The Requirements

To meet the basic qualifications for this role you will have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. To be a good fit for the Development Technician opportunity, you also should have:

• One of the following:
  • A bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related engineering discipline,
  • Experience in chemical laboratory processes and procedures, preferably related to chemicals or plastics, Quick question for you - click here or
  • An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience with data collection; experience with data analysis is a strong plus.
• Basic computer skills.
• The ability to understand and comply with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) requirements and best practices.
• The ability to physically wear and utilize personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, gloves, coveralls, hard hats, safety glasses, and goggles.
• Production experience in a similar environment is a plus.

Just as important as your experience and skills will be the following characteristics and competencies:

• Initiative and a proactive approach.
• The ability to understand the questions being asked in experiments and suggest ways of answering them.
• Self-motivation and the ability to achieve goals independently as well as to contribute effectively to teams.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple activities and priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

You also will need to be willing and able to travel, sometimes internationally, 5% to 10% of the time. Travel will include visiting other Celgard facilities to utilize different equipment.

Pictured: Celgard develops and manufactures microporous membranes used in a wide variety of batteries.

The Role

Reporting to a Technical Manager (who is a chemist), you will join an R&D team that also includes an R&D Engineer and two other Development Technicians. This team focuses on research, or emerging technologies, and collaborates with a team handling development and commercialization of new products.

You will work together with other members of the Product Development team to execute defined experimental programs. In addition, you'll be responsible for the operation and maintenance of scientific instrumentation and pilot scale equipment. While some work will be done in the lab, this is not a pure "lab tech" role. For example, you'll operate and maintain pilot equipment of various sizes.

The research group develops platforms for new products and projects that will involve investigations into everything from surface treatment chemistry to polymer processing. Projects can last from a single experiment to a few weeks; some can take months and a rare few can span a year or two. Many of your activities will involve selecting and testing additives, calibrating and using measuring equipment, characterizing materials, and more.

More specifically, you will:

• Execute the experimental Product Development program in accordance with standard operating procedures, safety procedures and rules and environmental practices. Quick question for you - click here
• Troubleshoot and repair Product Development testing and preparations equipment within your scope of authority.
• Maintain accurate accounts of the experiments.
• Drive ESH improvements and good housekeeping standards.
• Participate in technical and safety reviews for products.
• Interact with the Product Development project team to define the needs of the project and to translate those needs into experimental programs.
• Develop SOPs, specifications for project equipment, instrumentation and contact services together with the Scientist.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Pictured: SEM surface photomicrograph of a Celgard monolayer polypropylene (PP) battery separator. Celgard is the leading supplier of monolayer PP separator membranes to the disposable (primary) lithium battery market. Monolayer PP separators are also well suited for electric drive vehicle (EDV) applications because they offer increased rate capabilities and are stable across a wide thermal range.

Why Celgard

Professional development -- this is a relatively small R&D team, so you will expand your skills and experience in a variety of activities. You will deepen your understanding of the science from the chemists on the team, and gain valuable insights into processing from the Technicians, both of whom advanced from Production Operator roles. We promote collaboration and idea sharing.

Intriguing challenges -- you'll learn how our core technologies and products work, but the team's focus is on pushing the boundaries. We are constantly taking on and mastering new challenges. In contrast to many blown film production environments, ours is almost like a clean room.

Career options -- this role will enable you to develop valuable knowledge on both the scientific/technical side and the practical application side. Once you have proven yourself in this role you might pursue advancement along a technical track or even into operations. With multiple sites, Celgard can offer many opportunities.

Strong growth environment -- Celgard and our parent company, Polypore International, Inc., continue to grow, as our product line is used in a diverse number of applications in robust markets, including laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, medical devices, and various military applications. In addition:

• Since 1997 we have expanded our Charlotte facility five times.
• In 2011 we opened a brand new facility in Concord, NC, and we have expanded that plant twice already.
• In 2008 we acquired a new technology along with production facilities in Korea, so that we now have the broadest portfolio in our industry. In 2010 we expanded the Korean facility.

Green is the present and future -- at Celgard we are highly cognizant of corporate citizenship. We not only develop and manufacture products for the green energy sector, but we also practice environmental responsibility, as demonstrated in the video, above. In fact, we recycle more than 99% of our waste materials.

Competitive compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary and discretionary bonus incentive, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, a 401k plan and more.

Keys to Success

To excel in this role you will hold yourself to high standards and bring a strong work ethic. By that we don't necessarily mean long hours, but rather a sense of ownership to understand the experimental question -- including pushing back when you need more information -- and the initiative to gather a little extra data or run a couple of extra tests. We'll provide you with clear expectations and direct and honest feedback. In return we'll look to you to remain open to learning on an ongoing basis.

Your technical knowledge will be essential, but your interpersonal skills also will be important. While this is largely an individual contributor role, in order to achieve your goals you will need to interact effectively with people in different areas. In addition, in order to be an outstanding Development Technician, you will:

• Bring a sense of urgency and the ability to balance thoroughness with the time constraints imposed by rapidly evolving markets.
• Pay close attention to detail and also grasp the bigger picture and how the details fit into it.
• Maintain constant quality awareness.
• Manage multiple activities effectively, and remain flexible and adaptable as priorities change.
• Keep a constant eye out for ways to improve processes to enhance quality, efficiency, and cost control.

About Celgard

Celgard is a global leader in the development and production of specialty microporous membranes, and is one of the largest suppliers to the lithium battery industry. Celgard battery separators are in batteries for personal electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile telephones, digital cameras, and power tools and are emerging in applications including electric drive vehicles (EDVs) and reserve power and electricity grid management systems.

With company headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and battery separator manufacturing facilities in the United States, Korea, and China, we are ideally positioned to serve the just-in-time needs of a global market.

Celgard is part of Polypore International, Inc., a global high technology filtration company specializing in microporous membranes. Polypore's flat sheet and hollow fiber membranes are used in specialized applications that require the removal or separation of various materials from liquids, primarily in the ultrafiltration and microfiltration markets. Also based in Charlotte, NC, Polypore International, Inc. is a market leader whose 4 core companies manufacture, market, and service products through 14 manufacturing sites and 14 sales and service locations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, with sales relatively balanced across these regions.

Pictured: our Charlotte facility and headquarters is certified to the ISO/TS 16949 Quality Management System, an international standard with a set of strict automotive industry-specific requirements above and beyond other recognized systems such as ISO 9001:2008.