R&T Chemical Technical Professional

Primary Responsibilities  

• Maintain excellence in safety, health and environmental practices 

• Actively support Albemarle’s safety culture by promoting safe behaviors, complying with material and chemical handling policies, and contributing to continuous improvement of safety practices. 

• Complete all required safety training. 

• Conduct lab experiments. 

• Apply research acumen to independently draft experimental plans and execute to conclusions. 

• Contribute intellectually to project technical strategy, analyze experimental ideas from others, and identify opportunities for improvement in the proposed lab studies.  

• Able to safely operate, diagnose problems, and perform preventative maintenance on a wide variety of plastic processing equipment and analytical testing instruments. 

• Analyze samples with accuracy and precision, detect errors, appropriately document results, and author and follow SOP methods for lab experiments. 

• Assist in the scheduling of lab work for yourself and other team members. 

• Train and mentor less experienced colleagues. 

Physical Requirements 

• Demonstrate safe work practices and philosophy. Proactively identify opportunities to improve operations, repetitive tasks, ergonomics and housekeeping.  

• Independent and has ability to work alone without supervision. Follow tasks to completion including good housekeeping practices. 

• Demonstrated capability to work in a highly collaborative team environment. 

• Able to clearly and concisely communicate experimental results and conclusions. 

• Able to wear required PPE, lift up to 50 lbs (over 50 with assistance) with necessary assistance, and stand/walk for long periods of time 

• Standing for ~6 hours/shift  

• Required to be able to climb a 6’ ladder, to safely navigate stairwells using handrails at all times 

• Safely operate hand tools, power tools, and compressed gas cylinders 

• Feel confident to operate large machinery, such as extruders, injection molding machines, Brabender mixing bowls, and fork lifts (with specialized training). 

• Operate very hot process equipment while using the appropriate engineering controls and PPE. 

• Willing to work overtime if necessary 

Education and Experience Requirements  

• Associates or higher degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) field is desired; however, two years of directly relevant experience or five years of related experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.

• Experience conducting lab work is required. 

• Extrusion, compounding, injection molding and plastics testing experience is desired.  

• Experience using SAP, Microsoft Office, Teams, and LIMS software is desired. 

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical problem-solving skills.  

• Ability to balance individual and team responsibilities.  

• Highly organized and excellent verbal and written communication skills.  

Chemicals and equipment to work with: 

• Polymers and resins 

• Additives for plastics including fire retardants 

• Organic solvents (for example acetone or xylenes) 

• Mixing and handling of powders 

• Work in labs adjacent to other chemical hazards including bromine and organic solvents 

• Hot resins and/or flaming test bars 

• Equipment that gives off high radiant heat 

• Rotating equipment and/or injection molding machines 

• Compressed gas cylinders and cryogenic materials such as liquid nitrogen 

Location:  

Process Development Center, Baton Rouge, LA