Sample & Prototype Technician

Role details

Title

Sample & Prototype Technician

Department

Business Development — Sample Lab

Reports to

Sr. Director, Business Development

Location

[On-site — plant / lab]

FLSA / Status

[Non-exempt, full-time]

About NeoGraf

=================

NeoGraf Solutions is a world leader in graphite materials science, manufacturing carbon and graphite products in Lakewood, Ohio for nearly 140 years. Our high-performance materials serve demanding applications across thermal management for electronics, fluid sealing, alternative energy and fuel cells, transportation, and flame-retardant additives for polymers and construction.

Position Summary

====================

The Sample & Prototype Technician owns the physical fulfillment of customer sample and prototype orders end-to-end — from managing and pulling the standard products held in inventory to building custom, made-to-spec prototypes. Prototype work is performed using sample lab equipment and, as needed, production equipment. The role removes low-volume, high-touch sample work from the production floor and the Business Development queue and gives the business a single accountable owner for sample turnaround, quality, and responsiveness.

This role requires high attention to detail and the ability to navigate and coordinate work across multiple departments. The technician personally performs the sample and trial work and coordinates it across Application Engineering, Operations, Quality, R&D, and other departments as needed. The technician reports to the Sr. Director of Business Development and takes day-to-day technical direction from an Application Engineer, keeping sample priorities aligned with the commercial pipeline while the work stays technically guided. The technician is the operational hub through which every sample request flows and is accountable for meeting turnaround commitments (SLAs) by sample class.

Beyond fulfillment, the technician coordinates custom prototype trials and owns their execution and data capture — scheduling and coordinating trial time with Operations, supporting trials on behalf of the Application Engineers, and recording and helping analyze the resulting data alongside the Application Engineer. The technician also supports internal R&D development efforts — preparing samples, running trials and experiments, and capturing data for the R&D team — with customer sample responsiveness remaining the primary priority. When a prototype wins the business, the technician carries those trial learnings into the production handoff with Operations and the Product Manager.

Analysis and coordination responsibilities are expected to grow as the role matures.

Key Responsibilities

========================

Standard product fulfillment & inventory

• Fulfill sample requests for standard products held in inventory, pulling the correct grade, lot, and quantity.
• Manage the inventory of standard products kept for sampling — monitor stock levels, replenish, and ensure availability for fast fulfillment.
• Prepare and package samples to meet order and customer requirements.
• Deliver completed samples to the shipping department.

Custom prototype & trial support

• Build custom and prototype samples to customer specification using sample lab equipment, following established methods and safety procedures.
• Work with Operations and HSE to be trained on and operate equipment as needed to produce samples and support trials.
• Coordinate custom prototype trials — aligning the Application Engineer's requirements, equipment and production time, and the trial schedule.
• Schedule and coordinate trial time with Operations; run and escort trials through the process for key customer programs.
• Support trial activities for new customer development and new or custom product configurations.

R&D development support

• Prepare samples and run trials and experiments in support of internal R&D projects.
• Coordinate R&D trial and equipment time with Operations alongside customer sampling work.
• Collect, record, and share trial and experiment data with the R&D team.
• Take task direction from the R&D team for R&D efforts, balancing them against customer sample commitments (customer sampling prioritized).

Trial data collection & analysis

• Collect and record trial data — parameters, settings, measurements, yield, and outcomes.
• Help analyze trial results and summarize findings for the Application Engineer and note adjustments for the next iteration (with support from the Application Engineer).

Commercialization & production handoff (when the business is won)

• Carry prototype trial learnings into a repeatable production process together with the Operations team.
• Support the Product Manager on the productize decision — whether a won prototype becomes a standard product.
• Document the prototype-to-production handoff so Operations and Quality inherit a complete, repeatable process package.

Cross-functional coordination

• Navigate and coordinate work across Business Development, Application Engineering, Operations, Quality, and R&D to move samples and trials through the organization.
• Coordinate with outside vendors and suppliers on activities needed to support the sample and prototyping process (e.g., ordering tools and dies, and working with third-party contract manufacturing partners).

Intake & workflow management

• Serve as the single intake point for all sample requests through the defined request path, ensuring every request enters the formal queue.
• Triage and schedule the sample queue against published service levels (SLAs) by sample class.
• Escalate capacity conflicts, rush requests, and priority calls to the Application Engineer and, when direction is needed, the Sr. Director of Business Development.

Documentation, quality & traceability

• Work with the Application Engineer and the Quality team to determine which COA properties must be reported, and generate and attach COAs, spec sheets, and sample paperwork accordingly.
• Maintain lot / batch traceability for every sample shipped, including custom material.
• Follow IP and trade-secret handling protocols for developmental and confidential material; ensure controlled material is labeled, logged, and restricted appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records of sample, inventory, and trial activity to support cycle-time, conversion, and trial-outcome reporting.

Lab operations & safety

• Operate, clean, and perform basic maintenance on sample lab equipment; report equipment issues promptly.
• Maintain sample lab supplies of consumables and packaging; reorder as needed.
• Conduct testing of materials accurately as required by research needs and customer requirements.
• Follow all HSE, PPE, and housekeeping requirements; keep the sample lab audit-ready.

Continuous improvement

• Identify and propose improvements to sample turnaround, standardization, and documentation.
• Contribute to building a library of repeatable methods for common sample requests.

Qualifications

==================

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent; technical / associate degree in a science or manufacturing field preferred.
• 7+ years’ experience in a manufacturing or lab (R&D) environment.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in both physical work and record-keeping.
• Ability to navigate and coordinate work across multiple departments.
• Hands-on comfort operating equipment and working with physical product.
• Strong organization; able to manage inventory and a queue of competing priorities.
• Comfort collecting and recording data, and a willingness to grow into trial data analysis; basic spreadsheet and ERP / order-entry skills.
• Ability to follow specifications, methods, and safety procedures precisely.
• Self-starter who leverages curiosity to improved process flow and outcomes.

Preferred

• Experience in specialty materials, or a similar technology-driven manufacturer.
• 7+ years’ experience in Fabrication environment.
• 5+ years’ experience in materials-handling environment.
• Familiarity with COAs, lot traceability, and basic quality documentation.
• Exposure to process trials, scale-up, R&D support, or new-product introduction (NPI).
• Experience turning trial or test data into clear findings and recommendations.

Physical & Work Environment

===============================

• On-site role in a plant / lab environment; use of PPE required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for extended periods.
• Exposure to typical manufacturing conditions (dust, noise, equipment).