Sr. Lab Technician (Marion)

Actalent; Marion (IN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Sr. Lab Technician to support advanced analytical testing in a quality-driven production environment in Marion, IN. You will lead lab activities, operate ICP-OES/ICP-MS and XRD, and develop robust methods with CRM materials in a fast-paced setting.

The role emphasizes method validation, data integrity, and mentoring junior staff, with a day shift and contract-to-hire path. Competitive hourly pay and comprehensive benefits are provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or related field.
• 1–2+ years of experience operating ICP-OES/ICP-MS, Atomic Absorption, and XRD, or UV-VIS.
• Experience in a quality control laboratory.
• Experience with sample digestion techniques for inorganic analysis.
• Experience with trace metals analysis, calibration curves, and CRMs.
• Solid understanding of statistics applied to quality control and method validation.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety, environmental, and quality standards across all work areas.
• Draft SOPs for equipment and processes.
• Actively participate in safety meetings and identify workplace hazards.
• Operate and maintain ICP-OES/ICP-MS for quantitative metal determination.
• Operate XRD for identification and quantification of mineralogical phases.
• Support analyses with XRF, Mastersizer, or other techniques as needed.
• Develop, optimize, and validate analytical methods for new matrices or materials.
• Prepare and verify calibration standards, curves, and CRMs.
• Perform calibration, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of instrumentation.
• Interpret, validate, and report results in the LIMS.
• Support root cause investigations and nonconformance analysis.
• Provide technical oversight of junior technicians.
• Identify opportunities to improve test methods and instrument reliability.
• Support external audits as needed.

Skills

Analytical lab skills

Data interpretation

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Safety & compliance

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Chemistry/related

Tools

ICP-OES/ICP-MS

XRD

UV-Vis

AAS

LIMS

Job description

Job Title: Sr. Lab Technician

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced analytical laboratory professional to support advanced testing activities within a quality‑driven production environment. This role will serve as a technical resource for laboratory operations, utilizing sophisticated instrumentation to generate actionable data, troubleshoot processes, and support continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will combine strong analytical expertise, problem‑solving abilities, and leadership skills to help maintain the accuracy and reliability of laboratory testing programs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all work areas.
• Support the drafting of SOPs for equipment and processes.
• Actively participate in safety meetings and identify workplace hazards.
• Operate and maintain ICP-OES/ICP-MS equipment for the quantitative determination of metals in solutions.
• Operate X‑ray diffraction (XRD) equipment for the identification and quantification of mineralogical phases.
• Support complementary analyses using XRF, Mastersizer, or other techniques as needed.
• Develop, optimize, and validate analytical methods for new process matrices or prototype materials.
• Prepare and verify calibration standards, calibration curves, and certified reference materials.
• Perform calibration, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of instrumentation.
• Interpret, validate, and report analytical results in the laboratory management system (LIMS).
• Support root cause investigations and nonconformance analysis through detailed analytical characterization.
• Provide technical oversight of junior technicians in sample and solution preparation.
• Identify opportunities to improve test methods, analysis turnaround, and instrument reliability.
• Support external audits as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 1-2+ years of experience operating ICP-OES/ICP-MS, Atomic Absorption, and XRD, or UV VIS.
• Prior experience in a quality control laboratory.
• Practical experience with sample digestion techniques for inorganic analysis.
• Experience with trace metals analysis, calibration curve preparation, and certified reference materials (CRMs).
• Solid understanding of statistics as applied to quality control and method validation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Ability to work independently under pressure.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize and organize workflow in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proactive approach to solving complex analytical problems.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, quality, and accuracy of results.
• Willingness to mentor and train junior lab staff.

Work Environment

The position involves a day shift schedule from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional Saturdays as needed. The Marion facility is currently under construction, with training initially conducted in Noblesville until the completion of the new lab. The work environment will include renovated facilities with multiple lines, clean rooms, and a new 300,000 sq ft laboratory.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Marion, IN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $38.46/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&DD for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Marion,IN. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.