Company: Progressive Industrial Fluids Ltd.

Location:
London, Ontario | On-Site Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Reports To: Director of Technical Services & Innovation Compensation & Benefits Hourly Wage: $32.00–$40.00 per hour, based on experience and technical qualifications Vacation: 2 weeks annually Health

Benefits:
Eligible after 3 months RRSP Program: Eligible after 6 months Overtime: Paid in accordance with applicable Ontario employment standards About Progressive Industrial Fluids Progressive Industrial Fluids is a locally owned, family-operated Canadian manufacturing company based in Southwestern Ontario. We design, manufacture, and distribute industrial fluids and specialty chemical products that support critical industries across Canada. Built from the ground up, Progressive has grown through a strong focus on process, quality, and doing things the right way. We take pride in producing true Canadian-made products, supporting local jobs, and maintaining hands-on ownership involvement in the business. Over the past several years, we’ve intentionally invested in building a process-driven organization. From documented procedures and quality controls to ERP integration through Odoo, our systems are designed to support scale, consistency, and continuous improvement. These foundations give us significant room to grow — and we are now poised for the next phase of expansion. We believe great companies are built by great people. As we grow, we are focused on surrounding ourselves with high-calibre team members who care about their work, take ownership, and want to help build something lasting. We value accountability, responsiveness, respect, and collaboration, and we believe strong leadership and clear processes allow people to do their best work. Joining Progressive Industrial Fluids means becoming part of a team that is building for the long term — where contributions matter, improvements are encouraged, and success is shared. The Role Progressive Industrial Fluids is seeking a Product Development Technologist to join our Technical Services & Innovation department and contribute directly to the development, improvement, and commercialization of our industrial fluid and specialty chemical products. This is a hands-on technical role for someone who enjoys taking a product challenge from an initial idea or performance requirement through laboratory development, testing, validation, documentation, and ultimately into manufacturing. You will work on products such as industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, cleaners and degreasers, corrosion inhibitors, and other specialty maintenance, repair, and operations chemicals. Working under the direction of the Director of Technical Services & Innovation, you will take ownership of assigned development projects while collaborating closely with production, field service, purchasing, suppliers, sales, and other members of the Progressive team. Your work may begin with a customer application, a raw-material change, a performance concern, a cost or manufacturing opportunity, or an idea for a new product. A significant part of this position is translating laboratory work into practical manufacturing results. Developing a formulation that performs successfully at bench scale is only one part of the job. You will also help determine whether that formulation can be manufactured safely, consistently, efficiently, and economically within Progressive's production environment. You will be expected to approach development work in a structured and documented manner. Formulation changes, testing results, raw-material evaluations, manufacturing instructions, specifications, and other technical information need to be accurate, traceable, and properly maintained so that successful developments become repeatable business processes rather than isolated laboratory results. Progressive operates a dedicated laboratory and continues to invest in its technical capabilities. This position offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to that growth while working directly with experienced technical leadership and seeing your work progress from laboratory development into production and real-world industrial applications. Success in this role requires curiosity and scientific thinking, but also practicality. We are looking for someone who can investigate a technical problem, organize the work required to solve it, communicate findings clearly, and follow a project through until the solution has been properly validated and implemented.

Key Responsibilities
Product Research, Formulation & Development
- Research, develop, and optimize formulations for industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, cleaners, degreasers, corrosion inhibitors, and other specialty industrial chemical products.
- Develop products in response to customer applications, technical requirements, manufacturing needs, market opportunities, and internal improvement initiatives.
- Design and conduct laboratory experiments to evaluate formulation performance, compatibility, stability, reliability, and manufacturability.
- Select and evaluate base fluids, additives, emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, lubricity components, surfactants, and other raw materials appropriate to the application.
- Prepare laboratory prototypes and comparative samples and document formulation changes throughout the development process.
- Evaluate relevant product characteristics such as viscosity, lubricity, corrosion protection, solvency, foaming, emulsion stability, pH, thermal stability, and other application-specific performance criteria.
- Consider technical performance, raw-material cost, availability, manufacturing efficiency, product consistency, and commercial requirements when developing formulations.
- Maintain clear development records so that work can be repeated, reviewed, and transferred successfully into production. Scale-Up & Manufacturing Implementation
- Work with production personnel to transition successful laboratory formulations into pilot and full-scale manufacturing.
- Assist in determining appropriate mixing sequences, processing temperatures, addition rates, mixing times, and other manufacturing parameters.
- Participate in initial production batches and evaluate whether laboratory performance is maintained at manufacturing scale.




