Job Description

Overview

The R&D Senior Lab Technician supports engineering by conducting tests to evaluate and validate product designs while ensuring a safe work environment. This role involves hands-on testing, prototype evaluation, data collection, and laboratory operations for commercial vehicle components and systems.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct laboratory, component, system, and vehicle testing to evaluate and validate new product designs.
  • Build, install, modify, and instrument prototype components and systems on vehicles.
  • Set up, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain test equipment and instrumentation.
  • Review and implement test methods and procedures for engineering evaluations.
  • Collect and document test data and maintain accurate records of testing activities.
  • Assist in identifying product improvements and investigating component failures.
  • Conduct competitive product benchmarking studies.
  • Coordinate testing activities to ensure timely completion of development programs.
  • Maintain laboratory equipment through calibration and preventive maintenance.
  • Procure and manage laboratory materials and supplies.
  • Collaborate with engineering and cross-functional teams.
  • Participate in continuous improvement efforts.
  • Maintain a safe and organized laboratory environment.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less experienced technicians.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.
  • Associate’s degree in a related engineering field preferred.
  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience with a degree or 8 years’ experience in a related role.
  • Ability to travel up to 5% of the time as needed.
  • Experience operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining test equipment.
  • Experience building, modifying, and instrumenting prototype components and systems.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
  • Experience collecting and analyzing test data and preparing reports.
  • PC proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing applications.
  • Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
  • Ability to safely operate vehicles and equipment for testing activities.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO
  • 401k
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
401k
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance

How this job compares in Woodridge, IL

Pay in context

At roughly $36/hr, this posting sits about 20% above the $30/hr median for welding jobs across Illinois — toward the top of a $25–$38/hr middle band drawn from 276 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 70% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Woodridge, IL

Woodridge, IL currently has 7 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 5 employers. 4 of them were added in the last week. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 373 other active welding openings from 232 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Woodridge, or widen the search to Illinois.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are S&C Electric Company (18), Gerber Collision & Glass (14), and Staff on Site (13). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Downers Grove at $46/hr, Chicago at $36/hr, and Addison at $32/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Woodridge, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. R&D Senior Lab Technician figures were last recalculated when this page was built.