Laboratory Technician

Laboratory Technician

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Job Summary

A Caltech Lab is seeking a Laboratory Technician to assist in the day-to-day technical operations of its cleanroom facilities on the Caltech campus. The Technician will take an important role in maintaining peak performance of state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment, which includes material deposition systems (e.g. plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, physical vapor deposition), material etching systems (e.g. reactive ion etchers, vapor HF), a scanning electron microscope, fume hoods for wet chemistry, and other supporting tools; responsibilities for equipment will be shared with other technicians and a process engineer, with whom the Technician will work closely. The Technician will be expected to take ownership of equipment by learning to operate it at peak performance and by administering the types of maintenance and alignments that keep it dialed in to peak performance for use by the lab's quantum device researchers. When repairs are needed, the successful applicant will be able to combine problem-solving skills with mechanical, electrical, and vacuum-system know-how to return equipment to optimal working order, then document the solutions to make future repairs more efficient. The Technician will carry out test protocols and preventative maintenance plans that minimize the chance of equipment failure, thereby maximizing its uptime for the lab's researchers. The successful candidate will become an expert in equipment operation to the point of being able to train lab users to also expertly operate the equipment. Overall, the Technician will be expected to contribute to the lab culture and capabilities, and strive to meet the high standards necessary to run a world-class research operation.

Essential Job Duties

• Follow established protocols to perform qualifying runs on equipment on a daily or weekly basis to ensure that equipment is operating at peak performance for the lab's researchers.
• Assist in developing new protocols for equipment that do not yet have them, setting the standard by which peak performance can be evaluated.
• Help maintain organized data records that can be used to verify peak performance and indicate when maintenance and/or alignments of equipment components are necessary.
• Work with the lab engineer to administer preventive maintenance plans for equipment to keep performance at the established, high standard; this includes performing instrument alignments.
• Perform routine repairs of mechanical, electrical, and vacuum systems to address day-to-day problems; aid in diagnosing and fixing problems by reading through equipment and utility schematics, soliciting advice from vendors, and communicating with other lab staff.
• For repairs that rise to the level of needing attention from vendor service people (most equipment will be covered under service contract), first coordinate the service, and then follow through until the service is complete, which includes documenting the service visit and communicating results to the lab supervisor (and to the lab users, who can then be invited back to use the equipment).
• Lead in creating, updating, and maintaining equipment troubleshooting documents that can be used to address commonly encountered problems.
• Carry out quality control practices, such as lab walkthrough checklists, and help to improve these practices.
• Create, update, and maintain standard operating procedures for lab equipment.
• Train lab users in the safe and successful operation of equipment, up to the standard of achieving peak performance.
• Participate in the discussion of laboratory protocols and objectives with the supervisor.
• Communicate progress and problems to supervisor via email/phone, meetings, and in reports, depending on the urgency and scope.
• Respond to new technical challenges, research and reference, and then implement established scientific/technical practices, standards, and/or policies.
• Contribute to the planning, installation, and commissioning of new equipment in the laboratory, then establish operational protocols and maintenance plans for such equipment.
• Assist in the maintenance of stock levels and inventory of lab supplies such as consumable materials, gas bottles, solvents, wet etchants, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other general supplies, as needed; communicate this information to the Lab Manager.
• Help to maintain, upgrade, and back up computer systems in the lab (e.g., computers for individual instruments, login terminals, and new computer networking projects).
• Maintain awareness of laws and regulations affecting the management of the laboratory; ensure compliance with Institute policies, scientific protocols, regulatory agencies, and safety practices.
• Help the Lab Safety Officer promote lab safety by training lab members on the safe use of equipment and processes; be aware of all relevant safety protocols in the lab.

Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant experience in equipment operation, maintenance, repair, installation, and/or the fabrication industry.
• A high level of craftsmanship and a thorough knowledge of mechanical design, materials, tools, units, and basic measurement techniques.
• Attention to detail and excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Willingness to maintain highly organized data records.
• Ability to learn quickly and adequately transfer that knowledge to others through teaching/documentation.
• A desire to meet and set high standards.
• Ability to work independently, with a high level of responsibility.
• Strong communication skills towards the supervisor, vendors, and lab users.
• Teamwork skills and an ability to collaborate with coworkers having diverse skills and backgrounds.
• Must be on-site during peak hours (10am-4pm, Monday through Friday), and must be able to work evenings and weekends, when necessary.
• Must be able to work in a cleanroom setting, following all established protocols for gowning, PPE, and safety.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or sciences, or completed at least 2 years of Trade–Technical College in a relevant technical area.
• Proficiency with the following software: Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Basic computer maintenance and troubleshooting skills, e.g., new hardware installs, networking, and performing hard drive backups.

Required Documents

• Resume