Research & Development | Process Innovation Specialist
Work Location: Onalaska, WI (100% Onsite Role)
Compensation: $65,000 - $105,000 annually
Benefits:
- Eligible for wage increases twice annually
- 3 weeks of paid vacation in year one and 4 weeks in year two
- 8 paid holidays
- Health benefits start the first of the month following start date
- 401(k) with company match
- Quarterly profit sharing
About Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations
At Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, we give electronics their next best life while protecting our planet and our customers' interests. As a Certified Great Place to Work® since 2017, we've built a team culture that's rewarding, engaging, and FUN! But don't just take our word for it—see what our Team Members have to say.
How We Hire: The Head, Heart, and Briefcase
At Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, we believe great performance comes from alignment across three areas:
Head – your natural behavioral drives and cognitive agility
❤️ Heart – your values, passions, and what drives you to make a meaningful impact
Briefcase – your experiences, skills, and results from past roles
You'll start with the Predictive Index (PI) assessment (takes less than 20 minutes), then move through structured interviews, work samples, and meaningful culture-focused conversations.
Your Purpose
As an R&D / Process Innovation Specialist, you'll spend your time solving real, hands-on problems—researching, testing, building, and improving the systems that power our circuit board processing operations.
This is not a theoretical role. You'll be in the work—experimenting with equipment, troubleshooting issues, and continuously improving how we operate. You'll help develop and optimize a first-of-its-kind processing line, driving better recovery, throughput, and reliability.
We're looking for someone who is naturally curious and wired to figure things out—someone who enjoys taking things apart, improving how they work, and building better solutions. Over time, this role has the opportunity to grow into leading a small team, but success starts with strong individual contribution and ownership.
If you're someone who likes to tinker, solve problems, and see your ideas come to life in a real-world environment, this role will keep you challenged and engaged every day.
What You'll Do
- Research, test, and develop improvements to our circuit board processing systems
- Troubleshoot equipment and process issues—identifying root causes and implementing solutions
- Design, modify, and optimize equipment and workflows to improve performance
- Run trials and experiments to improve recovery rates, throughput, and quality
- Work closely with Operations and Maintenance to implement and refine solutions
- Evaluate and collaborate with vendors on equipment and process improvements
- Build and improve systems related to testing, quality, and production
- Continuously look for ways to make things work better, faster, and more efficiently
- Take ownership of projects from idea through execution and results
What You Bring (Briefcase)
- High school diploma or equivalent required; degree in Engineering, Technology, or Business preferred, but not required
- 3–5 years of experience in problem solving, mechanical/technical experimentation, continuous improvement, or hands-on innovation
- Mechanical aptitude with experience fixing, modifying, or working with equipment (professional or personal projects)
- Experience working on projects, side ventures, student teams, or self-driven technical builds is a plus
- Exposure to industrial equipment, manufacturing, or process improvement environments is helpful but not required
- Interest in how businesses scale, improve operations, and drive performance
Skills & Strengths (Head)
- Strong troubleshooting ability — able to break down problems, isolate variables, and identify root causes
- Practical problem solver who can move from idea → test → iteration quickly
- Mechanical curiosity — naturally interested in how equipment and systems work
- Able to think critically and make decisions in ambiguous, fast-changing environments
- Connects technical work to outcomes like efficiency, throughput, and performance
- Communicates clearly and works effectively across teams (Ops, Maintenance, Leadership)
- Learns quickly and applies new knowledge in real-world situations
❤️ Who You Are (Heart)
- You're someone who likes to figure things out. You take things apart, fix what's broken, and look for better ways to do things — whether that's at work or on your own time.
- You have a high level of ownership and don't wait to be told what to do. When something isn't working, you lean in, not away. You're persistent, resourceful, and willing to test, fail, and try again until you get it right.
- You're energized by hands-on work, fast-moving environments, and solving problems that don't have obvious answers. You're curious, driven, and always looking to improve.
- You also work well with others — you communicate clearly, build trust, and contribute to a positive, high-energy team environment.
- Most importantly, you want to grow. You're looking for an opportunity where you can make a real impact now, while building toward taking on more responsibility and leadership over time.
Why You'll Love Working Here
Purpose with Impact: Help give electronics their "next best life" while protecting the planet.
Award-Winning Culture: Certified Great Place to Work® since 2017.
Innovation Encouraged: We welcome creativity and fresh perspectives.
Growth Opportunities: Access to professional development and career advancement.
Values-Driven Organization: We live our core values every day.
⚖️ EEO Statement
Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing fair employment opportunities for all based on merit. For positions subject to state contract requirements, we adhere to state affirmative action obligations and take proactive steps to ensure equal opportunity in our hiring practices. We do not discriminate or make any employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
