Lab Technician

Actalent; Redding (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

PTO

Transportation benefits

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Lab Support Engineer to maintain and organize engineering labs at North Reading and Westborough, MA. You will own lab inventory, repair fixtures and test equipment, manage check-in/check-out of tools, and coordinate procurement and RMAs to keep engineers supplied.

This contract, on-site role requires strong organizational skills, hands-on ability, and the capacity to travel between sites.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and detail-oriented approach to inventory and lab upkeep.
• Experience with inventory control in a lab or technical environment.
• Hands-on ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair fixtures, tools, and lab equipment.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end lab inventory management across both sites by tracking stock levels and keeping records accurate.
• Receive, label, organize, and store incoming parts and equipment and manage check-in/check-out of shared tools.
• Engage suppliers for procurement, RMAs, and sourcing of lab materials and equipment.
• Maintain inventory documentation and reporting for visibility at each location.
• Coordinate calibration, servicing, and PM schedules for lab equipment.

Skills

Inventory management

Lab organization

Fixture maintenance

Test equipment repair

Equipment troubleshooting

Shop tools operation

Electro-mechanical systems

Engineering drawings

Travel between sites

Lab safety

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Fusion 360

Job description

Job Title: Lab Support Engineer Job Description The Lab Support Engineer plays a central role in keeping engineering labs at the North Reading and Westborough, MA sites organized, well-maintained, and fully stocked. This position focuses on lab organization, fixture and test-equipment maintenance, and inventory management across both locations, ensuring engineers have reliable equipment and parts to perform their work effectively. The role owns the day-to-day health of the labs, including tracking and replenishing inventory, maintaining and repairing fixtures and test equipment, and driving a safe, clean, and efficient workspace, while providing secondary support for testing activities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end lab inventory management across both sites by tracking stock levels, components, consumables, cables, and spare parts, and keeping records accurate and up to date.
• Receive, label, organize, and store incoming parts and equipment, and manage the check-in and check-out of shared tools and assets.
• Engage suppliers and partner teams for procurement, return material authorizations (RMAs), and sourcing of lab-related materials and equipment.
• Maintain clear inventory documentation and reporting so the team has ongoing visibility into what is available at each location.
• Track internal purchase orders against inventory levels and partner with suppliers to ensure required delivery dates are met.
• Champion lab safety by ensuring proper handling, storage, and documentation of tools, equipment, and materials.
• Own the overall organization, cleanliness, and efficiency of the labs at both North Reading and Westborough, establishing and enforcing standards for workspace layout, storage, and labeling.
• Maintain, inspect, troubleshoot, and repair test fixtures and lab or test equipment to keep them in reliable, ready-to-use condition.
• Coordinate calibration, servicing, and preventive‑maintenance schedules for lab equipment, track service history, and flag equipment nearing end-of-life.
• Set up, tear down, and reconfigure fixtures and test stations to support changing project and test requirements.
• Assist with environmental, reliability, and functional testing of components, subsystems, and devices as needed, following standard operating procedures and work instructions.
• Prepare and stage fixtures, samples, and equipment ahead of tests and demonstrations.
• Support engineers in executing straightforward test procedures and capturing test results accurately.
• Travel between the North Reading and Westborough, MA sites as needed to support lab operations at both locations.

Essential Skills

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience with inventory management and lab or equipment organization and upkeep.
• Hands‑on ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair fixtures, tools, and lab or test equipment.
• Ability to operate shop tools and lab equipment effectively.
• Basic knowledge of consumer electronic devices and electro‑mechanical systems, such as motors, controllers, and sensors.
• Ability to interpret engineering documentation, including drawings, schematics, specifications, test procedures, and standard operating procedures.
• Ability to travel between the North Reading and Westborough, MA sites as needed.
• Experience with inventory control in a lab or technical environment.
• Experience working with test equipment and lab equipment in support of engineering activities.
• Experience with logistics related to inventory, equipment, and testing support.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with inventory or asset‑management systems and reorder or replenishment processes.
• Experience managing equipment calibration and preventive‑maintenance programs.
• Experience supporting lab operations across multiple sites or locations.
• Familiarity with supplier, procurement, and RMA processes.
• Working knowledge of CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo, or Fusion 360.
• Familiarity with fabrication techniques including machining, 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and the use of shop tools.
• Experience with scripting, coding, or automation to streamline inventory and maintenance tracking.

Work Environment

This role is based across lab facilities in North Reading and Westborough, MA, with regular on‑site work and travel between locations to support both labs. The work environment is hands‑on and highly technical, centered around engineering lab spaces that use a variety of test equipment, fixtures, shop tools, and lab tools to support product development and testing. The labs emphasize safety, organization, and cleanliness, with clear standards for workspace layout, storage, labeling, and equipment handling. The position involves working with electro‑mechanical systems, consumer electronic devices, and test setups, as well as using inventory and asset‑management systems, CAD tools, and potentially scripting or automation tools to improve lab operations. The culture values reliability, attention to detail, and proactive support of engineers, providing a collaborative environment where well‑maintained equipment and efficient processes enable high‑quality testing and development work.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of North Reading, MA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $100000.00/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 26, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in North Reading,MA.

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.