Laboratory Leader – NORMA Fluid
Objective:
Manage the NORMA St. Clair Development Laboratory. Oversee all lab activities including prototype fabrication, product testing, equipment acquisition and maintenance, safety, the engineering work order system, laboratory documentation, and laboratory staff.
Essential Job Functions:
- Manage laboratory personnel, equipment, and material.
- Properly setup, program, and maintain lab equipment.
- Manage engineering work orders and prioritize work flow, in collaboration with other departments.
- Provide leadership through development, discipline, and performance reviews.
Primary Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:
- Functional and disciplinary leadership of local T&I Development Test Lab, including target setting, personnel/ backup planning, qualification management, and development of team capabilities
- Contributes to global Test Lab strategy and Roadmap definition
- Interface & act as a liaison to various internal and external customers including engineering, purchasing, and operations to schedule and organize matters required for laboratory activities
- Initiates and leads Global Excellence and cost saving initiatives
- Conduct weekly meetings to schedule and prioritize workload
- Create and maintain laboratory documentation
- Maintain and expand compliance to ISO 17025
- Responsibility for compliance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, customer-, and audit requirements
- Interface with NORMA’s Quality Manager to ensure that lab equipment and gages are calibrated per schedule
- Prepare materials for use in testing and/or prototype manufacturing
- Organize prototype inventory and equipment
- Supports acquisition of test equipment in cooperation with T&I Equipment Specialist
- Oversee the execution of testing/prototypes, collect data per instructions, and complete required forms
- Use various hand tools and precision measuring tools including torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers, test indicators, etc.
- Promote a positive atmosphere that rewards performance and encourages employee satisfaction
- Interface with Human Resources to administer personnel matters including performance reviews, compensation reviews, etc.
- Ensure equipment and processes are safe and effective for use. Accountable for Health & Safety, operational safety of test equipment, and Test Lab safety concept
- Oversee the setup, programming, and maintenance of lab equipment including accelerated durability, fatigue, and corrosion equipment and testing
- Coordinate with other NORMA and non-NORMA laboratories as required
- Create operating budget for development lab activity and assign costs and work hours towards engineering work orders. Performs feasibility checks and cost calculations based on DVPs and specifications
- Create drawings and acquire necessary test and prototype fixtures using CAD
- Continuously strive for improvement in performance of all responsibilities
- Continuous improvement of self-knowledge, for instance via trainings, seminars and/or additional tasks outside of the key Product Engineering Test Lab assignments.
- Together with purchasing teams, identifies and manages external test suppliers
- Travels as required to customers, suppliers and NORMA locations (up to 25% travel time)
- Assume responsibility for related initiatives as needs arise
Reporting Responsibilities:
This position reports to the Manager of the Test Labs, Americas
Department:
T&I Development
Location:
Saint Clair, Michigan
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position has the supervisory responsibility for the Saint Clair Laboratory Technicians
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering OR experience leading a test laboratory
- Two years of product testing including data acquisition
- Mechanical aptitude
- Attention to detail
- Ability to read and interpret Engineering drawings
- Strong communication skills
- Strong problem solving skills
- Instrumentation
Preferred:
- Experience with durability test methods
- Experience fluid transport systems, fluid quick connectors
- Automotive industry experience
- Familiar with basic plastic tube thermoforming processes and injection molding processes
- Lathe and/or mill machining experience
- 3D printer operation knowledge
Computer Skills:
Required:
- Data acquisition software (i.e. Labview)
- Data analysis software (i.e. Excel, nCode, JMP)
- Proficient use of computers including Microsoft Office and Outlook
Preferred:
- Vibration Controller Software
- Labview programming experience
Other Skills and Abilities: Some of the following skills and abilities may be acquired through training, but the employee must be able to demonstrate the capacity to obtain these requirements before being placed in this position.
- None specified
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Some of the following certificates, licenses, and/or registrations may be acquired through training, but the employee must be able to demonstrate the capacity to obtain these requirements before being placed in this position.
- None specified
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 is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, 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. This position may require the use of personal protective equipment.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally loud.
At NORMA Group, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome individuals with a wide range of skills and experiences to develop solutions that make a global impact. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, empowered, and heard.
Contact for this position: Merisa Jernigan
NORMA Michigan Inc.
2430 E.Walton Blvd.
Auburn Hills 48326, USA