About this role
Material Characterization Technician
Join University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), where innovation meets purpose in advancing critical research that shapes our world. This position is located at Eglin AFB, FL, supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munitions Directorate, Ordnance Division, Energetic Materials Branch (Characterization Section). This technician will support energetic materials characterization and small-scale safety testing by preparing material test samples, setting up and running repeat experiments, compiling and analyzing data, and performing other related laboratory support functions. Candidate will ideally have experience with general wet chemical and engineering laboratory techniques.
Key Duties & Core Responsibilities:
- Energetic Materials Safety Testing: Sample preparation and repetitive testing to characterize safety thresholds of energetic materials following standard operating procedures with attention to safety and detail.
- Chemical Laboratory Hygiene: Follow guidelines for chemical storage, handling, disposal, and inventory for hazardous chemical operations.
- Data Management, Documentation & Reporting: Data collection, accurately record, track, and archive operational logs with attention to detail; Technical communication to effectively communicate results, observations, and opportunities for improvement to research engineers and program managers.
- Safety, Explosives Accountability & Facility Management: Explosive safety compliance; maintain strict inventory control, documentation, and safe storage protocols for all energetic materials; maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment.
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school degree or equivalent with 3 years related working experience.
- Ability to organize and keep good records.
- Ability to work within a team of scientists, engineers and technicians.
- Experience with repetitive tasks and keeping a clean working environment.
- Effective use of verbal and written communication in a scientific/technical setting.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET level security clearance.
- U.S. citizenship.
Preferred Qualifications: While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
- Associate’s degree in Engineering or related field.
- Experience working in a DoD laboratory environment.
- Experience with sample preparation and data analysis associated with basic chemical and engineering laboratory instrumentation and techniques such as impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge sensitivity.
- Experience with Inverse Gas Chromatography instrumentation.
- Experience with Thermal Gravimetric Analysis.
- Experience with Particle Size instrumentation.
- An active SECRET security clearance or equivalent.