Laboratory Technician
About the role
The Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI) at Caltech is seeking a part-time Laboratory Technician to support the day-to-day technical maintenance and operations of its 7,500 sq. ft. cleanroom facility and affiliated lab spaces.
Responsibilities
- Assist KNI technical staff with preventative maintenance and routine upkeep of nanofabrication equipment, including material etching and deposition systems, lithographic tools, and electron microscopes.
- Service and inspect vacuum systems, mechanical components, chillers, and other equipment subsystems to ensure proper working conditions.
- Support maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, including electrical, gas, and water/coolant lines that connect to equipment.
- Perform scheduled maintenance tasks and checklists as directed by senior technical staff, and document all maintenance activities accurately and promptly.
- Aid in diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment problems; help implement repairs and document solutions for future reference.
- Contribute to creating and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and troubleshooting guides for equipment in the KNI.
- Maintain stock levels and inventory of laboratory supplies (e.g., solvents, wet etchants, PPE, cleanroom garments, general consumables) and assist with restocking as needed.
- Support cleanliness and organization of general lab and support tools, including manual cleaning, routine lab walkthroughs, and quality control checks.
- Assist with the installation and commissioning of new equipment and help establish associated maintenance protocols.
- Communicate progress, issues, and completed tasks to supervisors in a timely manner via email, written reports, or in-person updates.
- Adhere to all KNI safety protocols and cleanroom gowning requirements at all times; promote a culture of lab safety.
- Support other operational projects and tasks as needed.
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree (A.A. or A.S.) or higher in engineering or a related field; OR at least 6 months of hands-on experience working in a cleanroom, fabrication facility, or related technical environment.
- Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and a “tinkerer’s” mindset — curiosity about how equipment works, comfort with hands-on tasks, and enjoyment of troubleshooting.
- Strong attention to detail and good organizational skills, including the ability to maintain accurate records and logs.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently with minimal supervision while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
- Strong communication skills — able to clearly convey status updates, flag problems promptly, and collaborate with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
- Must be able to work in a cleanroom setting following all established protocols for gowning and safety.
- Must be able to occasionally lift 30 lbs.
- Must be reliable and punctual; able to maintain a consistent 20-hour-per-week schedule.
Skills
- Experience with vacuum systems, roughing or turbo pumps, or vacuum troubleshooting.
- Experience with chillers, cooling systems, or fluid handling in a lab or industrial setting.
- Familiarity with mechanical components such as O-rings, fittings, flanges, or basic plumbing.
- 6 months of cleanroom experience.
- Experience maintaining logs or records in a laboratory or industrial environment.
- Proficiency with basic software tools: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Basic computer maintenance and troubleshooting skills (e.g., hardware installs, networking, data backup).
Benefits
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more.
Pay
Hiring Range: $19.00 to $25.75 per hour. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
Schedule
This is a part-time position (20 hours per week).