Laboratory Technician

Laboratory Technician

NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center

Greenbelt, MD

12 Mo Contract to

Permanent

Description

Looking for an experienced technician to help support lab activities in an aerospace materials lab. This includes some maintenance, testing and validation of systems as well as mixing and lab bench activities for supplies and materials used in aerospace programs. Mixing of two part polymer adhesives in precision amounts is one. Work will be in an engineering lab supporting the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and might occasionally involve some work in a partial clean room. Day to day responsibilities include:

• Will help in the maintenance of laboratory systems and basic lab equipment and assist with all systems troubleshooting, upgrading/ updating and lab equipment maintenance as well as helping with lab supplies and logistics for lab suppliers.
• Benchtop lab technician activities following standard lab procedures/ SOPs, following safety procedures, following reporting and documentation procedures and ensuring that complex materials/ liquids are handled correctly to NASA standards.
• Will assist in the setup of mechanical and materials testing and the execution of those tests and documentation of the testing results. This includes some outgassing testing.
• Will perform routine tests and analysis under the direction and oversight of an engineer or higher level laboratory technician.
• Conduct materials testing per documented standardized procedures (internal, NASA, or industry consensus standards such as ASTM)
• Synthesize data and prepare reports of test results. Reports shall be suitable for distribution to review boards and other community members for access and commentary. The results of these tests should be documented in a complete and accurate laboratory report or memorandum that has been reviewed.
• Adhere to any laboratory protocols established by the Laboratory Manager for laboratories they are assigned to work in.
• Remain knowledgeable on current technologies with respect to the analytical and testing instrumentation they are assigned.

Top Skills Details

1) Experience with the maintenance and upkeep/ upgrading of standard laboratory equipment such as microscopes, mechanical test equipment and test fixtures, analytical balances, vacuum chambers/ vacuum pumps. Experience with mixing chemicals/ epoxies/materials in precision amounts.

2) Experience with a high reliability application like aerospace, defense, biotech, pharma or similar a plus.

3) Experience with standard computer spreadsheets, data recording from tests, data analysis and processing. Must have experience following lab practices and SOPs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Must have an Associate’s Degree in Engineering or related field and at least 1-5 yr of total relevant experience in a lab environment or Entry level engineer or scientist with a 4 yr degree and 0 yrs of experience but relevant exposure from school
• With regards to specific experience, candidates should have experience with as many of the following as possible:
  • Basic understanding of laboratory operations,
  • Basic microscope operation,
  • Basic operation of mechanical test equipment,
  • Basic analytical balance use,
  • Knowledge of safe handling of laboratory chemicals
  • Basic understanding of vacuum pump operation, and of vacuum chambers
  • Basic understanding of operating laboratory equipment including ovens and other test/ prep areas
  • Candidate must possess an understanding of standard computer spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation software packages

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