Engineering Lab Technician

Company OverviewSun Metalon is building the industrial infrastructure platform for metal circularity — transforming contaminated waste streams into clean, high-value metal with zero CO₂ emissions.Join a mission-driven team redefining industrial recycling at the intersection of hardware, process innovation, and real-world manufacturing. Help shape how this platform scales — from our Wood Dale facility today to deployments worldwide — with a team that values impact, operational excellence, and no tolerance for waste in any form.We're not making new metal. We're making metal new.Why Join UsBe part of a mission‑driven team that is redefining industrial metal recycling and reducing CO₂ emissions across the global metal industry. Work at the intersection of material science, hardware design, and process‑scale innovation in a fast‑moving start‑up environment that values impact over optics. Help shape how our proprietary metal‑processing technology is validated and refined through rigorous lab‑scale testing, with a direct line from your work to real‑world customer deployments. Join a growing U.S. and international team with a focus on sustainability, technical rigor, and lean, no‑waste execution.Position SummarySun Metalon Inc. is seeking an Engineering Lab Technician to support our material science engineers in the Research & Development lab in Wood Dale, IL. This role directly enables our technology development by executing hands‑on proof‑of‑concept tests on customer‑supplied metals using our proprietary processes. The Engineering Lab Technician will be responsible for assembling and running test equipment, capturing high‑quality data, and maintaining test integrity so that our engineers can make confident decisions about process performance and material behavior. Because this is a start‑up environment, many lab procedures and workflows are still being defined; this role will help build and refine the lab’s operating environment over time and must be adaptable rather than rigidly tied to past experiences. In addition to lab work, the role includes active involvement in the production environment by conducting quality control (QC) tests and generating reports that link lab results to actual production performance. This is a hands‑on technician role; advanced engineering degrees (e.g., bachelor’s or master’s in engineering) are not required and are not expected for this position. This is squarely a high‑school‑plus‑experience or technical‑associate‑level role.Key ResponsibilitiesAssemble and configure test fixtures, jigs, and mechanical components for proprietary metal processing trials according to engineering instructions and work orders.Perform routine maintenance, calibration, and minor repairs on lab machinery, including furnaces, presses, and material‑handling equipment, while troubleshooting mechanical issues that arise during tests.Prepare and operate lab equipment for proof‑of‑concept testing of customer‑supplied metals in the proprietary process, ensuring safe, controlled, and repeatable runs.Record detailed test data (e.g., temperature, pressure, cycle times, mass, dimension, and basic material‑response observations) using digital logging systems and lab notebooks.Monitor tests for anomalies, perform basic troubleshooting under engineer guidance, and maintain equipment calibration and documentation in line with ISO or internal quality standards.Support sample preparation and basic post‑test characterization, such as weighing, measuring, sorting, and documenting visual or physical changes in test materials.Help build and document lab procedures and workflows as the company scales, including test protocols, equipment checklists, and lab‑specific SOPs, rather than relying strictly on legacy practices from prior roles.Work flexibly and adaptively, embracing changes in test plans, equipment, and priorities as the start‑up environment evolves and new technical challenges emerge.Participate in hands‑on quality tests and data collection from the production line, supporting efforts to correlate lab‑scale results with real‑world production performance and helping engineers close the loop between lab trials and commercial operations.Conduct active quality control (QC) testing in the production environment, including sampling, measurement, and inspection of metal product characteristics (e.g., moisture, cleanliness, density, or visual condition) as defined by engineering and quality requirements.Generate and maintain QC reports that summarize test results from both the lab and the production floor, highlighting trends, out‑of‑spec conditions, and areas for process adjustment.Collaborate closely with material science engineers and the Production team to translate lab findings and QC data into actionable insights for improving process settings and product quality.Follow safety protocols for high‑temperature equipment, electrical systems, moving parts, and handling of metal samples (including sharp, hot, or contaminated pieces).Maintain a clean, organized lab environment and contribute to lab‑specific documentation such as work instructions, SOPs, and test‑setup records.Required QualificationsStrong attention to detail, with the ability to follow written procedures and maintain precise records without supervision.Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data entry, tabulation, and basic analysis (e.g., averages, charts, filtering).2+ years of experience working as an engineering or lab technician in a manufacturing, R&D, or materials‑testing lab environment.High school diploma plus relevant technical experience, or an associate degree in Materials Science, Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related technical field.Familiarity with metallurgical or materials‑testing equipment such as furnaces, tensile testers, hardness testers, spectrometers, or similar lab instruments.Practical experience with data acquisition systems, digital loggers, or lab software used to capture process or material data.Basic metallurgy or materials knowledge is a strong plus (e.g., alloy families, common machining metals, basic heat‑treatment concepts), but not required if you have strong hands‑on lab experience.Good written and verbal communication skills to clearly document procedures, results, and observations for engineers and other stakeholders.Demonstrated ability to work in a start‑up or rapidly evolving environment, where procedures are still being defined and adaptation to changing priorities is part of the role.Comfort splitting time between the R&D lab and the production floor, with willingness to perform hands‑on QC testing and reporting that supports both product quality and process improvement.This role is designed for a hands‑on technician with a high school diploma plus relevant technical experience or an associate‑level technical degree; advanced engineering degrees (e.g., bachelor’s or master’s in engineering) are not required and would be considered outside the target scope for this position.Work EnvironmentFull‑time position in a manufacturing‑style R&D lab located in Wood Dale, IL, with a mix of bench‑top and process‑scale equipment.Role requires physical dexterity and comfort working with industrial hardware, including lifting, positioning, and manipulating fixtures, jigs, and test samples.Occasional overtime and weekend work may be required during intensive test campaigns, customer trials, or technology‑development pushes.Safety‑oriented environment with enforcement of PPE, lockout/tagout, and lab‑specific operating procedures.Fast‑moving, start‑up‑style culture where technicians are expected to be proactive, ask questions, and help improve test setups, documentation, lab‑to‑production data flows, and QC reporting over time.