Materials Characterization Lab Technician

PGS Worldwide is seeking a Materials Characterization Lab Technician in Moorestown, New Jersey for a one-year onsite contract-to-hire role supporting a leading aerospace & defense company. This position will support advanced materials characterization and mechanical testing activities for aerospace and defense applications, including specimen preparation, microscopy, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, data documentation, and laboratory equipment maintenance.

Required Skills

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in a materials characterization or mechanical testing laboratory.
• Experience preparing material samples through sectioning, mounting, grinding, and polishing.
• Experience working with metals, composites, electronics assemblies, or similar engineered materials.
• Ability to perform detailed laboratory procedures and maintain accurate test documentation.
• Experience operating or supporting laboratory testing and characterization equipment.
• Ability to safely install test fixtures and handle test specimens and subassemblies.
• Ability to perform routine calibration and preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance if required during the assignment.

Preferred Skills

• Metallographic sample-preparation experience, including acid etching.
• Experience with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Experience with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS).
• Experience with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Experience with thermal analysis platforms such as DSC, TGA, DMA, or TMA.
• Experience operating mechanical load frames such as Instron equipment.
• Experience evaluating mechanical test results.
• Failure-analysis experience.
• Experience bonding strain gauges.
• Familiarity with ASTM testing standards.
• Familiarity with aerospace or military specifications.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare metal, composite, and electronic samples for microstructural analysis.
• Perform sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, and metallographic etching.
• Support materials characterization using SEM, EDS, FTIR, and thermal-analysis equipment.
• Conduct mechanical testing on metals, composites, elastomers, and other materials.
• Perform testing in accordance with ASTM standards and established internal procedures.
• Install test fixtures and subassemblies for laboratory testing.
• Bond strain gauges when required.
• Compile raw test data and prepare technical presentations.
• Record and communicate laboratory observations and test results.
• Perform routine calibration and preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Support environmental chambers and other laboratory infrastructure.
• Maintain safe and organized laboratory operations.

Pay

• $35.00–$50.00 per hour.
• Overtime eligible after 40 hours.

Job ID: 22906

Military veterans and transitioning military members are encouraged to apply to all PGS Worldwide positions. All of our jobs are military-friendly, and we work with leaders in Aerospace who rely on your military expertise to support mission-critical programs nationwide. As a Veteran Founded company, we know that the military has given you the skills and training you need to succeed in positions like this, and we want to support your success in the civilian sector however we can. We thank you for your service and humbly offer our own in return by helping you take your career to the next level.