-ion battery thermal runaway and fires in the built environment. This role will focus on laboratory testing, logistics, and the design, realization and commissioning of novel test programs, fixtures and apparatus. Day-to-day projects will involve working with R&D engineers and senior lab staff to design and execute custom test programs and services for internal and external clients. Successful candidate will be creative, curious, adaptable to a fast-paced and multi-disciplined environment and able to work collaboratively with a team of other technicians, engineers and scientists to solve complex problems.

• Provides technical support in the design and construction of test fixtures, test rooms or systems and other testing programs.

• Designs, adapts and builds test setups and equipment for new test situations, based on analysis of test specifications and discussions with engineers.

• Examines test samples and interprets measuring instruments, blueprints, schematics, wiring diagrams, and operational instructions.

• Develops test procedures based on laboratory procedures, standards and safety policies.

• Engages in firefighting and fire extinguishing activities in live fire tests under supervision of more senior technician staff.

• Sets and operates data acquisition suites for custom test scenarios.

• Assists in scheduling, assigning, reviewing and coordinating workflow to assure proper utilization of laboratory time and space.

• Can operate with minimal supervision within defined limits of responsibility.

• Attends meetings and uses multiple forms of communication, as needed, to complete tasks, projects, and initiatives

• Prepares purchase and material requisitions.

• Takes stewardship over laboratory spaces to ensure they remain clean, organized, operational, and up-to-date.

• Integrates continuous improvement concepts and techniques into all aspects of the job.

• Highschool diploma or GED required

• At least 2-year university degree in engineering or a related discipline is preferred

• Prior experience in hands-on laboratory work and mechanical design/assembly work is required

• Qualifications to operate a forklift, boom lift, and scissor lift.

• Willingness to be trained in and to engage in active firefighting in full turn-out gear. This requires the ability to maintain composure and make clear and rapid decisions in an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) fire environment.

• Ability to obtain self-container breathing apparatus (SCBA) certification. Existing certification is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining high quality and exceptional customer service.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience using and safely operating a variety of hand tools and power tools.

• Highly effective communication skills and ability to interact with customers

• Demonstrated project experience involving creative problem solving.

• Desire to work in a team-oriented environment

What you’ll experience working for ULS

UL Solutions has been pioneering change since 1894 and we’re still leading the way. From day one, we’ve blazed a trail protecting the planet and everyone on it. Our teams have influenced billions of products, plus services, software offerings and more. We break things, burn things and blow things up. All in the name of safety science.

That’s where you come in — because none of it could happen without you. It takes passion to protect people, problem-solving to safeguard personal data and conviction to make the world a more sustainable place. It takes bold ideas and brilliant minds to build a better world for future generations across the globe.

This is more than a job. It’s a calling. A passion to use our expertise and play our part in creating a more secure, sustainable world today — and tomorrow. As a member of our safety science community, you’ll use your ideas, your energy and your ambition to innovate, challenge and ultimately, help create a safer world.

Everyone here is unique. But we’re also a global community, working together to help create a safer world. Join UL Solutions and you can connect with the brightest minds in the business, all bringing their distinct perspectives and diverse backgrounds together to deliver real change.

Empowering our customers to keep the world safe means thinking ahead. It means investing in training and empowering our people to learn and innovate. At UL Solutions, we help build a better future — one where everyone benefits.

Join UL Solutions to be at the center of safety. To learn more about us and the work we do, visitUL.com

Total Rewards: We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. The estimated salary range for this position is $50,000 to $98,000 USD and is based on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors. This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 5% of the base salary. This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country. We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday and personal days (totaling 12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).

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A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.

UL LLC has been and will continue to be an equal opportunity employer. To assure full implementation of this equal employment policy, we will take steps to assure that:

Persons are recruited, hired, assigned and promoted without regard to race, color, age, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy, marital or familial status, or any other protected category under applicable law.