Lab Technician

Job Title: Lab Technician

Job Description

As a Lab Technician, you will play a crucial role in preparing and processing specimens for laboratory testing. This role involves setting up, maintaining, troubleshooting, and validating laboratory instruments, as well as implementing quality control measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of lab results.

Responsibilities

• Prepare clinical samples and products for testing, including accessioning and processing, in adherence to laboratory protocols.
• Set up instruments for automated laboratory tasks and maintain them, ensuring accurate reagent placement and cleaning.
• Prepare reagents and change equipment supplies as needed.
• Document and transcribe quality control measures, including environmental readings and equipment function checks.
• Train backup staff and recommend workflow improvements.
• Respond to emergency staffing situations and assist in laboratory maintenance and supply management.
• Maintain sample inventories and update computer databases for sample tracking.
• Observe and support good health and safety practices, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Enter areas where human blood is handled, with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2 years college education in biology or a related field with 3 years of laboratory experience, or 4 years college education with 1 year of laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience with sample handling, quantitative chemical analysis, and enzyme assays.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and operating laboratory instruments.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adhere to laboratory policies and protocols.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage a large number of samples accurately.
• Effective communication skills in spoken and written English.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with handling biohazardous material and basic decontamination.
• biology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• Experience with pipetting, specimen processing, and data entry.
• Education in a scientific field, with coursework from a community college or technical school.

Work Environment

You will work in a laboratory setting with a team of 11 Lab Techs, 1 Lab Assistant, and 3-4 Clinical Laboratory Scientists. The role operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with rotating Saturdays post-training. The training period lasts approximately 3 months. The work environment is crucial to supporting hospitals across the community, contributing to life-saving work.

This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $35.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 25, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.