R&D Scientist I
SUMMARY
At Meissner, we provide B2B technical solutions, that are deployed to improve the human condition. Our customers use our products and technologies to develop new therapeutics and many familiar products that support our modern lifestyle. At the core of these products, are in-house technologies that are developed and maintained by highly talented and self-driven engineers and scientists.
The R&D Scientist will maintain a sustained and constant focus on 3 different areas:
- Participate in technology development projects,
- Assist in technology transfer of R&D Activities to manufacturing,
- Support our technologies to continuously improve our products and processes.
Projects are typically heavily weighted towards chemical processes and materials science at an R&D/prototype scale to pilot and production scales. The R&D Scientist will undertake independent research projects and/or investigations or be responsible with specific parts of larger projects, with a higher degree of independence.
The R&D scientist is part of a highly functioning team of engineers and scientists and will be expected to help sustain, foster, and develop this collaborative environment. Working synergistically within the department and across the company is a core principle at Meissner, allowing us to realize the extraordinary, together.
The people of our R&D department move forward as one.
This is an on-site role based out of our headquarters in Camarillo, CA.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Project management skills to ensure timely completion of tasks and targets are met.
- Responsible for multi-tasking and running projects and studies in parallel.
- Hands-on experimental work involving the characterization of material properties.
- Process development work in the laboratory involving testing equipment, chemical processes, and testing materials and products (membranes, filters, polymers, etc.).
- Capable of Design of Experiments (DOE), troubleshooting, root cause analysis.
- Carry out and direct experiments including planning, preparation, execution, data analysis and reporting.
- Responsible for ensuring safety of processes and experiments: 1. determine risks by performing background assessments– 2. Establish safe operational protocols and procedures as well as wear adequate protection.
- Carry out filter testing, failure analysis, lifetime studies, comparative performance evaluations using appropriate instrumentation that may involve chemical analysis, microscopy, thermal and mechanical properties evaluation.
- Able to operate mechanical equipment to process chemicals and plastics with minimal supervision.
- Capable of mechanical device troubleshooting, disassembly/reassembly, repairs, etc..
- Participate in production activities as necessary.
- Work cohesively with various team members. Embrace diversity and continuous improvements of our department and organization structure and technical operations.
- Be a good ambassador for the department and projects at all times, internally and externally to the company (external: customers, suppliers, outside labs, etc.).
Qualifications, Education & Experience
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to successfully function in this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor’s degree required in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or Chemistry with 1-5 years of relevant experience, which may include graduate school or work experience. PhD degree preferred.
- Project management experience.
- Proficiency with different laboratory instrumentation used in characterizing material properties.
- Proven capabilities in writing effective reports and data analysis.
- An aptitude for constant attention to detail and adequate documentation is necessary.
- Proven track-record of problem-solving aptitude.
- Mechanical aptitudes (operation of power tools, equipment repair/troubleshooting).
- Integrity and accountability.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Strong analytical skills to carry-out effective data analysis.
- Effective communication skills to present results through written reports and presentations.
- Work collaboratively with other team members and interact with other departments such as the laboratory and engineering departments, in order to achieve the objectives of the R&D team.
- Work Synergistically with other team members and departments.
- Develop and foster professional relationships (internally and externally) that help the department and Meissner grow and sustain our competitive advantage by creating new market place opportunities and strengthening our current positions.
- Proficient with programs including MS Office Suite.
- Proficient in statistical analysis software and mathematical fundamentals of statistics and error analysis.
This is an on-site role based out of our headquarters in Camarillo, CA.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
Each employee of the Company is an at-will employee, unless specifically notified otherwise in writing. This means that the terms and conditions of employment may be changed with or without cause. It also means an employee may terminate their employment at any time, for any reason, and the Company has the same right to terminate an employees’ employment at any time for any reason.
Meissner is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.