R&D Lab Technician

Fenix Group is a dynamic company formed by the merger of several smaller brands, each founded by passionate entrepreneurs devoted to their industry and committed to delivering top-quality products and exceptional customer service. These brands have become known for their outstanding performance, reliability, and genuine care for their customers. By uniting under one organization, Fenix Group aims to create a significant impact on the industry by fostering a results-driven, goal-oriented culture centered around their core values: reliable, can-do, curious, team player, and achievement. The company is dedicated to listening actively to customer needs, identifying market opportunities for growth, and incorporating advanced technology and automation within their manufacturing processes and across the entire organization to ensure long-term success.

The Research and Development (R&D) Department at Fenix Group serves as a vital strategic partner that drives technical excellence throughout the company. It plays a crucial role in aligning the company’s aspirations around the philosophy of "make it right the first time" and a consultative selling approach. Within this thriving R&D team, the R&D Lab Technician position offers a unique opportunity to participate directly in the formulation and development of innovative paint products while ensuring they meet stringent quality, performance, and regulatory standards.

This hands-on role involves working closely alongside a team of experienced chemists and the Vice President of R&D, providing invaluable mentorship and growth potential. Entry-level candidates with 0-2 years of experience or prior internships in paint formulation or a related R&D setting within the coatings industry will find this role an ideal launchpad for their career. Engaging in challenging chemistry projects, supporting operational activities, and being involved in complaint resolution, this position promises substantial learning and career development possibilities. With a competitive salary of $60,000, this full-time role encourages growth by offering cross-training in multiple internal functions such as quality control and manufacturing scale-up, equipping the selected candidate with comprehensive industry knowledge and skill sets.

The R&D Lab Technician will be instrumental in partnering with chemists to develop and optimize paint formulations, conducting rigorous tests to evaluate key properties such as viscosity, adhesion, durability, and color stability. They will analyze detailed experimental data to recommend formulation improvements and adjustments, ensuring high product standards. Additionally, the role supports operations by collaborating with the purchasing team to source raw materials and additives, optimizing costs, and managing formulation scale-up to manufacturing. The technician also takes on quality control cross-training duties and oversees the closure of batch tickets post-production to identify potential formulation improvements, thus directly contributing to the "right the first time" manufacturing principle.

Furthermore, this position acts as the primary point of contact for customer complaints related to product formulation or performance, conducting root-cause analyses to resolve issues effectively. To excel in this role, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science or a related field, and demonstrate excellent communication skills, attention to detail, problem-solving aptitude, and a strong desire to learn and grow professionally. Familiarity with ISO and regulatory requirements including VOC regulations and REACH is advantageous but not mandatory, enabling a well-rounded understanding of compliance within the coatings industry.

Joining Fenix Group as an R&D Lab Technician means becoming part of a forward-thinking company dedicated to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. It is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop technical expertise, and progress within a collaborative and supportive environment. If you are passionate about chemistry, driven to solve challenges, and eager to contribute meaningfully to product development in the coatings industry, this opportunity at Fenix Group offers a promising career path with job security and growth potential.