R&D Lab Technician - Plastics Additives

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

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