R & D Tester

LAKE CABLE, LLC; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Cable, LLC in Valparaiso, IN is seeking an R&D Tester to set up, operate, and maintain laboratory and pilot equipment used for R&D, production support, quality, regulatory, and special-project testing.

You will perform tests on production and trial samples, document data, support test protocols and product standards, and assist engineers with prototypes and pilot-scale production trials while following all safety procedures.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to safely work with laboratory or production equipment.
• Ability to follow written test procedures and technical instructions.
• Ability to accurately record and communicate test results.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory and pilot equipment used for R&D, production support, quality, regulatory, and special-project testing.
• Perform dimensional, mechanical, and electrical testing on production and trial samples using standard instruments and established procedures.
• Collect, record, summarize, and communicate test data accurately, including compound moisture, spectrographic, and UL quarterly/annual follow-up testing, as applicable.
• Support execution of applicable test protocols and product standards, including UL 2556 and related industry standards.
• Prepare samples and assist engineers with prototype builds, validation activities, and pilot-scale production trials.
• Maintain organization of test samples, prototype materials, laboratory supplies, and consumables.
• Assist with troubleshooting laboratory equipment and trial setups.
• Create and update R&D, Quality, and Manufacturing documentation using Microsoft Office.
• Follow all required safety procedures in laboratory, pilot, and production areas.
• As experience develops, support broader R&D project work, product-development activities, and design/development efforts.

Skills

MS Office

Mechanical aptitude

Data recording

Documentation

Communication

Prioritization

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma

Technical certificate or associate degree

Tools

Spectrometers

Hardness testers

Microscopes

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

R & D Tester

Quality Assurance Valparaiso, IN, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1211

Salary Range: $23.00 To $28.00 Annually

What would you say to a career that helps keep the world working? One where you take an active role in an industry that literally makes daily life possible for people and businesses alike? Where the rewards and opportunities for growth are as great as your ambition? ThenLake Cable is looking for you.

For more than a quarter century, Lake Cable has been a leading manufacturer of low voltage, industrial power, utility, custom OEM and broadcast-quality cables, all 100% produced in the United States. Thanks to a shared passion and commitment to our customers, we deliver the finest quality products, engineered to exacting specifications. BETTER. SMARTER. FASTER.

Headquartered in Bensenville, IL with over 450 employees and five facilities in the Midwest, Lake Cable is a privately-owned family business. That spirit of family inspires a culture where the success of every team member is a top priority, with competitive benefits and paths to advancement. Our richly diverse team is also committed to sustainability, community involvement, and ethical business practices. Because we believe it’s the only way to do business.

If you’re ready for a leap forward, we should talk. Lake Cable.When Delivery Matters…

Essential Functions:

• Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory and pilot equipment used for R&D, production support, quality, regulatory, and special-project testing.
• Perform dimensional, mechanical, and electrical testing on production and trial samples using standard instruments and established procedures.
• Collect, record, summarize, and communicate test data accurately, including compound moisture, spectrographic, and UL quarterly/annual follow-up testing, as applicable.
• Support execution of applicable test protocols and product standards, including UL 2556 and related industry standards.
• Prepare samples and assist engineers with prototype builds, validation activities, and pilot-scale production trials.
• Maintain organization of test samples, prototype materials, laboratory supplies, and consumables.
• Assist with troubleshooting laboratory equipment and trial setups.
• Create and update R&D, Quality, and Manufacturing documentation using Microsoft Office.
• Follow all required safety procedures in laboratory, pilot, and production areas.
• As experience develops, support broader R&D project work, product-development activities, and design/development efforts.

Knowledge:

• Basic understanding of technical or manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of wire and cable construction, including conductors, insulation, shielding, and jacketing, is preferred but may be learned on the job.
• Familiarity with materials-processing methods such as extrusion, cabling, jacketing, or polymer processing is preferred but may be developed through on-the-job experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook, for data entry, documentation, and reporting.

Skills and Abilities:

• Mechanical aptitude and hands‑on ability to work with laboratory, test, and pilot-line equipment.
• Ability to follow technical instructions, drawings, specifications, and test procedures.
• Ability to collect and document data accurately.
• Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills to manage multiple tests, samples, and project activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Engineering, Quality, R&D, and Production personnel.
• Ability to adjust work priorities as testing and project needs change.
• Attention to detail in sample preparation, testing, and documentation.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to safely work with laboratory or production equipment.
• Ability to follow written test procedures and technical instructions.
• Ability to accurately record and communicate test results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical certificate or associate degree in Engineering Technology, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Experience in a laboratory, pilot-production, manufacturing, quality, or R&D environment.
• Experience with wire and cable manufacturing, polymer processing, or materials testing.
• Familiarity with material properties and testing methods.
• Familiarity with laboratory equipment such as spectrometers, hardness testers, microscopes, or similar testing instruments.
• Familiarity with UL or other industry test standards