Laboratory Technician

This position is responsible for routine operations and maintenance of the analytical radiological laboratory equipment. Performs regulatory and process control sample receipt, preparation, and measurements under the direction of a qualified Lab Shift Supervisor or Chemist. This position normally performs work activities on benchtops and within radiological fume hoods. Enters radiological controlled areas in appropriate personnel protective equipment for assigned duties. Maintains laboratory radiological conditions. Performs waste handling to meet regulatory requirements. Assists supervisor, chemist or other facility staff with calibration, inspection, troubleshooting, testing, and radiation protection activities. Will also be responsible for all other laboratory duties assigned to this position.

REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS

Education and Hiring Requirements:

• HS Diploma or GED

• High school chemistry and math

• 0-2 years’ experience

• Ability to pass a medical evaluation based on the Employee Job Task Analysis (10 CFR 851)

• Ability to pass a personnel entry exam

• Ability to wear required personnel protective equipment (PPE)

• Shift work required

Preferred Experience:

• College chemistry and math coursework, AAS degree, or BS in science related field

• One year of radiological laboratory related work experience

• Previous experience working at a high hazard nuclear or chemical facility

• Previous WTCC experience

• Previous Laboratory Technician experience.

Lab Tech 1

Experience Requirements:

• None

Qualifications Requirements:

• Successfully completed classroom training to include general, position, and facility training

• Successfully completed performance demonstrations for routine chemistry methods or inorganic chemistry methods

Lab Tech 2

Experience Requirements:

• 6 months as Lab Tech 1

Qualifications Requirements:

• Successfully completed required classroom training and qualifications of a Lab Tech 1

• Successfully completed performance demonstrations for routine chemistry methods and inorganic chemistry methods

Lab Tech 3

Experience Requirements:

• 6 months as Lab Tech 2

Qualifications Requirements:

• Successfully completed the required training and qualifications of a Lab Tech 2

• Successfully completed performance demonstration for radiochemistry methods

REQUIRED TRAINING

Training and qualifications are be based on the functional position of laboratory technician as described in the facility-specific job analysis.

Lab Tech 1

• Orientation Training : designed to provide instruction in site specific orientation topics including safety, site access and security, as well as training on Integrated Safety Management System, and Nuclear Safety Quality Culture. Orientation training typically applies to all personnel.

• Regulatory Training : designed to provide instruction on required regulatory topics such as industrial and electrical safety, radiological control, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), hazardous waste permit, and Low Activity Waste Documented Safety Analysis/Technical Safety Requirement (LAW DSA/TSR).

• Fundamentals Training: designed to attain, maintain, and improve technical skills and knowledge of Lab personnel. Completion provides the baseline for the instrument training courses. Fundamentals training provides the trainee with the fundamental knowledge necessary to understand job-related concepts and successfully apply them to the job.

• Human Performance Improvement Training: typically delivered as a prerequisite to conduct of operations training and provides training on HPI terms, concepts, and application of tools that aid the worker in performing activities with the utmost attention to quality and safety.

• Conduct of Operations Training: designed to provide and maintain a high level of performance that contributes to safe, reliable facility operation. Operation activities must be conducted in a professional manner that contributes to safe and reliable equipment operations.

• On the Job Training: designed to prepare employees for job performance through on-the-job (OJT) training and (OJE) On the Job Evaluation conducted by qualified OJT/OJE instructors in the actual work environment. Provides hands-on experience and has the advantage of providing training for tasks that are of immediate need to the employee. OJT is limited to those situations where it is administratively and physically possible to conduct the training (i.e., where facilities are adequate, where OJT can be conducted without significant interference with facility operations, and where qualified personnel are available to conduct and manage the OJT program).

• Successfully completed Group 1 Lab Analytical Procedure Manual OJT/OJEs

Lab Tech 2

• Successfully completed required classroom training and qualifications of a Lab Tech 1

• Successfully completed Group 2 Lab Analytical Procedure Manual OJT/OJEs

Lab Tech 3

• Successfully completed required classroom training and qualifications of a Lab Tech 2

• Successfully demonstrated proficiency with Group 1 and Group 2 Lab Analytical Procedure Manual OJT/OJEs

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES/TASKS

• Perform all work safely and with the utmost concern for the safety of self and other employees.

• Perform all work in compliance with environmental permits and regulations.

• Being continuously aware of radiological, environmental, safety and any potentially hazardous conditions and notifying supervision and effected organizations when changes occur.

• Effectively manage time and complete all delegated work within the specified time.

• Perform housekeeping duties as assigned to maintain safe and orderly workspace.

• Assist with preparations and restorations associated with ARL equipment work.

• Package, label, document, and handle waste for transfer, treatment or disposal.

• Participate in event investigations and supply information as requested.

• Operate equipment in accordance with procedures from manually operated levers, switches, buttons, joysticks, computer displays, touch panels, etc.

• Replace consumables, indicator bulbs, paper, and pens for instrument control and data management hardware.

• Operate the auto sampling system (ASX) including preparation and receipt of sample bottle carriers.

• Receive manual samples for analysis in the Lab or transfer to an offsite Lab for analysis.

• Breakdown, prepare, and transfer samples within the Lab for analysis.

• Receive, transfer, and stock chemicals (e.g. reagents, standards, etc.) and consumables (e.g. PPE, glassware, plasticware, spare parts, etc.) by warehouse, vendor, or other suppliers

• Enter radiologically and /or chemically controlled areas in appropriate personnel protective equipment for assigned duties.

