R&d Lab Technician

Napoleon leads the way with innovative engineering, advanced manufacturing techniques, unsurpassed customer service and remarkable product quality. Our award-winning products offer a best-in-class experience for all customers’ home comfort needs. While we are proudly Canadian, Napoleon is also fortunate to operate on a world-side scale.

The warmth and experience that a Napoleon product brings to the homes of our customers transcends borders, language, and cultures to enhance everyday living across the globe. Throughout North America, Europe, South America and Asia, Napoleon creates memorable moments through our stunning designs and innovative technologies.

**Reports to**: Validation Manager/Supervisor

**Job Purpose**: Responsible for Product Validation; ensure products being tested meet or exceed applicable safety standards, and internal (WSL) performance, appearance and durability requirements. Supports New Product Development by participating in all aspects of new product design, development, fabrication, assembly and testing. Additionally provides input as part of a cross functional team to aid in the resolution of field issues with current and past production units.

**Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities**:

- Set-up and conduct performance, safety testing and other activities related to product development validation and certification following internal and industry standards and test methods (CSA, ANSI, UL, ASHRAE, AHRI), including, but not limited to:

- Performance and Efficiency: input rates, burner operation, energy and fuel efficiency (P4.1, AFUE, FER, SEER, HSPF, etc)
- Safety: Electrical and control systems testing, radiated and conducted emissions, structural integrity and reliability, enclosure temperatures
- Electrical and control systems testing
- Environmental testing: wind, rain, hot/cold temperatures testing
- Technical documentation: review and validate technical data and specifications, assembly, installation and service procedures for appliances and accessories
- Accurate and appropriate data collection using various R&D calibrated equipment for pressure, flow, temperature, combustion products, and electrical parameters.
- Data storage including test sheets, raw data, photographs, processed data, videos, reports etc. correctly in company testing project folders.
- Data analysis and reporting focusing on accuracy and completeness. Appropriately recording, analyzing and interpreting results to generate thorough, accurate and detailed test reports including appropriate conclusions and recommendations based on a clear understanding of engineering principles specific to respective product group, including but not limited to gas combustion and heat transfer, Air blowers/fans and Air flow in ducts, Air conditioning systems, Refrigeration and Psychrometry, Electric circuitry, controls and motors.
- Effectively collaborate with project / production coordinators for product reviews, (DFM, DFA, DFI, DFS), benchmarking (competitors and existing products), design review, testing reviews and in doing so provide relevant data, recommendations and conclusions regarding manufacturability, performance, cost reduction or durability. Where applicable collaborate with QA to provide support for root cause analysis and Assist to product built during engineering run by providing necessary training to assembly personnel.
- Sheet Metal Layout and Fabrication: Creating hand sketches for self or others to use for the purpose of making sample parts, limited prototypes and communicating changes to project coordinators or designers. Producing sample parts from sketches using R&D equipment. Track consumables to ensure new order is placed for necessary quantities before those run out.
- Build and assemble prototype units: Assemble prototypes from production parts, prototype, or modified components or samples. Modify parts as required for prototypes using a variety of techniques. Record any issues during prototype and propose suitable design changes to improve manufacturability, performance, installation, service, or durability.
- Consistently report relevant findings and new information in company ‘Lessons Learned’ spreadsheet / database with a view to improve future products and/or test procedures. Provide guidance, training and coaching to Assistant Lab Technician, students, or Co-ops in order to understand the task and perform their work in a safe and effective manner.
- Planning daily, weekly and monthly work for assigned projects based on timing deadlines and test input from project coordinators. Including determining the time and materials required to complete; where necessary informing the project coordinator regarding constraints, resources required and recommendations to ensure on time completion at reasonable cost. Meet assigned deadlines, where necessary taking corrective actions to recover lost time or use of preapproved overtime.
- Safe use and operation, (where applicable after training),