Research and Development Specialist - Finishing Process
lansdale, PA
Full Time
Mid Level
Manufacturing Finishing Specialist (Finishing Room Lead)
📍 Location: On-site
🕒 Employment Type: Full-Time
💼 Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5+ Years)
🏭 Industry: Manufacturing / Machinery
Position Overview
We are seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Finishing Specialist to lead day-to-day operations within a precision finishing environment. This role is ideal for a mechanically inclined professional with direct experience in industrial finishing processes such as blasting, deburring, and surface treatment.
You will play a critical role in managing finishing operations, supporting process development, and acting as a technical liaison between manufacturing, engineering, and customer-facing teams. This position requires both operational expertise and the ability to contribute to process improvement and innovation initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Finishing Operations
- Operate and manage finishing room equipment and processes
- Set up, run, and optimize finishing equipment for production and testing
- Troubleshoot equipment, process variables, and finishing outcomes
- Maintain equipment, media, chemicals, and process standards
- Ensure accurate documentation of process parameters and quality results
Research & Development
- Design and improve finishing processes including:
- Vibratory finishing
- Blasting and deburring
- Washing systems
- Electropolishing
- Shot peening and triboconditioning
- Conduct testing and trials to evaluate performance and quality
- Analyze data and recommend process improvements
- Develop new methods, materials, and configurations to enhance outcomes
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with sales teams to understand customer requirements
- Support customer-facing activities including sample testing and process validation
- Generate technical reports and recommendations for clients
- Collaborate with engineering and production teams to resolve finishing challenges
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, surface finishing, or related field
- Hands-on experience with industrial finishing processes and equipment
- Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to analyze technical data and drive process improvements
- Excellent communication skills for cross-functional and customer interaction
- Experience in environments performing in-house product finishing strongly preferred
Preferred Experience
- Vibratory finishing, blasting, or washing systems
- Electropolishing or shot peening
- Chemical finishing processes (e.g., triboconditioning)
- Exposure to process development or R&D environments
- Leadership or team oversight experience
Core Competencies
- Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
- Technical Problem Solving
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Customer-Facing Communication
- Mechanical & Operational Expertise
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
Additional Notes
- Candidates must have experience in industrial finishing environments
- Backgrounds in pharmaceutical manufacturing are not a fit for this role
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