Direct Wage - Lab Assistant Engineering

South Texas College; United States; On-site; USD 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

South Texas College in the Physics Department is seeking a Lab Assistant for Engineering to support instructors and maintain lab safety and cleanliness. Responsibilities include preparing reagents, assisting with labs, and keeping inventory records, with attention to EPA/OSHA/GHS guidelines and environmental safety.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, and a college certificate or course hours in science are preferred; evening or weekend work may be needed, and strong computer skills

Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Strong Microsoft Office and internet research skills.
• Knowledge of EPA/OSHA/GHS guidelines and lab safety.

Responsibilities

• Assists lab instructors during regularly scheduled labs.
• Assists in preparatory work for engineering laboratories, including reagent preparation and carts with lab material.
• Maintains inventory and operation records for the laboratory.
• Assists with routine repairs and notifies personnel for major repairs.
• Supports maintenance of safety and security of the laboratory and equipment.
• Keeps lab rooms clean and orderly.
• Performs clerical functions as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Laboratory safety

EPA/OSHA/GHS knowledge

Teamwork

Time management

Education

High School Diploma or GED

College Certificate or 8 college hours in science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Department: Physics

General Statement of Job: The Lab Assistant for Engineering assists all Engineering staff and faculty. Assists with the maintenance and safety in the labs according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Global Harmonized System (GHS) guidelines, which includes but is not limited to maintaining eye wash stations, maintaining properly labeled receptacles for broken equipment and used batteries, maintaining receptacles for various waste streams, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists lab instructors during regularly scheduled labs or as needed.
• Assists in preparatory work for the engineering laboratories, including reagent preparation, and preparing carts with lab material.
• Assists in keeping accurate records related to inventory and operation of laboratory.
• Assists with routine repairs and notifies proper personnel for warranty maintenance and major non-warranty repairs.
• Assists with the maintenance of the safety and security of the laboratory and equipment.
• Assists with the maintenance in the lab rooms in a clean and orderly condition.
• Performs clerical functions, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

High School Diploma or GED required; College Certificate or 8 college hours in science, preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office including, but not limited to, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, the Windows environment, and internet research skills.
• Knowledge of the physical science field, preferably chemistry.
• Familiarity of a science laboratory, including safety and precautions.
• Knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Global Harmonized System (GHS) guidelines.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and complete multiple tasks with attention to detail, within stated deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to constant change and periods of fast-paced, high-intensity work situations.
• Ability to work independently as well as a team player within department and with others.
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to achieving the vision and mission of South Texas College.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance Instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of students or employees of organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Checks, Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

Security Sensitive position: all applicants are subject to a criminal background check under South Texas College policy.

Physical Requirements

Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Standing particularly for sustained periods of time. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and operation of machines; using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. Mobility to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Minimum Compensation

$15.75

Desired Start Date

September 15, 2026

Posting Close Date

29 September 2026 11:59pm

About South Texas College

Founded in 1993, South Texas College offers more than 127 degree & certificate options, including associate degrees in a variety of liberal art, social science, business, math, science, technology, advanced manufacturing, and allied health fields of study. Additionally, South Texas College is the only community college in the State of Texas to offer 5 baccalaureate degrees. South Texas College has a faculty and staff of more than 2,200 to serve the college’s five campuses, two higher education centers, and one virtual campus. Since 2000, the Dual Credit Programs has served 130,000 high school students at 70 high school partners, saving families over $340 million dollars in tuition.