- Identify scale-up concerns and make appropriate formulation or process adjustments before routine production.
- Develop or update manufacturing instructions and other documentation required to consistently reproduce approved formulations.
- Support production teams when technical clarification or troubleshooting is required for established products.
- Consider operator safety, equipment capability, production efficiency, and repeatability when recommending manufacturing processes. Product Improvement & Reformulation
- Review existing formulations for opportunities to improve performance, consistency, manufacturability, cost effectiveness, or sustainability.
- Reformulate products when raw materials become unavailable, supplier specifications change, regulatory requirements evolve, or manufacturing conditions require adjustment.
- Conduct comparative testing between existing and proposed formulations and provide clear technical recommendations based on the results.
- Investigate recurring product or manufacturing concerns and support technically sound corrective actions.
- Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary formulation complexity or improve raw-material utilization without compromising required product performance.
- Document and validate formulation changes before they are released into regular production.
- Work with the Director of Technical Services & Innovation to prioritize development and improvement initiatives based on business needs. Raw Material Evaluation & Supplier Support
- Evaluate new and existing raw materials for quality, consistency, compatibility, availability, and technical performance.
- Review supplier technical data, specifications, certificates of analysis, safety documentation, and other relevant product information.
- Conduct laboratory evaluations of alternative suppliers, replacement materials, and new additive technologies.
- Coordinate with suppliers to obtain samples, technical information, formulation guidance, and application recommendations.
- Assess the potential effect of raw-material changes on existing formulations and recommend appropriate validation testing before implementation.
- Maintain accurate records of raw-material evaluations, approvals, testing results, and related formulation changes.
- Support appropriate cost-reduction and supply-continuity initiatives through alternative sourcing and formulation optimization. Laboratory Testing & Technical Evaluation
- Perform and interpret laboratory testing appropriate to industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, and specialty chemical products.
- Use test results to guide formulation decisions, investigate product performance, and support technical recommendations.
- Maintain accurate test records and ensure results are organized and traceable to the appropriate product, formulation, batch, sample, or development project.
- Assist in developing standardized testing procedures and internal performance specifications.
- Maintain appropriate test equipment, calibration records, laboratory supplies, and testing standards. Testing may include methods and evaluations such as:
- Kinematic viscosity — ASTM D445
- Copper corrosion — ASTM D130
- Rust prevention and corrosion protection — ASTM D665 and related methods
- Foaming characteristics — ASTM D892
- Acid number and related chemical analysis — ASTM D974 / D664
- Four-Ball Wear and Extreme Pressure testing — ASTM D4172 / D2783
- Emulsion stability and metalworking-fluid performance evaluation
- pH, alkalinity, concentration, and refractometer calibration
- Thermal and oxidation stability evaluations
- Comparative product testing and application-specific laboratory simulations Training may be provided on specialized test methods and laboratory equipment based on the successful candidate's previous experience. Technical Documentation & Product Information
- Prepare, update, and maintain technical data sheets, formulation records, manufacturing instructions, product specifications, certificates of analysis, and related technical documents.
- Support the preparation, review, and maintenance of safety data sheets and product labels.
- Maintain accurate formulation revision histories, bills of materials, raw-material information, testing records, and product specifications.
- Enter and maintain approved technical information within Odoo and other established company systems.
- Ensure technical documentation is accurate, organized, traceable, appropriately controlled, and accessible to the departments that rely on it.
- Support ISO 9001 documentation requirements and technical information required for internal or external audits.
- Develop and improve standard operating procedures relating to laboratory work, formulation development, testing, sample management, and other assigned technical processes.
- Provide technical information required by sales, field service, production, purchasing, and other internal departments. Field Service & Customer Technical Support
- Collaborate with Progressive's Field Service Team to evaluate product performance in customer applications and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Analyze customer and field samples and communicate findings clearly to the appropriate team members.
- Assist with technical investigations involving metalworking-fluid performance, lubrication, corrosion, compatibility, cleanliness, or other product-related concerns.
- Support product selection, product trials, sample evaluation, technical data review, and application-specific recommendations.
- Participate in customer-site technical evaluations when the nature of the development or investigation requires direct observation.
- Use real-world customer and field-service feedback to identify potential formulation improvements and new product-development opportunities.




