Lab Technician

ACTalent; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Onsite workplace

Job summary

ACTalent in Palo Alto is seeking a Lab Technician to prepare and process specimens for testing, set up and maintain lab instruments, and implement quality controls. The role requires attention to detail and strong English communication in a hands-on lab environment.

The position operates Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM, with rotating Saturdays after training. This is a contract role hosted in Palo Alto, CA, offering opportunities to contribute to hospital-related testing and equipment management.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years college education in biology or related field with 3 years lab experience, or 4 years college with 1 year lab experience.
• Hands-on experience with sample handling, quantitative chemical analysis, and enzyme assays.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and operating laboratory instruments.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adhere to laboratory policies and protocols.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage many samples accurately.
• Effective communication in English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Prepare clinical samples and products for testing following lab protocols.
• Set up and maintain automated instruments and ensure accurate reagent placement.
• Prepare reagents and change equipment supplies as needed.
• Document and record quality control measures and equipment checks.
• Train backup staff and suggest workflow improvements.
• Respond to staffing emergencies and assist in lab maintenance and supply management.
• Maintain sample inventories and update databases for tracking.

Skills

Lab experience

Sample handling

Excel

Instrument maintenance

English communication

Education

2+ years college in biology

4 years college +1 year lab

Tools

Excel

Laboratory instruments

Job description

Job Title: Lab Technician

Job Description

As a Lab Technician, you will play a crucial role in preparing and processing specimens for laboratory testing. This role involves setting up, maintaining, troubleshooting, and validating laboratory instruments, as well as implementing quality control measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of lab results.

Responsibilities

• Prepare clinical samples and products for testing, including accessioning and processing, in adherence to laboratory protocols.
• Set up instruments for automated laboratory tasks and maintain them, ensuring accurate reagent placement and cleaning.
• Prepare reagents and change equipment supplies as needed.
• Document and transcribe quality control measures, including environmental readings and equipment function checks.
• Train backup staff and recommend workflow improvements.
• Respond to emergency staffing situations and assist in laboratory maintenance and supply management.
• Maintain sample inventories and update computer databases for sample tracking.
• Observe and support good health and safety practices, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Enter areas where human blood is handled, with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2 years college education in biology or a related field with 3 years of laboratory experience, or 4 years college education with 1 year of laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience with sample handling, quantitative chemical analysis, and enzyme assays.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and operating laboratory instruments.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adhere to laboratory policies and protocols.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage a large number of samples accurately.
• Effective communication skills in spoken and written English.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with handling biohazardous material and basic decontamination.
• biology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• Experience with pipetting, specimen processing, and data entry.
• Education in a scientific field, with coursework from a community college or technical school.

Work Environment

You will work in a laboratory setting with a team of 11 Lab Techs, 1 Lab Assistant, and 3-4 Clinical Laboratory Scientists. The role operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with rotating Saturdays post-training. The training period lasts approximately 3 months. The work environment is crucial to supporting hospitals across the community, contributing to life-saving work.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $35.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 25, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.