Refrigeration Lab Specialist

The Refrigeration Lab Specialist is responsible for directing all laboratory activities related to supporting innovative features, new product introductions, and current products. Key responsibilities include overseeing the maintenance and calibration of lab equipment, spearheading product testing and evaluation, and cultivating expertise in all relevant agency testing protocols. The position also entails managing and refining lab processes and procedures, championing continuous improvements in lab efficiency, and fostering effective collaboration between the product design team and lab management. The successful candidate will be expected to build in-depth technical knowledge of refrigerator system and sub-system testing to ensure adherence to regulatory and safety standards, while continuously advancing test procedure development.

Responsibilities

Directing all laboratory activities related to supporting innovative features, new product introductions, and current products; Overseeing the maintenance and calibration of lab equipment; Spearheading product testing and evaluation; Cultivating expertise in all relevant agency testing protocols; Managing and refining lab processes and procedures; Championing continuous improvements in lab efficiency; Fostering effective collaboration between the product design team and lab management; Building in-depth technical knowledge of refrigerator system and sub-system testing; Ensuring adherence to regulatory and safety standards; Continuously advancing test procedure development; Developing expertise in thermal chamber operation, PLC controls, and DAQ programming maintenance; Creating and maintaining operating and maintenance procedures for lab equipment and processes; Leading continuous improvement initiatives; Managing the lab inventory management system (LIMS) and preparing labs for quarterly audits; Collaborating with global teams to align test standards and data consistency across laboratories; Conducting standardized engineering and consumer research testing; Analyzing test data and providing feedback; Supporting product innovation through testing and prototyping; Participating in technical project reviews; Leading efforts of ordering, receiving, and testing competitor products; Performing other duties as assigned

Requirements

High School graduate; Experience working with refrigeration products; Demonstrable Excel and PowerPoint experience; Work as a lab technician or service technician with 5+ years experience; Proficient with additive and subtractive rapid prototyping methods; Familiarity with plastics manufacturing and metal fabrication; Strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills; Organized, self-starter with strong task-prioritization skills; Strong desire to learn with the ability to be self-taught

Nice to have

Mechanical technical certificate or mechanical technician degree program; Experience with refrigeration agency requirements, including DOE energy consumption (AHAM HRF-1); Experience with appliance industry evaluation standards such as UL 60335-1 and UL 60335-2-24; Experience with technical writing such as test procedures and SOPs