Clinical Laboratory Technician I

Helix; San Diego, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 83,097,000 - 103,155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

12 weeks Parental Leave

401(k) with 3% match

Well-Being Benefits

4 weeks PTO a year

Job summary

Helix in San Diego seeks a Clinical Laboratory Technician I to execute pre-analytical and analytical workflows in a high-throughput CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited lab environment. You'll work on Whole Exome, Whole Genome, and Proteomics assays, under supervision, to build foundational skills in precision medicine.

Responsibilities include documenting results, supporting QC, coordinating shift handoffs, and driving improvements.

Qualifications

• Hands-on lab experience in a regulated environment.
• Understanding of molecular biology concepts and lab techniques.
• Attention to detail to catch discrepancies early.
• Clear communication of issues with sufficient context.
• Willingness to learn AI tools and automated platforms.
• Adaptable to evolving lab technologies and processes.

Responsibilities

• Execute pre-analytical and analytical workflows per SOPs.
• Maintain accurate documentation for compliance and results.
• Identify deviations and escalate with detailed notes.
• Support QC activities and uphold CLIA/CAP standards.
• Coordinate with team on shift handoffs and throughput.
• Share observations to improve workflow efficiency.

Skills

Hands-on lab experience

Molecular biology concepts

Attention to detail

Clear communicator

Tech-forward with AI tools

Adaptable to new technologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Physical, Biological, or Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medical Technology

Job description

Who We Are & What We Do

At Helix, our mission is simple: to help everyone improve their lives through their DNA.

Ready to make a real-world impact with your skills? At Helix, we're transforming healthcare by making genomics a standard of care. We partner with health systems and life science companies to accelerate the integration of genomic data into clinical practice. Join us in building a future where healthcare is personalized, proactive, and powered by genomics.

The Helix clinical laboratory processes genomic samples at a scale very few labs in the world can match, powering the diagnostic and screening tests that health system partners depend on every day. As a Clinical Laboratory Technician I, you'll be on the floor executing the workflows that make that scale possible: Whole Exome, Whole Genome, and Proteomics assays running in a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited environment built for high throughput. This is a production role under direct supervision, making it the perfect place to build foundational skills on technology at the leading edge of precision medicine.

As a Clinical Laboratory Technician I, you will:

• Execute pre-analytical and analytical workflows following established SOPs, spanning from sample handling through assay completion.
• Maintain accurate, complete documentation in required systems and logs, as reliable records are what keep the lab compliant and results trustworthy.
• Recognize and elevate deviations (such as instrument flags or specimen discrepancies outside your scope) with enough detail so the right person can resolve the issue quickly.
• Support QC activities and help uphold the standards that keep our CLIA and CAP certifications in good standing.
• Coordinate with your team on shift handoffs and daily throughput, contributing directly to quality, TAT, and production KPIs.
• Share observations about workflow patterns with your lead, since small improvements add up quickly when operating at this volume.

About you:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Physical, Biological, or Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medical Technology.
• Hands-on lab experience from industry, internship, or coursework.
• Working knowledge of molecular biology concepts and common lab techniques, ensuring you can follow an experimental method and understand why each step matters.
• High attention to detail in a regulated environment to catch discrepancies before they become problems.
• Clear communicator who surfaces issues with enough context for leadership to take immediate action.
• Adaptable and tech-forward with an eagerness to learn and work with new technologies, such as AI tools and automated platforms, as our laboratory operations evolve.
• Available Tuesday-Saturday on first shift (7am-3:30pm) or second shift (2pm-10:30pm), with flexibility for overtime as business needs require.

Pluses:

• Familiarity with high-throughput or automated laboratory workflows.
• Prior experience in a CLIA, CAP, or otherwise regulated lab setting.

Expected Interview Process:

1) Recruiter Screen 2) Manager Screen/Tech Screen 3) Onsite 4) Offer

Expected Pay For This Role:

There are 3 distinct parts to your Helix offer: 1) Base Salary 2) Annual Bonus 3) Equity

• Expected Helix Base: $29/hr - $36/hr
• Expected Helix Discretionary Annual Bonus: 5% of your annual salary
• Equity: We offer generous equity at Helix. If you receive a Helix offer your recruiter will book dedicated time with you to educate you on our equity model.

Aside from working alongside brilliant, dedicated, passionate, down-to-earth, curious, warm, and thoughtful people, we also provide great benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance with Date of Hire eligibility
  • Above average employer paid premium coverage
• 12 weeks Helix Paid Parental Leave option
• 401(k) with employer matching of up to 3% and 100% Vesting on the Date of Hire
• Comprehensive Well-Being Benefits
• 4 weeks PTO a year

What To Expect During Your First 90 days:

• First 30 days:you'll spend time learning the Helix way, completing training and onboarding for your roles, and getting introduced to your team and relevant stakeholders. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of our customers, our products, the impact we make in the lives of our communities, and how to thrive at Helix through participation in Helix U.
• Day 30 - 60:you'll spend time contributing to projects, deeply familiarizing yourself with team and company processes, and developing a deeper understanding of Helix's products, services and capabilities.
• Day 60 - 90:you'll build your OKRs with your manager, start to take ownership of projects and initiatives on your team, and begin to demonstrate your impact on the Helix mission.

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Helix is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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