Chemistry Lab Lead

Business Profile

Wyman-Gordon is a worldwide supplier to the aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets. We hold quality accreditations for all of the major airframe and engine manufacturers for both civil and military applications. Wyman-Gordon creates rotating closed-die forgings which are critical for aerospace and land-based gas turbines.  Wyman-Gordon also manufactures structural forgings for airframe, nuclear, petrochemical, power generation, and space applications.

Location Profile

Located in South Gate, Dickson Testing Company, Inc. is a full-service destructive testing laboratory serving aerospace and metallic producers worldwide. Our laboratories serve our customers with metallurgical, mechanical, corrosion, and chemical testing services. In support of these services our facility provides complete specimen fabrication, cut off services and heat treat capability.                   

Position Summary

The Chemistry Lab Lead performs a broad range of chemical tests and procedures in the laboratory or at production stations, using professional judgment in the evaluation, selection, and adaptation of professional methods and techniques. Facilitates production, conforms to quality system requirements and company policies and procedures, follows safety codes, follows production schedules, evaluating chemistry specimens in accordance with company procedures, correctly documenting test results, and ensuring accuracy and calibration of test equipment.

The Lead also delegates work to and trains other technicians in the chemistry lab, ensures targets are met, e.g., Safety, Quality, 6S, Throughput, Equipment Utilization, Cost Management.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or competency needed for successful performance in the role.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Comply with PCC Code of Conduct Requirements and all PCC Cardinal Rules (e.g. Quality and Safety).
• Work safely under functional safety guidelines such as PPE and equipment interaction.
• All functions, duties or tasks are to be carried out in an honest, ethical and professional manner, and to be performed in conformance with applicable Company policies and procedures.
• In the event of uncertainty or lack of knowledge of Company policies and procedures, employees are required to request clarification or explanations from superiors or authorized company representatives.

• Delegate work to and train other technicians in the chemistry lab, ensure targets are met, e.g., Safety, Quality, 6S, Throughput, Equipment Utilization, Cost Management, etc.

• Performs company-designated chemical process tests to maintain required chemical balance or material mixture necessary for operation of equipment.
• Mix solutions and materials under company-designated safety procedures.
• Operates and maintains equipment used for chemical processing.
• Samples the solutions at prescribed intervals and stages of the process to assure proper chemical balance and measures waste content. When waste content reaches maximum levels, adds chemicals, or dumps and prepares new batch.
• Is responsible for handling, mixing, and storage of all chemicals and compounds.
• Performs evaluation as a solo professional or leading a team of junior chemists and technicians in carrying through a complete series of tests on in-process product at different stages of manufacture or on finished product.
• Interprets analytical findings to assess compliance or noncompliance with company and industry standards and reports verbally or in writing to department director or line management officials.
• Completes company-required forms in connection with project assignment or reviews reports of subordinates for professional acceptability and excellence. Refers corrections back to subordinates for change.
• Presents completed reports verbally, if requested, to department director or local facility manager.
• Assists financial staff in preparation of RFAs (Request for Financial Approvals) for capital equipment to meet new or changed process needs involving chemical or laboratory equipment.
• Reviews technical chemical material from industry technical association and recommends course of action on each item to department manager and director. On approved changes, develops TIBs (Technical Information Bulletins) for issuance as policy changes to location Technical Manual.
• Handles laboratory department orientation and applicable safety training for new chemists and technicians, as required.
• Maintains equipment in proper running order, e.g., changing filters and cleaning filter screens.
• Assists line mechanics in performing repairs and maintenance on equipment following company lock-out, tag-out procedures.
• Follows all EPA regulations for proper labeling and disposal.
• Maintains MSDSs for all chemicals used in these processes as well as operation logs of equipment utilized in these processes.
• Reports problems or accidents immediately.
• Keeps equipment and work areas in a neat and clean condition, and protects tools, instruments, and precision measuring devises.
• Serve as expert on Chemistry matters related to all test specimens in our laboratory.
• Lead efforts, projects and cross-functional laboratory teams in the direction of a continuously improving work environment that is safe and environmentally friendly
• Identify hazardous workplace conditions, perform and document job hazard analysis, and coordinate activities to ensure corrective and preventative actions are implemented
• Coordinate removal of hazardous materials and waste
• Responsible for proper setup and implementation of test methods in equipment utilized for chemical analysis, including setting up of calibration curves for individual elements of individual alloys being analyzed. Maintain calibration curves by performing required drift correction, as necessary.
• Create new standard operating procedures, and maintain existing ones, as necessary to ensure chemical analysis is in compliance with referenced standards
• Manage participation in periodic Round Robin and Interlaboratory programs to ensure chemical analysis is consistent and in compliance,
• Investigate any out of tolerance chemical analysis results.
• Optical Emission Spectrochemical analysis
• X-ray Fluorescence analysis
• Atomic Absorption analysis
• ICP analysis
• Hydrogen in Titanium analysis
• Carbon and Sulfur analysis
• Nitrogen and Oxygen analysis
• Specimen preparation for chemical analysis
• Establish method used for analysis of various elements of alloys.
• Develop Chemical Lab capability matrix.
• Train and Qualify Chemists and Technicians. Participate in hiring Chemistry Lab staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead others, ensuring departmental targets are met or exceeded.
• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of employees, service providers, guests, etc.
• Ability to operate independently as an experienced professional.
• Specialized knowledge needed for performance of job: AA (Atomic Absorption), ICP (Inductable Coupled Plasma), OES (Optical Emission Spectatrophy) and X-Ray Fluorescent.
• Customer focus, service attitude, high sense of urgency.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Strong attention to detail.

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Material Science or related field required.
• Master's degree in chemistry or chemical engineering preferred.
• 4+ years’ work experience in a Chemistry lab in a metal, milling or production laboratory setting.
• Membership in American Chemical Society and appropriate technical associations desirable.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Manufacturing and laboratory environments. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person

assigned to this position.  It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by a person so classified.

The job may require additional hours beyond a 40-hour workweek.

With more than 120 operations and approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, Precision Castparts Corp. is the market leader in manufacturing large, complex structural investment castings, airfoil castings, forged components, aerostructures and highly engineered, critical fasteners for aerospace applications. In addition, we are the leading producer of airfoil castings for the industrial gas turbine market. We also manufacture extruded seamless pipe, fittings, and forgings for power generation and oil & gas applications; commercial and military airframe aerostructures; and metal alloys and other materials for the casting and forging industries. With such critical applications, we insist on quality and dependability – not just in the materials and products we make, but in the people we recruit.

PCC is relentless in its dedication to being a high-quality, low-cost and on-time producer; delivering the highest value to its customers while continually pursuing strategic, profitable growth.

In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Chairman and CEO Warren E. Buffett, acquired Precision Castparts Corp.