Lab Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Lab Technician

Job Description

This Lab Technician role supports laboratory operations by contributing to product development, color formulation, and production quality control in a quality-compliant manufacturing environment. You will perform hands-on testing, operate a variety of laboratory instruments, and help ensure that products meet strict performance and quality standards. This position offers cross-training on multiple instruments, exposure to research and development activities, and opportunities for growth within laboratory and quality functions.

Responsibilities

• Support laboratory operations by assisting with product development, color formulation, and production quality control within a quality-compliant environment.
• Perform color evaluation using spectrophotometers, light booths, and visual inspection techniques under both supervised and independent conditions.
• Conduct color matching and formulation, including pigment dilutions and both supervised and unsupervised match development.
• Execute laboratory trials such as milling, molding, weighing, and drying of materials to evaluate product performance.
• Operate laboratory equipment including convection drying ovens, roll mills, presses, injection molding machines, mixers, viscometers, and other processing tools.
• Utilize measurement and analytical tools such as spectrophotometers, moisture analyzers, bulk density testers, melt flow indexers, and specific gravity equipment.
• Perform physical and analytical testing including bulk density, melt flow rate, ash testing, moisture analysis, and specific gravity testing.
• Support liquid color operations by performing liquid color matching, viscosity testing, grind gauge testing, weight-per-gallon measurements, and mixing processes.
• Analyze and approve color and product quality using instrumental and visual methods, including final product certification when criteria are met.
• Enter and maintain product formulas, codes, and related data within internal systems and manufacturing software.
• Prepare and maintain documentation such as quality assurance records, test results, safety data sheet (SDS) documentation, and production paperwork.
• Review and adjust product formulations as needed to meet established quality standards and production requirements.
• Identify and evaluate alternative raw materials while ensuring that product quality and performance are not compromised.
• Monitor and manage non-conforming materials, ensuring proper documentation, investigation, and resolution.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with production and laboratory teams to troubleshoot issues and support manufacturing needs.
• Follow all safety protocols and operational procedures, including equipment-specific requirements for drying systems, testing instruments, and laboratory tools.
• Perform quality control and quality assurance activities such as inspections, sample preparation, and wet chemistry tests, including titration and viscosity measurements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of laboratory and quality processes by providing feedback and supporting best practices.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline preferred.
• Experience in chemistry, laboratory science, or related scientific fields.
• Familiarity with quality assurance documentation, including SDS and other regulatory or safety records.
• Experience with inspection activities and sample handling in a laboratory or manufacturing environment.
• Comfort working with color science concepts and instrumentation for color evaluation and matching.
• Interest in cross-training on multiple instruments and laboratory techniques.
• Desire for growth opportunities within laboratory, quality, and R&D-related functions.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with production, quality, and laboratory teams.

Job Type & Location

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

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $24.00/hr.

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&D 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)

This is a fully onsite position in Kendallville,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 8, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 View email address on ziprecruiter.com 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.