Laboratory Technician

Roxel is an Anglo-French Company that designs, develops and manufactures a range of solid propellant rocket motors for use in tactical missiles. Its operations are spread across several sites in the UK and France and it has an annual turnover of about £100M and nearly 700 staff. The UK operations are entirely based at Summerfield, Kidderminster where we have a vacancy for a Laboratory Technician.

Laboratory Technicians play an important role in all of our manufacturing processes from start to finish by testing a wide variety of explosive and non-explosive samples to ensure that they meet our standards and specifications. The laboratory team is spread over four different laboratories specialising in different testing disciplines and all laboratory technicians have the opportunity to develop competency in different areas.

Summary of the Role

The successful candidate will work as part of the laboratory team carrying out the preparation and testing of a wide range of raw materials, intermediate production materials and final production products. Some of these materials are explosive in nature.

There are a wide variety of testing techniques used at Roxel, chemical properties are determined using a mixture of advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, FTIR, AAS as well as traditional ones such as gravimetric analysis, volumetric analysis and wet chemistry. Physical and thermal test techniques used include varieties of tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Other techniques are specific to our industry and training in these is available where required.

There are opportunities to work in several of our laboratories and develop competency in a wide range of testing techniques which will mean there will always be something new to see and learn.

The successful candidate will help to ensure that equipment and facilities are maintained and they will communicate test results to internal customers throughout the business. This role is ideally suited to a graduate or an individual with experience of working within a laboratory environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Technical Responsibilities

• Assisting with the writing of COSHH and risk assessments

• Assisting with the writing of test methods and procedures

• Understanding and following of work instructions, processes, specifications and standards

• Ability to work unsupervised and to a high level of accuracy

• Communicating effectively with customers

• Proactive and flexible with the ability to plan and organise their own work

• Assisting with the maintenance of equipment and facilities

Experience & Background

Qualifications:

• Degree in Chemistry or another science-based degree

Experience:

Essential Experience

• Practical experience of handling hazardous chemicals and materials
• Experience of working in a laboratory environment, either at university or in industry
• Experienced in communicating results to other people
• HPLC or DSC testing

Desirable Experience

• Experience in writing COSHH and risk assessments
• Experience of working in a high hazard environment
• Experience in analytical testing techniques
• Experience in physical testing techniques

Person Specification

• Genuine interest and aptitude in science and its application to practical problems.
• Communicate and work effectively with other people and organisations.
• Interpreting customer requirements and devising solutions.
• Good interpersonal and team working skills.
• Reporting writing and presenting.
• Methodical approach to completing tasks.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.A high degree of self-motivation, solution focused.
• A good attitude towards health and safety requirements in a hazardous environment.

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This role is not eligible for Hybrid Working