Laboratory Maintenance & Reliability Technician

Mara; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plan

RRSP matching program

Health care spending account

Physical Wellness Reimbursement Plan

Employee & Family Assistance Program

Job summary

Mara Renewables Corporation (Mara) is seeking a hands-on maintenance professional based in Dartmouth to keep laboratory and pilot plant equipment safe, reliable, and ready for experiments. You will perform routine troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and coordinate with external vendors as needed.

With strong mechanical aptitude and proven ability to plan maintenance, you will work with R&D and production teams to minimize downtime and support Mara’s omega-3 ingredient development.

Qualifications

• Diploma, degree, or trade certification in mechanical, electromechanical, industrial maintenance, instrumentation, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on maintenance experience in a laboratory, pilot plant, pharmaceutical, biotech, food processing, or similar environment.
• Experience maintaining lab or pilot equipment including fermenters, centrifuges, filtration systems, and analytical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair laboratory and pilot plant equipment (fermenters, centrifuges, pumps, filtration systems).
• Carry out preventative maintenance and implement improvements to prevent recurring failures.
• Coordinate specialist servicing and external vendors when needed.
• Develop and maintain preventative maintenance schedules and equipment records.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Communication

Independence

Prioritization

Education

Diploma/degree in mechanical or related field

Tools

CMMS

PLCs

Instrumentation

Job description

Company Overview

At Mara Renewables Corporation (Mara), we exist to re-engineer nature’s pantry, reimagine human nutrition, and revitalize wellness and the environment. We use the power of science and nature to develop health ingredients that support a more sustainable and healthier world.

From our beginnings in research and development, we have grown into a global algal omega-3 oil business serving markets including food, beverage, and infant nutrition. Our team brings together scientific and technical expertise to develop and commercialize our technologies.

The Position

We’re looking for a hands-on maintenance professional who enjoys understanding how equipment works, diagnosing problems, and making practical improvements. Based in Dartmouth, you will help keep Mara’s laboratory and pilot plant equipment safe, reliable, and ready for the teams developing our next generation of algal omega-3 ingredients.

Reporting to the Director, Engineering Projects, you will work closely with R&D, Analytical, Fermentation, Downstream Processing, Pilot Plant, Quality, and Engineering. You will personally carry out routine troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs, bringing in specialist service providers when needed. Your work will help reduce equipment downtime and keep experiments and pilot trials moving.

This is an on-site role, based at our Dartmouth location.

What You Will Do

• Troubleshoot and repair laboratory and pilot plant equipment, including fermenters, centrifuges, pumps, filtration systems, process vessels, and associated components.
• Carry out preventative maintenance and identify practical improvements that prevent recurring failures and improve equipment reliability.
• Support analytical equipment maintenance and coordinate specialist servicing when required.
• Develop and maintain preventative maintenance schedules, work orders, equipment records, and spare parts inventory.
• Support compressed air, chilled water, process piping, and related utility infrastructure.
• Work with laboratory teams to understand equipment issues, prioritize maintenance needs, and communicate progress.
• Coordinate external vendors, contractors, and equipment manufacturers when specialist support is needed.
• Assist with equipment installation, commissioning, upgrades, and facility improvements, keeping safety central to your work.

What You Bring

• A diploma, degree, or trade certification in mechanical, electromechanical, industrial maintenance, instrumentation, or a related technical field.
• At least five years of hands-on maintenance experience in a laboratory, pilot plant, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food processing, or similar technical environment.
• Direct experience maintaining and troubleshooting laboratory equipment, including lab or pilot fermenters, centrifuges, filtration systems, and analytical equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and practical repair experience with pumps, motors, valves, piping, seals, and rotating equipment.
• The ability to investigate root causes and turn your findings into repairs and improvements that last.
• Experience planning and carrying out preventative maintenance, maintaining equipment documentation, and coordinating contractors.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and follow through on maintenance needs.
• Clear communication, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to safe working practices and continuous improvement.

Additional Experience That Would Be Helpful

• Basic electrical troubleshooting, plumbing, or utility systems knowledge.
• Experience with PLCs, instrumentation, automation, or computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Knowledge of steam boilers, compressed air, chilled water, autoclaves, or HVAC systems.
• Red Seal certification as a Millwright, Industrial Electrician, Instrumentation Technician, or equivalent.

What Is In It For You

You will work with a varied range of equipment in a science-led business, with opportunities to apply your existing skills and broaden your technical experience. You will work directly with the people who use the equipment and see how your repairs and improvements help their research and pilot trials succeed. You will also have the opportunity to help shape maintenance practices and contribute your ideas to equipment upgrades and reliability improvements.

Mara Offers a Competitive Salary And Benefits Package, Including

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plan
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• RRSP matching program
• Health care spending account
• Physical Wellness Reimbursement Plan

At Mara we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified applicants, including persons who identify as racially visible, Indigenous, persons with disabilities, women in underrepresented roles, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We support applicants and employees with access and accommodation needs.