Laboratory Technician

Job Summary

Put your bench expertise to work where it counts most; supporting rapid, high-complexity testing that informs clinical care and public health response across the VA system. You'll work across multiple laboratory disciplines on biological and environmental samples, maintaining the rigorous quality standards that high-stakes diagnostics demand. This role is ideal for a detail-driven laboratorian who can move fast without cutting corners and wants to be part of a national public health mission.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee high-complexity clinical and public health laboratory testing on biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques.
• Conduct testing across a range of laboratory disciplines, which may include bacteriology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, genetics, immunology, mycology, parasitology, serology, and virology.
• Understand, apply, and maintain quality control procedures throughout all testing.
• Manage competing workloads and multitask effectively to sustain throughput and a high level of performance.
• Support the technical and project-management aspects of laboratory testing operations.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience performing high-complexity laboratory testing on biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques.
• Working experience across one or more laboratory disciplines: bacteriology, molecular biology, flow cytometry, genetics, immunology, mycology, parasitology, serology, or virology.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and maintain quality control procedures and sustain high performance under heavy, multitasked workloads.
• Techical and/or project-management experience in the oversight of laboratory testing operations.
• Prior experience in a VA/VHA clinical laboratory or the VA Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) at Palo Alto.
• Experience in a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory environment.
• Molecular methods experience relevant to public health response (e.g., RT-PCR, sequencing, MLST) and surge testing during outbreak or public health emergencies.
• Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and laboratory surveillance/lookback workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory science, biology, microbiology, or a related life science (Associate's degree with additional qualifying experience may be considered).
• ASCP certification (MLS or MLT) or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of CLIA and CAP accreditation requirements.

Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience.

Pay

$70,000 - $90,000

Schedule

Onsite role based in Northern California, with occasional travel to affiliated medical facilities in the surrounding region.