Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Join the Hexcel team around the globe and become a part of the “strength within” as a R&D Technician. Do you have an eye for detail? Are you looking for a role with great training/career prospects? If you have just left college with a qualification in Chemistry or materials/polymer science, then this could be the role for you!

With full training, you will be responsible for:

• R&D laboratory duties including preparing and evaluating composite materials
• Formulating and mixing resins and other chemicals, producing films and “prepreg” materials, curing laminates, and performing a range of thermal analytical and mechanical tests
• Participating in research or new product development projects
• Planning the technical aspects of the work with guidance from their supervisor and to provide technical observations, interpretation of results, and to provide and execute experimental ideas based on technical inferences
• Developing expertise and developing a level of background understanding on technically relevant methodologies

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Course contents

• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
• Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organization Standard Procedures
• Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
• Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
• Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
• Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
• Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
• Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
• Complete documentation proficiently
• Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
• Contribute to the preparation of reports.
• Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e.g. calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
• Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
• Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
• Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
• Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
• Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
• Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
• Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results