Laboratory Technician

Lab Technician

At Libbey, we are MAKERS. No matter what you do at Libbey, you contribute to the making of the finest glass and tabletop products in the world. At Libbey, your valuable impact makes a difference and together we live our legacy while shaping our future to win as one!

LIBBEY: For Makers, By Makers. Since 1818!

Libbey's Lab Technician supports the Physical-Chemical Laboratory by performing technical and administrative tasks, including physical and chemical analyses of finished and in-process products when required. Verify raw material quality and report results that support glass manufacturing quality control.

Responsibilities

Operational

• Collaborate daily with batch, furnace, production, and quality control teams to provide updates, reports, and recommended actions.
• Perform daily physical and color analyses to support Toledo plant production.
• Manage the laboratory budget and ensure equipment, reagents, and consumables are stocked, maintained, and available for use.
• Develop and maintain knowledge libraries to support training and knowledge transfer.

Decision-Making Authority

Key areas delegated for independent decision-making include:

• Validate physical and color analysis results and determine when repeat testing is required.
• Place and monitor orders for reagents and consumables to prevent interruptions in physicochemical analyses.
• Coordinate communication with internal and external laboratories.
• Lead, influence and empower the organization to fulfill our purpose (living our legacy, shaping our future, and winning as one).
• Cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture where associates can thrive, make us better and fuel ideas/innovations to ensure our long-term success.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Associate degree in Technical Studies or related field.
• At least 1 year of work experience.
• Basic knowledge of analytical chemistry and analytical instrumentation.
• Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Self-motivated and able to manage assigned work with limited direction.
• Flexible schedule, including weekend availability when special circumstances require it.
• Proficiency with Microsoft products, including Word, Excel, Power BI, Copilot, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel to the Libbey Mexico facility once per year.

Industry Specific Training

• Libbey will provide this training; prior glass-specific experience is not required.
• Raw materials used in tableware glass production, including chemical and physical properties.
• Glass physical property analysis, including density, seed counts, blister counts, stone identification, and fracture analysis.
• Glass optical property analysis, including color measurement.
• Operation of laboratory equipment, including UV-visible spectrophotometers, analytical balances, optical microscopes, and wire cutters.
• Basic glass materials and manufacturing processes.
• Raw material supplier visits.
• Internal and external glass-specific training opportunities

Competencies For Success

• Be Accountable: hold yourself responsible for achieving your goals and successfully executing against the organization's initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: act with curiosity, proactively identifying and implementing changes to enhance work processes and outcomes. Consistently seek opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, and overall effectiveness.

Libbey is an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer. We are committed to an inclusive workplace, free of harassment and discrimination.