Chemical Lab Technician I

Chemical Lab Technician I

Date: Jul 9, 2026

Location:El Cajon, CA, US

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Chemical Lab Technician will play a vital role in supporting our operations by conducting tests, analyses, and inspections on materials and components to ensure compliance with industry standards and specifications. This position requires a strong understanding of laboratory practices and procedures, as well as the ability to work effectively within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Follow laboratory plans, procedures and instructions set forth by Engineering Department. Provide data and information to lab personnel, and other customers, as appropriate.
• Deliver technical training and provide guidance to other GKN Laboratory Technicians. Perform testing for chemical and metallurgical sample.
• Responsible for ensuring adherence to acceptance test procedures.
• Responsible for the execution of any customer and regulatory-delegated inspection processes as authorized by those parties. Responsible for maintaining those delegated authorities once granted.
• Experience in using hardness tester, tensile test machine, microscopic evaluation and other related equipment.
• Participate in authorities or OEM audit, round robin and correlation testing and other event when necessary
• Support continuous improvement of production and inspection processes by implementing Lean initiatives.
• Performs other duties, tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in a process control or certification laboratory testing environment
• Diploma or Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Material Engineering.
• Familiarity with lab testing equipments, customer requirement and general specification e.g ASTM, AMS etc.
• Previous delegated product acceptance authority granted by an Aerospace OEM or regulatory authority.
• Knowledge in Metallurgical, thermal spray coating and chemical analysis

Compensation Range:
The compensation range for this position is between $21.00-$25.50 per hour.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further.  And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN.  We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.  It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’.  By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.​
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Nearest Major Market: San Diego