Materials Engineering Technician

Location: Waterloo, IA
Pay Rate: $35/hr
Work Arrangement: Fully onsite

Position Overview

We are seeking a skilled Materials Engineering Technician to support materials engineering activities in a manufacturing laboratory environment. This role performs a broad range of routine and specialized laboratory tasks, including material sample preparation, analytical testing, process support, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting.

The Materials Engineering Technician will work with limited engineering oversight while supporting moderately complex laboratory activities and contributing to improvements in safety, quality, cost, and delivery. The ideal candidate has strong mechanical aptitude, experience in a shop floor or laboratory environment, and the ability to learn and apply materials analysis and manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and analyze material samples, components, and processes with limited engineering oversight.
• Perform laboratory tasks and support Materials Engineering work requests as they are received.
• Work with requestors to confirm testing requirements and ensure parts are delivered to the laboratory.
• Develop, recommend, and implement analytical or process changes that maintain or improve product quality.
• Create and maintain laboratory procedures, process instructions, and analytical processes to meet production needs.
• Work with maintenance and production personnel to troubleshoot laboratory equipment, processes, and analytical issues.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and coordinate necessary repairs or service.
• Order and stock laboratory consumables.
• Track reservation numbers, IM numbers, prices, order dates, and delivery dates for consumable purchases.
• Enter crib reservations into SAP using the PDX transaction.
• Collect parts, perform audits, and maintain monthly and quarterly audit spreadsheets.
• Track and maintain the laboratory work request system.
• Support changeovers and adjustments at the S450 crankshaft heat treat operation.
• Maintain coolant levels in all saws.
• Obtain approval for new consumables before they are introduced for laboratory use.
• Participate as a contributing member of project teams focused on improving factory performance.
• Maintain a “Sustain” level of 5S throughout the Materials Engineering laboratory.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in a technical field or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and interest in further developing technical skills.
• Excellent understanding of part prints, process instructions, and applicable John Deere or industry standards.
• Basic to moderate knowledge of ferrous machining processes and their application to materials analysis.
• Basic knowledge of production and analytical equipment.
• Understanding of maintenance activities required to produce or verify a quality product.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment.
• Ability to support multiple assignments ranging from routine laboratory tasks to infrequent or complex activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with process control and analytical analysis.
• Experience in a John Deere manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in a shop floor or laboratory setting.
• Experience participating on process problem-solving teams.
• Demonstrated technical leadership or mentoring experience.
• Experience working with production systems and databases.
• Experience using SAP, including PDX transactions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other electronic engineering software tools.
• Experience with materials testing, laboratory equipment, or manufacturing process analysis.
• Familiarity with 5S, continuous improvement, and quality improvement practices.

What You Can Expect

• A hands-on role supporting materials engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Opportunities to work with laboratory, production, maintenance, and engineering teams.
• Exposure to materials analysis, ferrous machining, heat-treat operations, process control, and production support.
• The opportunity to contribute to improvements in safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• A fully onsite work environment with direct interaction across the manufacturing facility.