• Performs daily, weekly, and monthly required inspections, and supports other inspections and /or monitoring teams requiring access to the Lab.

• Monitoring facility and correct housekeeping and materials conditions and report those which cannot be corrected on the spot.

• Serve as a member of the Emergency Response Team as directed.

• Communicate facility system and equipment status to the assigned supervisor.

• Maintain accurate logbooks, data sheets and other historical data relating to instruments, equipment, stock items, or systems as assigned.

• Operate laboratory equipment per approved procedure or work package to include start up, calibration, calibration verification, sample analysis, monitor control status, shutdown, operator maintenance, troubleshooting, and assist supervisor, chemist or vendor with installation, relocation, exchange, major maintenance, or process technology studies.

• Perform routine general chemistry procedures including:

  • Sample Preparation

  • Fusion furnace

  • Microwave

  • pH

  • Conductivity

  • Solids

  • Density

  • Molarity

  • Water chemistry (including test kits)

• Perform routine inorganic chemistry procedures including:

  • Carbon

  • Anions by ion chromatography and ion selective electrode

  • Mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA)

  • Metals by inductively coupled plasma instruments (ICP-MS and ICP-OES)

  • Isotopic analysis by ICP-MS

• Perform routine radiochemistry procedures including:

  • Separations

  • Gas-flow proportional counter

  • Liquid scintillation counter

  • Alpha spectrometer

  • Gamma spectrometer

• Perform routine radioisotope separations including but not limited to: H-3, C-14, Ni-63, Se-79, Sr-90, Tc-99, I-129, lanthanides and actinides

• Assist supervisor or chemist with method development, optimization, or process technology studies

• Operate the routine laboratory sample handling and sample preparation equipment including pipettes, tongs, tweezers, scoops, furnace, oven, heater, electronic balances, filters, hot plate, stir plate, centrifuge, vacuum pump, vacuum box and fume hood and other required tools.

• Respond to alarms including high radiation on sample carrier, stuck sample carrier, ventilation, fire, radiation, contamination, low oxygen, take cover, and evacuation.

• Perform data entry using laboratory information management system or other approved software.

• Perform or support receipt or preparation and stock Lab chemicals, compressed gas cylinders, cryogenic liquids, reagents and standards.

• Respond to abnormal system conditions such as: power failure, ventilation failure, low oxygen, direct high radiation, chemical spill, liquid spill, and loss of contamination control.

• Survey and decontaminate equipment, transport items, decontaminate items and affected surface areas, remove decontaminated or bagged items from fume hood.

• Assist with preparations and restorations associated with facility maintenance and modification work.

• Communicate with the control area, other facility staff and support organizations to ensure safe, effective facility operations.

• Make notifications and log entries as required by administrative and technical procedures.

• Perform self-monitoring for chemical and radiological hazards.

• Perform or support operation and maintenance of Lab facility support systems such as argon, nitrogen, P10, helium, oxygen, and vacuum to include valve manipulations, gas cylinder exchange, and cryogenic liquid filling.

• Support the Waste Treatment Plant Nuclear Safety Quality Culture by emphasizing the values of safety and quality in the performance of work to protect self, others, and the environment

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

ENFM-LT

Perform daily, weekly, and monthly equipment and system inspections and surveillances requiring walking, standing, bending and turning while wearing personal protective equipment and carrying measuring tools and equipment. Lifts, cleans, carries and transports equipment, materials and tools. Perform general housekeeping and cleaning using janitorial chemicals and supplies.

• This position is located at the Construction Site (22 miles north of Richland) and selected candidates must be willing and able to work a rotating shift schedule, 4 days on / 4 days off, 2 weeks days, 2 weeks nights

• Must be authorized to work and remain in the United States without Amentum visa sponsorship now or in the future.

• Must be able to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check which includes verification of employment and education.

• Must be able to obtain a Department of Energy badge for access to the Hanford Site. (Even if teleworking, must still be able to comply with security requirements to obtain a badge.)

• Non-U.S. citizens from countries identified by the Department of Energy as posing heightened security concerns—including sensitive countries, state sponsors of terrorism, countries of risk, and other designated countries –are subject to additional security requirements.

Amentum is a global company with a heritage dating back more than 100 years and delivering solutions in nuclear energy, infrastructure, operations and maintenance, and national security. Our predecessors helped build Hoover Dam, protected fighting forces in World War II, and supported the Manhattan Project. Today, our teams clean up legacy nuclear waste around the world, manage the United Kingdom’s defense portfolio, design programs and tests for Navy submarine electronic systems, and provide integrated supply chain services needed in developing countries during the pandemic.

Amentum has joined with Bechtel to create an LLC, known as the Waste Treatment Completion Company (WTCC) Join us as we make history at the Hanford Vit Plant, known as the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. We are designing and building a one-of-a-kind facility that will turn radioactive and chemical waste left over from World War II and Cold War plutonium production into a form safe for disposal. Your efforts will help protect the nearby Columbia River and the communities, salmon, and wildlife along its shorelines throughout the Northwest.

Sitting at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers near two mountain ranges, our community provides access to year-round outdoor recreation, 300 days of sun a year, more than 200 wineries within a 50-mile radius, and the amenities of large cities just a three-hour drive (or short flight) to Seattle and Portland.

Compensation Details:

Original Posting:

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.