Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician

Periodic Labs Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician

Periodic Labs is building an autonomous laboratory for high-throughput materials discovery combining advanced synthesis, characterization, automation, robotics, and AI to accelerate the development of next-generation materials. We're looking for a highly capable, hands-on Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician to help build, maintain, and scale the physical infrastructure that enables our scientific and engineering teams to move quickly.

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys solving practical problems, working with tools, building systems, troubleshooting equipment, and taking ownership of laboratory operations. You'll work across equipment maintenance, gas and vacuum systems, utilities, instrumentation, automation support, machine shop operations, inventory management, and laboratory buildout projects.

What You'll Do

Equipment Maintenance & Reliability

• Execute preventative maintenance programs for laboratory equipment using MaintainX CMMS; develop and improve maintenance procedures, inspection checklists, and work order templates
• Perform routine inspections, cleaning, calibration checks, and equipment upkeep across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, gas, vacuum, and fluid handling systems
• Troubleshoot and repair equipment; identify recurring failure modes and implement corrective actions to improve uptime
• Coordinate service visits and maintenance activities with equipment vendors
• Service vacuum pumps, cooling water systems, chillers, and associated infrastructure; verify equipment meets OEM specifications after maintenance or repairs

Asset Management & Documentation

• Maintain an accurate asset registry within MaintainX, including equipment records (manuals, schematics, service histories, serial numbers, manufacturer contacts)
• Label equipment with asset numbers and QR codes; update equipment layouts, utility matrices, and infrastructure documentation
• Track maintenance history and equipment performance metrics

Utilities & Infrastructure

• Maintain laboratory utility systems including compressed gases, vacuum systems, process cooling water, exhaust systems, gas detection, and general lab infrastructure
• Build and modify gas and fluid handling systems from P&IDs and engineering drawings; assemble and install tubing, regulators, valves, gauges, sensors, and associated hardware
• Support utility capacity planning and identify infrastructure constraints

Equipment Installation & Commissioning

• Support installation and startup of new laboratory equipment; coordinate utility hookups including power, water, gas, vacuum, and networking
• Procure and install supporting infrastructure including tubing, fittings, pumps, sensors, regulators, and instrumentation
• Perform installation verification and commissioning activities; document as-built configurations and equipment changes

Automation & Controls Support

• Support Controls and Automation Engineers with equipment integration projects
• Install and maintain thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, solenoid valves, gas sensors, and safety interlocks
• Route, terminate, and label instrumentation and communication wiring; assist with sensor replacement, control panel modifications, and field troubleshooting

Machine Shop & Fabrication

• Fabricate fixtures, brackets, guards, adapters, and experimental hardware using drill press, band saw, chop saw, belt sander, bench grinder, manual mill, and manual lathe
• Modify commercial components and support custom equipment builds; maintain machine shop organization and tooling

Inventory & Laboratory Operations

• Maintain inventories of spare parts, maintenance consumables, PPE, and laboratory supplies; identify critical spare parts and establish appropriate stock levels
• Receive and organize incoming equipment, chemicals, gases, and supplies; register chemicals and gas cylinders within laboratory inventory systems
• Coordinate gas cylinder replacement and deliveries; support hazardous waste staging and disposal activities
• Assist with laboratory organization, equipment moves, and expansion projects

Safety & Compliance

• Perform all work in accordance with laboratory safety procedures and LOTO requirements; participate in routine safety inspections and identify unsafe conditions
• Support safe installation and modification of laboratory equipment and infrastructure
• Maintain clean, organized, and professional workspaces; use all appropriate PPE (lab coats, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators)

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have

• 5+ years of experience in laboratory operations, manufacturing, semiconductor, chemical processing, pilot plant, industrial maintenance, or a related environment
• The ability to read and interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, electrical wiring diagrams, and equipment manuals
• Hands-on experience with hand tools, power tools, and mechanical assembly, with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• An associate degree, technical certification, military technical training, trade apprenticeship, or equivalent hands-on experience
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment with shifting priorities

Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have

• Swagelok tubing, fitting, and tube bending experience; gas manifold assembly from P&IDs
• Vacuum systems and/or compressed gas systems experience
• Semiconductor equipment maintenance experience
• Electrical troubleshooting down to PCB/component level using multimeters
• MaintainX or other CMMS experience
• Forklift or material handling equipment certification
• Chemical handling or laboratory operations experience
• Process piping and instrumentation experience

Mechanics

Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience

Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role

Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role is approximately $100,000

Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.

We're building a team of the world's best the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.