- Document relevant findings so that field experience contributes to Progressive's broader technical knowledge and future product development. Regulatory Compliance & Chemical Safety
- Support the preparation, classification, review, and maintenance of safety data sheets and product labels in accordance with applicable Canadian requirements.
- Assist with maintaining required English and French regulatory documentation for products sold into Canadian workplaces.
- Review supplier regulatory information and identify missing or incomplete technical documentation before new raw materials are approved.
- Support regulatory assessments involving WHMIS, the Hazardous Products Act and Regulations, DSL/NDSL, TSCA, REACH, Transportation of Dangerous Goods requirements, and other applicable requirements as directed.
- Maintain organized regulatory and technical records to support product traceability and compliance.
- Follow established procedures for chemical handling, storage, personal protective equipment, spill response, and disposal.
- Escalate safety, regulatory, or technical concerns when information is incomplete or further review is required. Laboratory Organization & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and professional laboratory environment.
- Ensure samples, raw materials, chemicals, glassware, instruments, and testing equipment are appropriately labelled, stored, and maintained.
- Support laboratory inventory management and ensure required testing materials and supplies are available.
- Prioritize assigned development projects, routine testing, technical investigations, and other laboratory activities according to business requirements.
- Identify practical opportunities to improve laboratory organization, testing methods, documentation, workflow, and efficiency.
- Promptly report equipment concerns, safety hazards, spills, non-conforming materials, and other issues requiring follow-up.
- Contribute to a culture of accountability, quality, collaboration, documented processes, and continuous improvement. Who You Are You are someone who:
- Enjoys solving practical technical problems and understanding why a product or process performs the way it does.
- Takes ownership of assigned projects and follows work through from investigation to documented conclusion.
- Is methodical and disciplined in laboratory work while remaining curious and willing to explore new approaches.
- Understands that accurate documentation is an essential part of good technical work.
- Can balance scientific considerations with manufacturing realities, cost, timing, and customer requirements.
- Pays close attention to detail without losing sight of the broader purpose of a project.
- Is comfortable moving between hands-on laboratory work, manufacturing support, technical documentation, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Communicates technical information clearly to people with different levels of technical knowledge.
- Works well with production employees, technical specialists, suppliers, salespeople, and leadership.
- Is willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions respectfully, and recognize when additional testing or expertise is required.
- Responds constructively when priorities change or a development project does not produce the expected result.
- Values safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. Qualifications & Experience
- Post-secondary education in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline is preferred.
- Approximately 3–5 years of relevant experience in chemical formulation, product development, research and development, specialty chemicals, or industrial laboratory operations is preferred.
- Practical experience conducting laboratory experiments, evaluating results, and documenting technical findings.
- Understanding of formulation development, raw-material selection, chemical compatibility, and product-performance evaluation.
- Experience supporting pilot-scale production, manufacturing scale-up, or industrial chemical manufacturing is strongly preferred.
- Experience with industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, cleaners, corrosion inhibitors, specialty chemicals, coatings, or related products is an asset.
- Familiarity with ASTM testing methods and laboratory instrumentation is an asset.
- Working knowledge of WHMIS, SDS documentation, and protected chemical-handling practices.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and Word.
- Experience working within an ISO 9001 quality-management system is an asset.
- Experience with ERP systems is an asset; experience with Odoo is particularly valuable.
- Familiarity with Canadian or international chemical regulatory requirements is an asset.
- Experience working directly with manufacturing personnel, technical-service teams, industrial customers, or chemical suppliers is an asset. Equivalent combinations of relevant education, hands-on technical experience, and demonstrated formulation capability will be considered. Core Skills & Competencies Chemical Formulation & Product Development Laboratory Testing & Analysis Technical Problem-Solving Raw Material Evaluation Manufacturing Scale-Up Technical Documentation Attention to Detail Project Ownership & Follow-Through Organization & Prioritization Cross-Functional Collaboration Continuous Improvement Chemical Safety & Regulatory Awareness Working Environment & Physical Requirements
- Primarily laboratory-based, with regular interaction with manufacturing operations and technical personnel.
- Hands-on work involving industrial chemicals, laboratory instruments, testing equipment, raw materials, and product samples.
- Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required, and established chemical-safety procedures must be followed.
- The position requires the ability to safely handle routine laboratory materials, samples, and chemical containers. Appropriate handling equipment and assistance will be used for heavier materials.
- Work may occasionally require time within production, warehouse, or customer manufacturing environments.
- Occasional travel to customer or supplier facilities may be required. Pay: $32.00-$40.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 – 44.0 per week

Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care Work

Location:
In person

📌 Product Development Technologist (London)
🏢 Progressive Industrial Fluids
📍 London