Insectary Technician Future Fields We use fruit flies to help scientists change the world.

AgFunder; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotech company in Edmonton is hiring an Insectary Technician to oversee fruit fly care in their rearing facility. This full-time role involves ensuring operational efficiency, preparing fly media, tracking data, and maintaining a clean environment. The ideal candidate exhibits strong multitasking and detail-oriented skills, with a passion for collaboration and continuous learning. Competitive annual salary ranges from $50,000 to $55,000.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Flexible paid time off

Office snacks and coffee

Qualifications

• Availability to work full-time including weekends.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Exceptional attention to detail and high precision.
• Experience in a fast-paced, physically active environment.
• Strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring smooth insect rearing operations.
• Preparing fly media and maintaining cleanliness.
• Tracking insect rearing aspects in a database.
• Transferring flies and harvesting biomass efficiently.
• Maintaining inventory and optimizing conditions.

Skills

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

SQL programming

Job description

About the role

The Insectary Technician plays a key role in supporting our primary asset – fruit flies. We farm fruit flies in our custom-built Insect Rearing Facility – Instar 1.0. This is a full-time, salaried position with a 5-day work schedule (3 weekdays, 2 weekend days).

The key function of this role is to ensure our insect rearing operation runs smoothly. This role provides learning opportunities across a diverse set of areas and exposure to the inner workings of a scaling biotech company.

The Insectary Technician will work under the supervision of our Insectary Lead, Kennedy, and participate in collaborative discussions on many aspects of work at Future Fields.

This role will own

The Insectary Technician is responsible for the day-to-day care of our fruit fly populations, ensuring all tasks are executed according to protocols and timelines. This work is often time sensitive and requires speed and time management.

• Preparing fly media (from food grade ingredients). Large-batch food preparation experience is valuable but not required. This is a time-sensitive task that may require preparing multiple components in parallel to ensure quality.
• Washing dishes from fly media prep, fly cages and all component parts. Must sanitize adequately while working at a steady pace.
• Tracking all aspects of insect rearing in a database (cages, fly strains, population mass, harvest mass, etc.). Requires basic data entry skills and timely, organized work to maintain fly strain integrity.
• Fly tipping and cage seeding. Transferring flies between cages to provide fresh food in a time-sensitive process while maintaining cage organization and workflow.
• Harvesting biomass in a timely and consistent manner according to best practices and protocols.

This role will assist by

• Maintaining a safe, sanitary, and clean work environment at all times.
• Keeping biomass inventory up to date and organized.
• Monitoring supply of fly media ingredients to ensure adequate stock.
• Monitoring and adjusting cages for optimal breeding conditions.

This role requires strong multitasking abilities and the ability to prioritize time-sensitive tasks. The ability to sequence multiple tasks in parallel, work quickly, and collaborate well with teammates is essential. Meticulous attention to detail is a must.

About you

You seek satisfaction in a perfectly executed workflow and thrive in a fast-paced environment where speed and focus directly impact the team’s success. You are a reliable team player who enjoys contributing to a collaborative mission and are eager to learn the inner workings of a biotech company from the ground up.

Must haves

• Availability to work a full-time schedule that includes weekends (e.g., Wednesday-Sunday or Saturday-Wednesday).
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and manage time effectively, especially in sequencing and executing parallel tasks.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to follow detailed protocols with high precision.
• Proven ability to work quickly and efficiently in a physically active, time-sensitive environment.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with a knack for collaborating to get the job done.

Bonus points

• Experience in the restaurant or food preparation industry
• Experience working with drosophila
• Knowledge of recombinant proteins
• Familiarity with SQL programming language
• A keen sense for engaging banter
• Knowledge of GMPs for food

Your future (with Future Fields)

Within 1 month, you will: Master the Fundamentals: Complete all necessary training and demonstrate proficiency in core insectary workflows, including preparing fly media, washing and sanitizing equipment, and accurate data entry according to our protocols.

Within 3 months, you will: Integrate into the Workflow: Become a reliable part of the daily operational rhythm. You’ll learn the time-sensitive nature of fly tipping, cage seeding, and biomass harvesting by working closely with the Insectary Lead and your team to ensure our flies are healthy and happy.

Within 6 months, you will: Troubleshoot and Improve: Move beyond the daily checklist to anticipate the insectary’s needs. You will proactively monitor supplies, identify bottlenecks, and begin to independently troubleshoot minor operational problems to keep workflows running smoothly. Take Ownership of Key Processes: Become a go-to team member for specific recurring insectary processes and maintain / improve these areas.

Within 1 year, you will: Drive Initiatives and Become a Team Pillar: Act as a trusted driver for operational excellence, lead small initiatives to improve protocols, and train new technicians to solidify your role as a reliable pillar of the Insectary team.

About our team

Our approach to science is unconventional. The team includes diverse backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage candidates of all identities and backgrounds to apply.

FAQs

Where is Future Fields located? Our headquarters and production facility are in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The space is described as central, transit-friendly, and near amenities.

I don’t live in Edmonton. Why relocate? Edmonton is described as an affordable city with various lifestyle and cultural perks.

Any other perks? Comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; flexible paid time off; and office snacks and coffee.

Will I like working for a startup? Startup life is fast-paced with ambiguity, but offers growth and equity.

Next steps: Apply online via our job portal. If a good fit, steps include multiple interviews and reference checks before an offer.

Compensation

50,000.00 – $55,000.00 per year

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