Laboratory Technician

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A Caltech Lab is seeking a Laboratory Technician to support the day-to-day technical operations of its cleanroom facilities on the Caltech campus.

The Technician will maintain and organize the cleanroom labs - wet/dry labs, mechanical equipment rooms, and supply and chemical storage areas - ensuring equipment maintenance is completed and documented on time, supplies (including chemicals) stay well stocked, and daily operations run smoothly for the lab's research team.

A core part of the role is maintaining state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment: 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. The successful candidate will grow their expertise across these systems over time, working closely with other technicians and equipment engineers who share responsibility for the equipment. When repairs are needed, the Technician combines problem-solving skills with mechanical, electrical, and vacuum-system know-how to bring equipment back to optimal working order - then documents the fix so future repairs go faster. Test protocols and preventative maintenance plans round out the role, minimizing equipment failure and maximizing uptime for researchers.

In addition to fabrication equipment, the Technician helps monitor and support the lab's broader physical infrastructure - HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and gas delivery systems - serving as an early point of detection and communication between the lab and Caltech Facilities.

This is a foundational role within the lab operations team, with room to grow into more specialized responsibilities. Overall, the Technician is expected to contribute to the lab's culture and capabilities, and to help meet the high standards required to run a world-class research operation.

• Conduct daily checks of the lab and nanofabrication equipment to identify issues and communicate these to the team.
• Perform routine maintenance on lab facility and safety systems, including heat exchangers, air handler units, DIW systems, particle counters, and gas detectors. Coordinate work with Caltech facility personnel and team members.
• Work with team members to maintain state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment. For repairs requiring vendor service, coordinate the visit, follow through until it's complete, document the visit, and communicate results to the lab supervisor.

• Monitor lab facility systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, compressed gas, and DI water lines) for signs of malfunction - unusual noise, temperature drift, leaks, alarms - and report issues promptly to the Lab Manager and/or Caltech Facilities.
• Serve as the on-site point of contact for facilities-related service visits: coordinate access, communicate lab-specific constraints (e.g., cleanroom protocols, sensitive equipment nearby) to vendors and Facilities staff, and follow up until issues are resolved.
• Perform basic facilities troubleshooting within scope (e.g., resetting tripped breakers, identifying the source of a leak, checking gas cabinet alarms) before escalating to Facilities or a specialized vendor.
• Track critical environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, particle counts, gas levels) that affect equipment performance and researcher safety, and escalate deviations quickly.
• Support planning for facility-related projects affecting lab operations (e.g., HVAC balancing, electrical shutdowns, plumbing work), including preparing equipment and communicating timelines to lab users.

• Organize and perform inventory counts of stockroom supplies, including equipment, maintenance spares, consumables, PPE, chemicals, gas cylinders, and other hazardous and nonhazardous materials.
• Place orders for consumables and coordinate delivery with vendors. Flag vendor issues (communication, quality, lead time) to the lab supervisor and help resolve them.

• Maintain the cleanroom's hygiene standards, keeping workspaces organized and clean. Coordinate routine cleaning with vendors.
• Keep organized data records, troubleshooting documentation, and standard operating procedures to track equipment performance and guide future maintenance.
• Train lab users on safe, effective equipment operation, and support broader lab safety practices alongside the Lab Safety Officer.
• Help identify and implement process improvements across equipment maintenance and lab operations.

• Communicate progress and problems to the supervisor via email/phone, in meetings, and in reports, matching the format to the urgency and scope.
• Raise difficult or uncomfortable issues (e.g., equipment damage, missed protocols, delays) as soon as they're identified - early transparency protects the lab and its researchers more than a delayed or filtered report.

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in equipment operation, maintenance, repair, and installation- gained through work experience, military technical training, apprenticeships, trade school, or self-directed projects (formal degree not required).
• A high level of craftsmanship and thorough knowledge of mechanical design, materials, tools, units, and basic measurement techniques.
• Working knowledge of basic electrical troubleshooting (e.g., resetting breakers, diagnosing simple circuit issues) and vacuum systems, sufficient to support repairs on lab equipment.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

• Attention to detail and excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Willingness to maintain highly organized data records.
• Ability to learn quickly and transfer that knowledge to others through teaching and documentation.
• A desire to meet - and set - high standards.
• Ability to work independently, with a high level of responsibility.
• Strong communication skills with the supervisor, vendors, and lab users.
• Teamwork skills and an ability to collaborate with coworkers having diverse skills and backgrounds.

• On-site during peak hours (8am-5pm, Monday through Friday), with the ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends when necessary.
• Able to work in a cleanroom setting, following all established protocols for gowning, PPE, and safety.
• Able to lift up to 20 lbs.

• Associate's degree or completed at least 2 years of Trade-Technical College in a relevant technical area.
• Basic computer maintenance and troubleshooting skills, e.g., new hardware installs, networking, performing hard drive backups.
• Prior experience working with precision instruments in any technical field (e.g., optics, avionics, electronics repair, machining, or similar) where careful handling directly affects equipment performance or outcomes.

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