Principal Technician - Engineering

Job Description

The Principal Technician is responsible for supporting engineering projects and lab operations for both the New Product Development and Sustaining Engineering teams.   Specifically, the Principal Technician will be a collaborative partner with the engineering team and lead testing strategy development, provide testing support, accurately report test data and observations, ensure traceability of test samples, and assist in the development of test methods as needed. To support lab operations, The Principal Technician will ensure equipment is well maintained (e.g., calibration, scheduling maintenance, etc.), the lab (and lab practices) are safe, provide guidance and assistance to other technicians as needed, ensures the lab is compliant with applicable SOP’s and Policy’s and is clean/organized. As the Principal Technician will be integral to the testing efforts required to establish device quality and performance, it is critically important that the Principal Technician maintains an accurate Laboratory Notebook or lab notes for use in technical reports, is attentive to detail, complies with test methods and Standard Operating Procedures, and accurately records data & observations.

Job Duties

• Responsible for planning and executing all testing efforts on programs assigned.
• Maintains attentiveness for testing abnormalities, trends, and external influences.
• Partners with engineering staff on project needs (e.g., supports test method development, acquisition of test samples/testing equipment & supplies, maintains sample traceability, etc.).
• Records and communicates all test data and testing observations with a high accuracy to program technical leads and management as required.
• Maintains a well-organized / accurate Laboratory Notebook in accordance with applicable SOP’s, and ensures compliance with testing protocols, test methods, and/or standards.
• Diligently advances their testing efforts / responsibilities while consistently seeking improvements to efficiency and quality.
• Leads lab operations, such as; maintenance of equipment, coordinating & scheduling calibration services, ordering supplies, quoting of test apparatus, as well as ensuring lab is a safe environment, kept clean / orderly, etc..
• Capable of leading collaboration between laboratory resources to ensure efficient use of testing equipment and alignment with project priorities.
• Capable of efficiently planning their own time, and that of other technicians, to ensure all efforts are advancing on schedule.
• Consistently seeks improvements to test methods and practices; capable of implementing improvements.
• Able to read and interpret industry test standards with high attention to detail, and critique nuances which will impact test results or may differ from current practice.
• Capable of working on a team with a willingness to help or support other efforts.
• All additional duties as directed by manager.

Job Qualifications

Required:

• High school degree required; college level studies highly preferred.
• Minimum 9 years' experience with HS Degree/GED, or 8 years' experience with associate’s degree, or 6 years' experience with bachelor’s degree.

Preferred:

• Medical Device development experience highly preferred.
• Evidence of technical skills preferred.
• Capable of operating testing equipment with strict adhesion to test methods required.
• Extensive experience in product testing as well was implementing solutions to testing abnormalities, identifying issues with test samples, and/or identifying external influences to test results.
• Expert in accurately logging testing observations in laboratory notebook and describe abnormalities to engineers and supervisor.
• Technical aptitude for operating testing equipment and the capability of envisioning / understanding product failure modes and technical causes & effects.
• Good physical dexterity to manipulate test samples.
• Experience in collaborating with engineering team to ensure a thorough understanding of the testing objectives and collaborating on the testing plan to support these objectives.
• Experience in approaching challenging and/or ambiguous technical problems with logic and devise approaches to lead towards understanding or solutions.   
• Capable of working with and/or overseeing interna/external resources commissioned to build new testing fixtures and/or apparatus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows Office applications including MS Outlook (email) and MS Excel.
• Knowledge of common manufacturing methodologies, technologies, and materials is preferred.
• Capable of applying good judgement to ensure a safe working environment.
• Capable of maintaining control of test samples (i.e., labelling all product appropriately) is mandatory.