Trainee / Application Development Technical Support (ADTS)

Description

Job Summary: This position bridges the laboratory and the sales department, providing technical advisory services to customers and sales representatives regarding materials and the synergy among them. Key Highlights: 1. Technical advisory to customers and sales representatives 2. Research and development of solutions using products 3. Ongoing training for the sales team **Specialty Supply Division (SDE)** is a trusted partner for manufacturers in Mexico. With over 30 years of experience, we supply specialty materials that enhance production quality, simplify processes, and support long-term success. Our locations in Mexico City, Querétaro, Guadalajara, and Monterrey enable us to serve major industrial regions with reliable supply and nearby technical support. From quotation to material application, we work alongside our customers to help their projects advance efficiently. Since 2023, SDE has been part of Formerra, a North American materials distributor. This alliance has expanded our portfolio to include engineering plastics, elastomers, and high-performance additives from global suppliers. With the addition of Formerra’s new logistics center in Monterrey, we are better positioned to offer customers greater access to materials, technical service, and agile support. **Trainee / Application Development Technical Support (ADTS)** ============================================================== Pastores No. 30, Col. Santa Isabel Industrial, C.P. 09820 Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, Apply **Job Summary:** This role serves as a liaison between the laboratory and the sales department by providing technical advisory services to customers and sales representatives on material functionality, synergy among materials, and facilitating cross\-sell opportunities for accounts already served by Specialty Supply Division (SDE) or Formerra, thereby driving lateral growth through technical recommendations to customers. Such recommendations may involve resolving quality issues, executing projects requiring specific outcomes via chemicals available through SDE or Formerra, and monitoring such trials to ensure successful resolution—ultimately resulting in the sale of specific products. **Duties/Responsibilities:** * The incumbent maintains close coordination with the sales department, interacting directly with customers to identify their technical needs and leveraging available techno\-scientific expertise to conduct bibliographic research into problems associated with those needs and assess the feasibility of resolving them through product suggestions drawn from Formerra’s portfolio. * Similarly, conducts bibliographic research to determine whether a customer’s technical need can also be addressed via a process implementation involving products available in SDE’s or Formerra’s portfolio. * Provides ongoing training to the sales team on materials available in the product catalog. * Maintains close communication with laboratory staff and ADTS management regarding technical requirements from customers and sales representatives, jointly developing short- or medium-term project proposals that address such requirements and sustain customer interest in pursuing commercial engagements with SDE or Formerra. * Prepares reports on technical visits or consultations conducted with customers or sales representatives. These reports must describe the nature of the technical inquiry, steps taken to resolve it, and technical recommendations issued (both product- and process-related) to address the inquiry. + **KPI:** Number of technical visit reports submitted per month. * Supports ADTS management in preparing technical data sheets and safety data sheets. + **KPI:** Number of technical data sheets and safety data sheets prepared per month. * Supports the sales team with technical inquiries across all available fields—from rubbers and elastomers to adhesives and water-based dispersions—subject to prior agreement with ADTS management on the nature of the inquiry whenever required. * Reviews and approves quality certificates when necessary. + **KPI:** Number of Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) reviewed (this metric is measured collectively across all technical department members, not individually). * Assists with laboratory tasks whenever needed. In doing so, correlates physical and chemical phenomena with real-world industrial challenges and actively contributes to projects requiring solutions beyond bibliographic research—providing secondary support to the rubber laboratory technician and the liquid dispersion laboratory specialist. * Analyzes quality control complaints in coordination with ADTS management and laboratory personnel, ensuring material quality where applicable and feasible given company equipment availability. Additionally, provides technical arguments (with prior agreement from ADTS management) to draft response letters addressing material complaints. * Reviews and validates laboratory procedures with ADTS management and the laboratory specialist. **Required Skills and Competencies:** * Demonstrated continuous improvement mindset. * Clear critical thinking processes for problem solving. * Scientific knowledge of chemistry and ability to correlate theoretical concepts with practical problems. * Ability to identify sales opportunities by recognizing chemical substance names used by customers to achieve production goals or resolve industrial problems. * Laboratory work experience to support occasional internal lab tasks. * Proficiency in measuring viscosity using Brookfield and Zahn methods; familiarity with Zahn cups and Brookfield viscometers. * Proactive approach and ability to work independently. * Ability to track projects initiated during technical visits. * Strong verbal and written communication skills for reporting project outcomes. **Education and Experience:** * Experience in research or quality laboratories. * Customer service orientation. * Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, Industrial Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy and Biochemistry (QFB), Quality Assurance (QA), Industrial Quality Management (IQM), or related disciplines. * Academic or industrial laboratory experience at the higher education or industrial level. * Familiarity with ASTM, ISO, and IATF standards (optional). **Physical Requirements and Work Environment:** * Extended periods seated at a desk working on a computer, alternating with standing work on the plant floor alongside customers. * Handling of laboratory equipment under supervision by laboratory staff. **Why Join Us?** * Rewarding work and responsibilities. * Immediate and sustained opportunity to make an impact. * Excellent culture and collaborative team. **Physical Location:** Iztapalapa, CDMX **Employment Type:** Full-time.