We are seeking a hands-on Compounding & Processing Technician to support the development of rubber, silicone, and thermoplastic materials. This role is responsible for laboratory-scale compounding, molding, extrusion, and sample preparation activities that support product innovation and manufacturing scale-up.

Raw Material & Inventory Management

• Maintain accurate inventory records, lot traceability, storage locations, and expiration dates.
• Receive, label, store, and organize raw materials.
• Conduct cycle counts and monitor inventory levels for replenishment needs.

Compounding & Processing

• Operate internal mixers, two-roll mills, extruders, and injection molding equipment.
• Execute mixing trials and monitor key processing parameters such as temperature, time, and shear.
• Record process data and observations to support development activities.

Material Preparation & Sample Production

• Prepare raw materials and formulations for testing and evaluation.
• Produce molded and extruded samples according to project requirements.
• Maintain accurate batch records and material traceability.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform equipment setup, changeovers, and cleaning.
• Support preventive maintenance and basic troubleshooting activities.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.

Safety, Quality & Collaboration

• Follow all safety procedures, SOPs, and quality requirements.
• Support audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with engineers and scientists and provide feedback on material and process performance.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical training, apprenticeship, associate degree, or bachelor's degree is a plus.

• 2+ years of manufacturing, machine operation, compounding, molding, extrusion, or related processing experience preferred.
• Familiarity with rubber, silicone, thermoplastics, or polymer processing is beneficial but not required.
• Experience operating, maintaining, or troubleshooting manufacturing equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to learn specialized processing equipment.
• Ability to follow work instructions, document results, and maintain material traceability.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and teamwork skills.

• Consistent production of quality compound batches.
• Accurate sample preparation and documentation.
• Safe and efficient operation of processing equipment.
• Strong support of material development and scale-up programs.

• This position plays a critical role in turning new material concepts into practical solutions by supporting innovation, accelerating development timelines, and enabling successful transition from laboratory validation to commercial production.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Plymouth, MI.

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $33.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Plymouth,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent s