Materials Test Engineer

This team member will:

• Identify and evaluate appropriate third party test vendors. Coordinate outsourced testing in a timely manner. Serve as a liaison between the CFS Materials Department and the vendors.
• Create, plan and manage experiments based on industry/international standards for outsourcing materials property testing based on project requirements
• Create, plan and manage experiments for outsourcing component level testing for component design validation. Establish contracts as needed.
• Define and develop appropriate test methods to use for each test, oversee the testing process to ensure it meets internal requirements and deadlines
• Review, verify and validate external test reports and perform subsequent data analysis
• Maintain all the required and relevant documentation, create presentations to communicate test results to the internal stakeholders
• Evaluate materials and components for structural and functional applications within SPARC and ARC
• Support development of test fixtures for mechanical testing of materials and components 
• Work closely with other CFS teams
• • Translate component level performance requirements into material property specifications and define appropriate test methods
• • Manage chemical/mechanical/environmental hazards in existing and new experimental facilities with the safety team
• • Identify, onboard, and qualify new vendors with the supply chain team
• Submit purchase orders and prepare samples for shipment, collaborate with shipping teams and manage transport of materials to testing labs, following all regulatory requirements related to hazardous and non-hazardous material handling
• Ensure efficient and timely transfer of property data and new insight to materials engineering teams
• Maintain a database of approved testing vendors, including performance records and capabilities. Monitor the costs associated with outsourcing tests.
• Coordinate the ongoing development, validation and implementation of LIMS (Laboratory information management system) including the development or revision of LIMS policies and procedures
• Provide technical guidance to project team members to ensure efficient execution of design-build-test-learn cycles and retirement of technical risks

The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:

• BS in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, physics, or related field 
• Experience in material characterization and material property testing (Optical and electron microscopy, basic mechanical testing of materials)
• Design, execution, and documentation of experiments
• Experience writing standard operating procedures for technical tasks
• Data analysis, interpretation, and visualization
• Experience with software tools (e.g., G-Suite, MS Office, project management tools)
• Knowledge of materials mechanical testing concepts e.g., Tensile, low and high cycle fatigue, Shear, Fracture Toughness, Bending Moment, and Hardness testing
• Knowledge in mechanical test procedures 
• Familiar with material engineering disciplines such as types of materials, how they are characterized, and methods of manufacturing
• Project management, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to estimate resource needs, plan, and schedule multiple activities in parallel
• Participate in and promote CFS’ safety procedures and policies
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, test operators, and support staff
• Ability to contribute in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines by rapidly executing short turnaround engineering/R&D tasks
• Strong problem solving skills, troubleshooting skills and ability to approach new problems with creativity
• Self - motivated with a bias-to-action

Additional preferred experience and/or qualifications:

• Experience with physical property testing of materials and subsequent data analysis 
• Experience with metallographic sample preparation and analysis
• Experience working with a LIMS system
• Experience in coordinating testing to industry or international standards such as ASTM and ISO standards for QA-QC
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Extended activities such as typing, standing, and sitting
• Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
• #LI-Onsite