3D Lab Technician Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Schedule: Training will be conducted on a 8 AM to 5 PM schedule. This will continue as long as their training period lasts. Once they have been fully trained, this role will shift to a 10 AM to 7 PM schedule.

Qualifications: HS Diploma Required. 1-5 years of experience in injection molding, plastics, and/or 3D printing preferred. 
Candidate must have some sort of molding/plastics experience on their work history portion of their resume.
 

The Injection Molding and 3D Printing Lab Technician is an essential part of BD’s Digital Engineering – 3D Printing & Prototyping (3DP&P) group and will have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of BD’s next-generation medical products and enhance the current product portfolio. This will be a versatile role working in both the Concept Injection Molding lab and the various 3D Printing labs. Under the direction of the Senior Mold Engineer, the Injection Molding and 3D Printing Lab Technician will operate injection molding machines, adjust process settings to improve part quality, handle and dry molding resins, hang and remove molds, measure parts, perform preventative maintenance on machines, monitor and troubleshoot 3D print builds, and provide quality “finished” printed and molded components to business customers in order to support the 3DP&P groups in their delivery of quality prototype parts to business customers in a timely manner. We are excited to add a highly motivated individual that can adapt quickly and work within a dynamic environment.  

·       Operate injection molding machines including start-up and shutdown of machines.

·       Load an existing molding program and run a pre-developed process.

·       Make minor adjustments to process settings as needed to ensure quality molded parts and to resolve defects.

·       Document process settings using standard template in Microsoft Excel.

·       Monitor visual quality of molded parts and sort according to classification.

·       Trim and post-process molded parts (including sanding, deburring, gluing, part assembly, etc.).

·       Use precision measurement devices (i.e. gauge pins, micrometers, digital calipers, optical profilometer) to ensure dimensional accuracy of prototype parts.

·       Bag, label, pack, and ship prototype parts to business customers.

·       Handle raw materials for injection molding and store, organize, label, and transport material to various locations within the lab.

·       Operate desiccant dryers and dry materials according to material specifications.

·       Operate Sartorius moisture analyzer and test material moisture content level according to material specifications.

·       Operate gantry cranes and perform changeover of injection molds into molding machine.

·       Work with Rapid Tooling Specialist/CNC Machinist and collaborate on mold fitment, mold changeover, molded part post-processing, and overall lab maintenance and upkeep.

·       Monitor, operate, and troubleshoot 3D print builds; clear, reset, and restart printers when failures occur to ensure continuous production.

·       Operate 3D printing equipment, including machine setup, print removal, and routine, rotational maintenance, to produce accurate parts in a timely manner.

·       Perform post‑processing of 3D printed parts using established processes such as ultrasonic cleaning, sand blasting, pressure washing, hand sanding, polishing, and painting while maintaining dimensional accuracy and visual aesthetics.

·       Clean and hand‑finish 3D printed models according to defined standard operating procedures, maintaining feature geometry and verifying tolerances on key dimensions. 

·       Perform preventative maintenance on lab equipment on a regular schedule and execute basic repairs to minimize machine downtime and external repair costs.

·       Maintain proficiency in viewing model files using CAD software (i.e. – SolidWorks, Magics by Materialise).  

·       Perform work following standard operating procedures/work instructions. Work in accordance with Good Laboratory Practices and observe all BDTI Safety and Quality Standards.

·       Wear proper safety equipment where required. 

·       Maintain molding, 3D printing, and post-processing supplies in the laboratory and replenish stock as needed.

·       Perform other duties as assigned. 

·       High school diploma is required.  

·       Experience with injection molding, plastics, and/or machine operation is highly preferred.

·       Proven mechanical mindset with an understanding of fitment (clearance vs interference in an assembly), force, pressure, fluid flow, and deformation is preferred.

·       Experience with hands-on problem solving within a machine shop or lab environment is preferred.

·       Experience with model finishing or a combination of equivalent education and experience is preferred.

·       Experience with 3D printing is a strong plus; examples: Stereolithography (SLA), Carbon (DLS), DLP, PolyJet 3D Printing, and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). 

·       Proven computer experience, including the ability to use CAD software to view models, is desired.

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel).

·       Proven ability to work successfully in both team and individual situations.

·       Positive attitude and ability to adapt to changing requirements.

·       Eager and willing to learn, apply new concepts, and grow into larger role.

·       Organizational skills and attention to detail.

·       Clear verbal and written communication skills.   

·       Ability to lift at least 50 lbs is required.

·       Must be a self-starter

o   The ideal candidate is proactive (for example: if they finish up their current work, they should be asking for the next task and eventually capable of recognizing what those next tasks are).

o   The ideal candidate will be mindful of prioritizing billable work over other tasks and remaining productive during work hours.

·       Must be able to operate well in a team environment

o   Candidates must have clear communication skills (written & verbal skills).

o   The ideal candidate will not be afraid to ask questions or alert others of problems.

·       Attention to detail

o   Identifying defects and sorting parts by quality is critical to team success and customer experience.

o   Identifying machine or mold issues and stopping the machine before equipment damage occurs is critical to reducing downtime.

o   The ideal candidate should be able to identify problems with a machine or a molded part and be able to alert the responsible team members to that problem.

·       Should enjoy “working with their hands”

o   This position is very hands-on and mainly consists of physical work in a machine shop and lab environment while following all safety procedures and wearing proper PPE.

o   Some aspects of the job will involve finishing of small plastic prototypes (i.e. – using sandpaper and files, performing tasks such as painting and dying).

o   The technician must handle plastic parts, material, molds, and equipment and be capable of lifting 50 lbs and operating gantry crane.

·       Flexibility and adaptability

o   The 3D Printing & Prototyping team is focused on customer satisfaction and rapid turnaround time and must react quickly to our business customers’ changing needs and requirements.

o   Assigned tasks for the day or week may change based on new information or project scope changes.

o   Ability to pivot to new tasks and prepare contingency plans to ensure billable work can be completed each day is highly important.

·       Dedication & ownership of tasks

o   The ideal candidate will take full ownership of tasks each day, including the part quality of an accepted job, and see those tasks / jobs through to the end. 

o   The ideal candidate will be willing and excited to learn new things, take on additional responsibilities, and grow in their role on the team.