Lab Associate Jobs in Kokomo, IN (NOW HIRING)

PURPOSE

This role specializes in overseeing, mentoring, leadership, and advanced technical expertise in the operation, maintenance, and optimization of laboratory equipment and processes to support the organization in engineering experimentation and analysis.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Interpret internal and external customer requirements to meet desired outputs while suggesting alternatives.

• Participate in technical product evaluations by assisting with equipment selection and data acquisition capabilities of the equipment.

• Communicate technical knowledge, specification, and business direction to an extended audience of internal and external customers.

• Document laboratory operation, maintenance, and protocols accurately and comprehensively.

• Monitor and manage inventory levels of laboratory supplies and equipment parts.

• Define, create, and provide training on laboratory procedures and equipment.

• Install, manage and maintain laboratory equipment, including calibration, troubleshooting, and coordinating repairs of complex equipment issues.

• Research and report equipment upgrade and advancements, including lifecycle and prioritization, for the organization to consider.

• Define, create, and implement laboratory procedures that comply with relevant standards, regulations, and safety protocols while staying informed of regulatory changes and updating procedures accordingly.

• Ensure laboratory operations comply with relevant standards, regulations, and safety protocols.

• Read, interpret, and create pneumatic and electrical schematics.

• Assist and mentor in building circuits for test set-ups and data acquisition.

• Troubleshoot pneumatic and electrical circuits.

• Create and input data utilizing corporate management system software that include drawings, equipment documentation, operations manuals, quotes, and procedure documentation.

• Perform guided and/or independent research on a variety of topics and provide summarized data results.

• Complete assigned tasks while providing suggestions for improving departmental processes.

• Hands on technical support for an extended audience (technical and non-technical) of internal and external customers.

• Participate on and/or lead teams to accomplish tasks, processes, and corporate directives.

• Travel mainly for the purpose of training, customer support, or trade shows. (Less than 10%)

• All other duties as assigned.

• Record daily activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Capacity to work indoors in an office, laboratory, and/or manufacturing environment.

• Ability to work in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.

• Capability to lift objects or equipment weighing up to 51 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Physical aptitude to use basic hand tools in a laboratory and/or manufacturing environment.

• Ability to travel and/or attend meetings domestic and internationally outside of normal business hours.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Associates degree in a technical discipline, or the equivalent in appropriate education and experience as determined by management utilizing internal SMC career development criteria.

• Novice understanding to apply project management principles, methodologies, and documentation.

• Competent understanding of common assembly processes.

• Competent in operating and maintaining laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

• Competent understanding of mechanical and electrical systems.

• Competent in conducting research using corporate resources.

• Competent at efficient use of time to effectively plan and execute multiple duties.

• Fluent to utilize basic inspection equipment in a laboratory environment. (Calipers, micrometers, flow meter, voltmeter, etc.)

• Fluent to utilize advanced inspection equipment in a laboratory environment. (microscopes, CMM, Contour/Roundness Measuring Instruments, etc.)

• Fluent ability to communicate utilizing corporate office software.

• Competent ability to take verbal and/or written direction on tasks, training, or departmental / company policies.

• Competent ability to communicate, in English, with internal and external customers tactfully and professionally

• 0+ years (preferred) relevant work experience.

SMC Corporation of America is a part of a global organization that supports our customers in every industrialized country and is the U.S. subsidiary of SMC Corporation based in Japan. Since its establishment, SMC has been a leader in pneumatic technology, providing the various industries with technology and products to support automation based on the guiding principle of “contributing to automation labor savings in industry.” Over the past 50+ years, SMC's products have become established as a recognized international brand through sales, technical, supply and after sale services in world markets. Sales have grown to achieve a 30% global market share.

Subsidiaries and joint ventures have been setup in a total of 53 countries. Production facilities are located in 30 countries. In addition, a sales network extends throughout 83 countries, with local services in 500 locations. SMC offers technology accumulated through the years, engineers that bring it to life in new products, production capacity which can deliver a variety of products in a short time, and an extensive sales network in the U.S. and throughout the world.

With its goal of ever more advanced automation, and using its many achievements as a base, SMC is developing high-quality, highly reliable products to contribute to automation in industry, as well as in familiar areas of everyday life.