Laboratory Operations Associate I

Fate Therapeutics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity

Benefits package

Job summary

Fate Therapeutics is seeking a Laboratory Operations professional to support Facilities, Technical Operations, and R&D with hands-on lab operations and equipment management at our San Diego headquarters. The role involves equipment installation, calibration, maintenance, relocation, and vendor coordination, with GDP/compliant documentation.

The position is 100% on-site and reports to the Manager, Equipment Engineering.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of laboratory operations and equipment maintenance experience in biotech or pharma.
• Associate's degree preferred.
• Exposure to CMMS preferred.
• Mechanical knowledge of lab equipment (biosafety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers).
• Requires the use of basic math skills and the ability to use calibration equipment.
• Proficient problem-solving abilities and detail-oriented.
• Excellent cross-functional communication with ability to manage R&D and Manufacturing requests.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact and support a high volume of R&D, Technical Operations, and Manufacturing end-user facilities requests.
• Plan short- and long-term lab activities, including space planning and coordinating equipment calibration, maintenance, and relocation.
• Execute lab operations requests, calibrations, and Work Orders, ensuring on-time completion.
• Maintain equipment lists and enroll new equipment into calibration and maintenance schedules.
• Implement and deploy policies, procedures, and protocols for equipment and lab activities.
• Work within databases and management systems to track assets, records, and documents.
• Participate in calibration and maintenance of pipets, biosafety cabinets, incubators, etc., with proper documentation.
• Oversee vendors and ensure tasks follow SOPs and documentation is complete.
• Support maintenance of Facilities working standards (manufacturing, utilities and labs).
• Interact with other departments to resolve lab operations issues.
• Maintain a safe work environment and PPE usage.
• Maintain accurate record keeping of equipment and systems.
• Work independently and liaise with third-party vendors to ensure policy compliance.

Skills

Lab operations

Equipment maintenance

CMMS exposure

Mechanical knowledge

Math skills

Problem solving

Communication

Multitasking

Self-motivation

Education

Associate's degree preferred

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Fate Therapeutics is seeking a talented and highly motivated Laboratory Operations professional to work with our Facilities, Technical Operations, and R&D teams to provide hands‑on laboratory operations services, and equipment management services. The successful candidate will support the Facilities Department with laboratory operations activities, including equipment installation, calibration, maintenance, and redeployment, lab alarms and security systems, vendor management and guidance, and communication with R&D and Technical Operations, including Manufacturing end users while complying with SOPs and applying GDP (Good Documentation Practices). This is a full‑time position reporting to the Manager, Equipment Engineering and is a 100% on‑site position located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego, California.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact and support a high volume of R&D, Technical Operations, and Manufacturing end user facilities requests, ensuring day‑to‑day lab activities run effectively.
• Anticipate and plan for short‑term and long‑term lab activities, including solving space requirements within and across teams and labs, supporting cross‑team workflows, and coordinating equipment calibration, maintenance, and relocation.
• Execute assigned lab operations requests, calibrations, and Work Orders (WOs), and/or ensure they are completed on schedule.
• Maintain equipment lists and enroll new equipment into calibration and maintenance schedules.
• Implement and deploy policies, procedures, and protocols for equipment and other lab activities.
• Work within required databases and management systems to track and update assets, records, and documents.
• Participate in calibration and maintenance activities including those for pipets, biological safety cabinets, incubators, etc. with accurate and timely documentation following Company SOPs.
• Oversee and escort vendors following Company SOPs and completing tasks in a compliant manner, ensuring that the necessary documentation is completed accurately.
• Support the maintenance of all Facilities working standards (manufacturing, utilities and labs).
• Interact with other departments and personnel to resolve any lab operations, calibration or equipment issues.
• Maintain a safe work environment, including following all safety SOPs and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
• Maintain accurate record keeping of equipment and systems.
• Work independently and make sound judgments regarding work methods and tools.
• Work with third party Vendors while performing services on equipment to ensure that all are following Company policies.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of laboratory operations and equipment maintenance related experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
• Associate's degree preferred.
• Exposure to Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) preferred.
• Mechanical knowledge of equipment and tools, including their design, operation, repair, and maintenance with experiencing supporting equipment such as biosafety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers, and other general laboratory equipment preferred.
• Requires the use of basic math skills and the ability to use technical calibration equipment.
• Proficient problem‑solving abilities along with being detail oriented.
• Excellent cross functional communication skills with the ability to manage and prioritize high volumes of R&D and Manufacturing end user facilities requests.
• Good written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self‑motivated, flexible, able to prioritize, multitask, and work in a fast paced & dynamic environment.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• 100% on‑site work at corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push and/or pull 50 pounds of equipment or supplies.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Compensation

• The salary offer will be based on a variety of factors, including level, experience, qualifications, internal equity, and location.
• Fate offers a competitive employment package that includes an annual bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package.
• The anticipated hourly range for this role is $26.00 - $30.00.

The preceding job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. Additional and incidental duties related to the primary duties may be required from time to time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Privacy Notice

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AboutFate Therapeutics, Inc.

Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the Company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered master iPSC lines and in the manufacture and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products. The Company’s pipeline includes iPSC-derived T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell product candidates, which are selectively designed, incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, and are intended to deliver multiple therapeutic mechanisms to patients. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.