Advanced Materials Lab Technician

Job Type: Full-time

Location: Onsite in Denver, Colorado

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Compensation: $20.00 – $28.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

About VeroTouch Science

VeroTouch Science is transforming the materials that build the world. We are an industrial chemical and materials R&D and manufacturing startup, developing and producing specialty chemical systems from the ground up with a relentless focus on real-world performance. 

We are focused on concrete admixtures, material additives, coatings, and specialty chemical systems - developing products in-house, taking them through production, and building the infrastructure to scale them. We own the science. 

VeroTouch Science is early-stage, hands-on, and execution-driven. The people who thrive here take ownership, maintain high standards, and care deeply about outcomes. 

Position Summary

The Advanced Materials Lab Technician is a full-time, onsite role working directly alongside VeroTouch Science’s Principal Scientist on the formulation, testing, and quality control of specialty chemical systems. Work covers both active production and early-stage R&D, including admixture chemistry, curing compounds, surface treatments, set accelerators and retarders, coatings, material additives, and related formulations. The role requires precision, procedural discipline, and genuine engagement with the science behind what we’re developing.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Formulation and Batch Preparation 

• Prepare concrete admixture formulations and specialty concrete chemical compounds in accordance with established batch records, covering both production batches and experimental development runs. 
• Support iterative formulation work by adjusting component ratios and raw material selection based on test results and direction from the Principal Scientist. 
• Accurately measure, weigh, and combine raw materials per documented procedures, maintaining awareness of material compatibility and sensitivity to temperature and humidity. 
• Maintain complete batch labeling, traceability documentation, and lab notebooks for all production and development runs. 
•  Support raw material qualification by running comparative trials on new supplier samples and documenting results.   

Concrete Mix Design and Materials Testing 

• Support proportioning of trial concrete mixtures per ACI 211.1, adjusting water-cementitious ratio, aggregate gradation, and admixture dosages to meet project or DOT specifications. 
• Characterize aggregates: sieve analysis (ASTM C136 / AASHTO T 27), specific gravity and absorption (ASTM C127/C128 / AASHTO T 84/T 85), and moisture content (ASTM C566). 
• Run fresh concrete tests: slump (ASTM C143 / AASHTO T 119), unit weight and air content by pressure (ASTM C138/C231 / AASHTO T 121/T 152), temperature (ASTM C1064 / AASHTO T 309), and time of set by penetration (ASTM C403 / AASHTO T 197). 
• Fabricate, cure, and test hardened specimens: specimen prep (ASTM C31/C192 / AASHTO T 23/T 126), compressive strength (ASTM C39 / AASHTO T 22), flexural strength (ASTM C78 / AASHTO T 97), and rapid chloride permeability (ASTM C1202 / AASHTO T 277). 
• Evaluate admixtures and cementitious materials: chemical admixtures (ASTM C494), air-entraining admixtures (ASTM C260), and mortar compressive strength (ASTM C109). 

Lab Equipment and Facility Upkeep 

• Clean, inspect, and organize lab equipment, containers, and workspaces between production runs in accordance with established standards, including mixing vessels, rheometers, density measurement tools, and pH meters. 
• Monitor inventory levels of raw materials, consumables, containers, and lab supplies; communicate replenishment needs to the Principal Scientist in a timely manner. 
• Support equipment setup, calibration checks, and breakdown before and after each production or development session, flagging any equipment issues, wear, or malfunctions for the Principal Scientist’s attention. 

Quality and Safety 

• Adhere to all safety protocols, PPE requirements, and chemical handling procedures; maintain working familiarity with SDS documentation for all materials in use. 
• Perform QC checks on prepared batches (density, pH, viscosity, appearance); document out-of-spec results with enough detail to support investigation. 
• Perform quality checks on prepared batches including density, pH, viscosity, and appearance; document out-of-spec results with enough detail to support investigation. 
• Support concrete mix testing for admixture trials: prepare specimens, conduct fresh property measurements, and assist with compressive strength casting and curing. 
• Report anomalies, spills, or safety concerns to the Principal Scientist promptly with sufficient context for root cause investigation. 

General Lab Support 

• Assist with receiving, inspecting, and organizing raw material deliveries; verify shipments against purchase orders and flag discrepancies promptly. 
• Maintain accurate documentation including batch logs, material usage records, test result summaries, and inventory counts; contribute to SOP development as lab processes mature. 
• Collaborate with the production and engineering teams on daily operational priorities, including lab setup for larger-scale trials and pilot-scale production runs. 

Qualifications

Education

•  Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience in a technical lab or production environment.  

Experience 

• Prior experience in a laboratory, chemical production, or technical manufacturing environment is preferred. 
• Ideal candidates have handled chemical reagents, operated lab instrumentation, or supported production batching in a setting that required strict procedural compliance and accurate documentation. 
• Background in concrete chemistry, admixture technology, industrial chemical formulation, corrosion resistance, coatings, or related fields is a meaningful plus but not a requirement. 
• Familiarity with standard concrete testing methods (ASTM C39, C136, C143, C231, C1202, etc.) is advantageous; candidates without this background are expected to get up to speed with direct support from the Principal Scientist. 

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to follow written and verbal instructions with precision and consistency. 
• Ability to work independently from technical procedures, batch records, and SOPs without requiring repeated direction on established tasks. 
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining clean, organized, and compliant workspaces. 
• Accuracy in measurement, labeling, and record-keeping is non-negotiable in this role. 
• Foundational understanding of chemistry relevant to aqueous systems, surfactants, pH-sensitive materials, or cementitious chemistry. 
• Comfort working with technical data and applying basic analytical thinking to lab results. 
• Reliable, punctual, and self-motivated with the ability to take ownership of a work area and follow through without prompting. 
• Comfortable operating on a small, fast-moving team where priorities can shift and independent judgment is expected within defined responsibilities. 
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document work clearly and receive technical direction accurately. 
• Comfortable raising questions or flagging concerns to the Principal Scientist in a timely and direct manner. 

Professional Development 

This position offers direct, hands-on exposure to industrial chemistry R&D and production at an early-stage materials company. Technicians work directly alongside the Principal Scientist, gaining practical experience in concrete chemical formulation, admixture chemistry, performance testing, and the production and quality systems that govern commercial-scale manufacturing. Candidates pursuing careers in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science will build substantive, applicable experience in specialty chemical development and production. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Ability to work in an active lab and light manufacturing environment for a full shift. 
• Ability to stand for extended periods and move throughout lab and production spaces. 
• Ability to work in environments that may involve chemical exposure, requiring consistent use of PPE. 
• Ability to lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to approximately 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Compensation and Benefits

• 10 days of PTO (vacation and personal time).
• Health, dental, and vision coverage (eligible after 90 days)
• Colorado Secure Savings IRA plan (eligible after 90 days)
• Performance-based incentive bonus program (eligible after 90 days)
• Company-paid holidays

VeroTouch is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and complying with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This job description outlines the primary duties and requirements of the role but does not limit the employee to those duties. If a candidate with a disability requires accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Felix Heeter at fheeter@verotouch.com. 

Certain responsibilities are considered essential functions of the position, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform them. This document describes the minimum requirements for the role and does not create an employment contract. Employment with the company is at-will, meaning either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.