Laboratory Technician

Job Summary

The Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI) at Caltech is seeking a part-time Laboratory Technician to support the day-to-day technical maintenance and operations of its 7,500 sq. ft. cleanroom facility and affiliated lab spaces. The KNI Lab houses more than 30 pieces of advanced instrumentation for lithography, deposition, etching, microscopy, and photolithography, and serves 100+ researchers from Caltech and external academic, government, and industrial institutions.

Working under the direct supervision of KNI's senior technical staff, the part-time Laboratory Technician will provide hands-on support for tool maintenance, preventative maintenance routines, and general laboratory upkeep. The ideal candidate has a tinkerer's mindset - someone who enjoys diagnosing problems, getting into the details of how equipment works, and taking initiative to keep things running smoothly.

This role is well-suited to someone who thrives in a hands-on, technically demanding environment and wants to grow their skills alongside experienced engineers in a world-class nanofabrication cleanroom facility. This is a part-time position (20 hours per week).

Essential Job Duties

• Assist KNI technical staff with preventative maintenance and routine upkeep of nanofabrication equipment, including material etching and deposition systems, lithographic tools, and electron microscopes.
• Service and inspect vacuum systems, mechanical components, chillers, and other equipment subsystems to ensure proper working conditions.
• Support maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, including electrical, gas, and water/coolant lines that connect to equipment.
• Perform scheduled maintenance tasks and checklists as directed by senior technical staff, and document all maintenance activities accurately and promptly.
• Assist in diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment problems; help implement repairs and document solutions for future reference.
• Contribute to creating and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and troubleshooting guides for equipment in the KNI.
• Maintain stock levels and inventory of laboratory supplies (e.g., solvents, wet etchants, PPE, cleanroom garments, general consumables) and assist with restocking as needed.
• Support cleanliness and organization of general lab and support tools, including manual cleaning, routine lab walkthroughs, and quality control checks.
• Assist with the installation and commissioning of new equipment and help establish associated maintenance protocols.
• Communicate progress, issues, and completed tasks to supervisors in a timely manner via email, written reports, or in-person updates.
• Adhere to all KNI safety protocols and cleanroom gowning requirements at all times; promote a culture of lab safety.
• Support other operational projects and tasks as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Associate's degree (A.A. or A.S.) or higher in engineering or a related field; OR at least 6 months of hands-on experience working in a cleanroom, fabrication facility, or related technical environment.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and a 'tinkerer's' mindset - curiosity about how equipment works, comfort with hands-on tasks, and enjoyment of troubleshooting.
• Strong attention to detail and good organizational skills, including the ability to maintain accurate records and logs.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently with minimal supervision while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
• Strong communication skills - able to clearly convey status updates, flag problems promptly, and collaborate with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
• Must be able to work in a cleanroom setting following all established protocols for gowning and safety.
• Must be able to occasionally lift 30 lbs.
• Must be reliable and punctual; able to maintain a consistent 20-hour-per-week schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with vacuum systems, roughing or turbo pumps, or vacuum troubleshooting.
• Experience with chillers, cooling systems, or fluid handling in a lab or industrial setting.
• Familiarity with mechanical components such as O-rings, fittings, flanges, or basic plumbing.
• 6 months of cleanroom experience.
• Experience maintaining logs or records in a laboratory or industrial environment.
• Proficiency with basic software tools: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Basic computer maintenance and troubleshooting skills (e.g., hardware installs, networking, data backup).

Required Documents

• Resume
• A brief cover letter or statement of interest is optional, but preferred