Quality Control Sr. Technician

The Opportunity:

Avantor is looking for a Quality Control Sr. Technician to join our NuSil Bakersfield, CA team! The Sr. Technician independently supports daily manufacturing operations by performing hands-on lab tasks, including executing pre-established material qualifications. This includes conducting prescribed tests and inspections to release materials to the next stage of the process. The role also involves basic troubleshooting as needed and performing occasional tests according to defined methods.

This role will be a full-time, 2nd shift position. Working hours for this role will be Monday – Friday 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm.

What we’re looking for

• Education: High School Diploma or GED is required; Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry is preferred
• Experience:
  • If you have a high school diploma or GED: 3+ years of Quality Lab experience is required
  • If you have an Associate or Bachelor’s degree: 1+ years of Quality Lab experience is required
    • Experience handling chemicals safely
    • Experience with basic physical chemistry parameters (pH, pressure, temperature)
    • Experience in a good laboratory practices environment
    • Basic experience using calibrated instruments
    • Experience executing calibrations independently
• Certification(s): Six Sigma Yellow Belt is preferred
• Collaboration Tool: Microsoft Office experience is required
• Preferred Qualifications: 
  • Experience with basic troubleshooting and upkeep of testing instruments (viscosity, pH, and loss on drying)
  • Experience providing training to other associates on test methods
  • Basic experience under an Organizational Excellence system (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, Toyota System, Avantor Business System)
  • Technical writing

How you will thrive and create an impact

• Ensure adherence to company quality standards and industry regulations by maintaining accurate documentation and reporting within the scope of the role
• Performs routine cleaning and housekeeping duties ensuring instruments and workstations are clean and properly maintained
• Assist with Hazardous Waste disposal, including discarding expired supplies as per SOPs
• Independently performs routine basic testing, which may include assessments of appearance, viscosity, pH, loss on drying, and evaluations of materials in uncured, mixed, cured, and post-cured states
• Independently performs routine testing, which may include acid/base titrations, tensile strength evaluations, heat and moisture curing assessments, and inspections of intermediates, final products, and shelf-life samples
• Performs standardized Test Methods for validation purposes
• Under supervision investigates unexpected testing results at the QC and/or Analytical Lab level
• Updates team on current testing status and instrument readiness during the shift change
• Supports laboratory inventory upkeep, ensuring supplies are properly stocked, labeled, and accessible
• Login and dispose of retain samples. Keeps the retain sample area clean and organized
• Performs daily calibration verifications of testing instruments. This may include GC, GPC, Instron, scales/balance
• Provides support with routine testing of materials related to defects, customer complaints, and opportunity analysis projects
• Provides support with execution under supervision of non-routine testing materials related to defects, customer complaints, and opportunity analysis projects
• Prepare samples for outside testing by following specified procedures
• Handles samples from submittal to disposal
• Handles Test Request samples
• Perform sample preparation for the testing of samples following approved test method procedures
• Works closely with other functional teams and provides Quality technical SME feedback for internal challenges (Ex. Production or development issues)

In addition to:

• May provide training to other associates on QC Test Methods and Equipment Operating Procedures
• May independently investigate and troubleshoot unexpected testing results at the QC and/or Analytical Lab level
• May lead shift change meetings and/or present TDM data to the QC team
• May ensure logs are completed and conform to GDP
• May establish and implement a 6S program, with daily schedule, to ensure best practices for safety, productivity, and cleanliness in the lab space(s)
• May order supplies and audits laboratory inventory
• May create and maintain retain samples inventory schedule based on retain sample disposal date and material availability
• May prepare calibration standard solutions for building calibration curves on GC, GPC, U