Compounding & Laboratory Technician (Team Leader)

About Us

Composite Materials Engineering (CME) is a Melbourne-based manufacturer of SMC composite products, operating from our 6,500sqm Bayswater North facility across three shifts. We're a well-established manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality and innovation in composite materials.

About the Role

We're looking for a hands-on Compounding & Lab Technician to lead our small SMC compounding team. This is a working leadership role — you'll be on the floor compounding resin paste and running QC testing yourself, while also coordinating the day-to-day work of your crew, keeping production supplied, and ensuring consistency and quality across every batch.

Key Responsibilities

• Weigh, mix and compound SMC resin paste formulations to specification, including resins, fillers, catalysts, pigments and additives

• Lead and coordinate a small compounding crew — allocate daily tasks, train team members, and ensure batch schedules keep pace with production demand

• Operate and maintain compounding equipment, troubleshooting issues as they arise

• Conduct QC testing on incoming raw materials and in-process paste (e.g. viscosity, gel time, cure characteristics)

• Monitor formulation consistency and adjust as needed to resolve quality issues, working closely with production

• Maintain accurate batch and testing records in SYSPRO and quality systems

• Investigate non-conformances and lead root-cause corrections within the compounding area

• Maintain lab equipment, calibration schedules and general housekeeping standards

• Ensure your team follows WHS, environmental and quality procedures, including safe chemical handling

About You

• Proven hands-on experience in SMC/BMC compounding or resin paste production — this is essential, not just general lab experience

• Experience leading or informally supervising a small team in a production environment

• Solid understanding of resin systems, curing chemistry, and paste consistency control

• Strong attention to detail and comfortable owning quality outcomes for your area

• Confident working with chemicals and enforcing safe handling practices with your crew

• Practical, "get it done" mindset — you're happy compounding paste yourself, not just directing others