Metallurgy Laboratory Technician (1st Shift) at RBC Bearings in Hartsville, South Carolina

Job Description:

Summary: Metal Lab Technician will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including sample preparation, equipment operation, data generation, and report writing. We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with a strong interest in materials and science.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Safely handle and store strong acids, bases, flammable solvents, and reactive chemicals used in etching, following all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols.
• Maintain accurate inventory of laboratory chemicals and consumables, conducting regular audits and ensuring timely replenishment.
• Assist the Divisional Metallurgist in developing and executing investigation plans.
• Support various departments in determining product quality, process progress, and solution strengths.
• Generate clear and concise metallurgical reports for review and publication.
• Organize and maintain all records and samples for easy retrieval.
• Maintain a clean and organized laboratory environment, disposing of unnecessary items according to established protocols.
• Demonstrate proficiency and competency in operating all metallurgical laboratory equipment.
• Prepare and characterize metal specimens for analysis, including cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing, etching, and photomicrography (as needed).
• Perform hardness and micro-hardness testing on various materials, verifying results meet specifications.
• Conduct examinations of heat-treated materials to assess microstructure and properties against established standards.
• Develop and implement systems for storing and maintaining sample mounts and reports.
• Review and verify the conformance of supplier and vendor certificates.
• Follow standardized procedures and detailed instructions to conduct various chemical laboratory tests.
• Maintain accurate records of production, quality, and time data, either electronically or on paper.
• Adhere to all safety and housekeeping rules, policies, and procedures.
• Contribute to and participate in special projects as directed by the plant Metallurgist.
• Assist the plant Metallurgist in problem-solving activities.
• Be willing to learn and operate sophisticated laboratory equipment for oxygen and spectrographic analysis.

• 
  Sample preparation: Abrasive saws, Bakelite mounting press, cold mounting resin, linisher, polishing equipment
• 
  Microscopy: Stereo & metallurgical microscopes, camera system
• 
  Mechanical testing: Rockwell & micro hardness testers (incl. portable & dynamic)
• 
  Chemical analysis: Bruker spectrograph, Leco analyzer, XRF gun
• 
  Non-destructive testing: Magnetic particle & dye penetrant inspection
• 
  General: Maintain equipment in clean & serviceable condition

• 
  Education: High school diploma or equivalent, plus a technical or associate's degree in a relevant field such as metallurgy, chemistry, or materials science (preferred).
• 
  Experience: Prior experience in a laboratory setting is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Word.
• Ability to learn and use software associated with laboratory equipment, including metallographic microscopes, automatic microhardness testers, and others.
• Strong mathematical skills, including the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using various units of measurement, calculate rates, ratios, and percentages, and interpret basic graphs.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to follow instructions in written, oral, or visual formats.
• Strong reading comprehension and the ability to interpret documents like safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.
• Ability to work safely in a laboratory environment with hazardous materials.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints is a plus.

• The ability to stand, walk, reach, grasp, and talk or hear is essential.
• Frequent bending, kneeling, and squatting may be required.
• Lifting and/or moving objects weighing up to 25 pounds is occasionally required, with regular lifting and/or moving of items up to 10 pounds.
• This role requires close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

• The work environment involves exposure to moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, fumes, airborne particles, and loud noise levels.