About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Higher Education (University).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role overview

Confidential Client is hiring an entry-level University Instrument Center Laboratory Technician to support Scientific Technical Services (SciTech). This hands-on role supports research, scholarship, and instructional activities by operating, maintaining, and training users on multi-user analytical instrumentation. The position is based in Bellingham, WA and is full-time (project-employment through June 30, 2027, with potential renewal).

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What You’ll Do

• Train faculty, staff, students, and external users in safe, routine operation of chromatography, spectroscopy, imaging, and related instruments.
• Assist with instrument setup, data collection, basic data processing, and troubleshooting; escalate complex issues to senior staff.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), user guides, and training materials.
• Support classroom and laboratory demonstrations and provide hands-on instruction.
• Perform routine instrument maintenance, calibrations, operational checks, and basic repairs; coordinate vendor service when needed.
• Prepare reagents, calibration standards, quality-control samples, and manage supplies and consumables.
• Handle, store, and document chemical waste and hazardous materials in compliance with safety regulations and institutional policies.
• Monitor compressed gas inventory and coordinate ordering and safe storage of gas cylinders.
• Maintain records of instrument maintenance, scheduling, outages, and operational status to ensure reliable shared access.
• Participate in ongoing technical training and professional development to grow proficiency in GC, LC, ICP, microCT, and other analytical platforms.

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Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or technical discipline (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, geology, environmental science, materials science, engineering) or equivalent education/experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service and user support in laboratory or technical settings.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision while managing multiple priorities and collaborating across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; solid problem-solving and organizational abilities.
• Experience operating scientific instrumentation and performing standard laboratory procedures in instructional, research, or industrial settings.
• Experience preparing samples, reagents, solutions, and standards; collecting and documenting scientific data.
• Familiarity with standard computer applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

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Preferred qualifications

• Experience supporting laboratory instruction, shared-use facilities, or research with multi-user instrumentation.
• Hands-on familiarity with chromatography (GC, HPLC/UHPLC), mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS), spectroscopy (UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman), ICP (ICP-OES/ICP-MS), imaging (microCT), or microscopy (optical, electron).
• Experience with instrument control software, data analysis, and interpretation of analytical results.
• Experience creating SOPs, user guides, and technical documentation.
• Prior experience training users, mentoring students, or providing lab support in a university or research setting.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new instrumentation and analytical techniques quickly.

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Conditions of employment & other details

• This is a project-employment position ending no later than June 30, 2027.
• All new hires must comply with immunization policies; proof of Rubeola (measles) immunity required within 60 days of hire unless an approved exemption applies.
• Employment is subject to background checks and employment eligibility verification.
• This position is part of bargaining unit PT and covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the designated union.
• Application review begins October 23, 2026; position remains open until filled.

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Compensation & benefits

• Pay range: $4,429 - $5,952 per month (depending on qualifications and experience). This converts approximately to $53,148 - $71,424 per year.
• Benefits: Classified position benefits package (see Confidential Client benefits overview for details).

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Working environment & professional growth

• Collaborative multi-user facility supporting teaching, research, and service.
• Opportunities to develop skills in analytical instrumentation, laboratory operations, and technical user support.
• Professional development encouraged to expand expertise across chromatography, ICP, microCT, mass spectrometry, advanced imaging, and related techniques.

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Keywords & ideal candidate

The ideal candidate is a service-oriented laboratory technician with technical aptitude in analytical instrumentation, experience in sample preparation and data handling, and a desire to support a busy, shared-use university instrument center in Bellingham, WA.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.