Laboratory Technician

Personna Employment Solutions; Boardman (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock-based incentive eligibility

Generous paid time off

Fitness reimbursement

Job summary

Personna Employment Solutions is seeking a hands-on Lab Technician to support laboratory testing, quality control, process monitoring, and continuous improvement within a large-scale fuel ethanol and liquid CO₂ production environment. This role collaborates with production teams to evaluate samples, monitor trends, and provide analytical information to improve product quality and ethanol output.

The ideal candidate has strong lab skills, data handling, and safety awareness for an active

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline preferred or 2–3+ years in laboratory/industrial testing.
• Experience in industrial, manufacturing, or QA/QC labs is highly desirable.
• Able to interpret results, identify trends, and document findings accurately.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory testing and experiments to support ethanol production and quality.
• Collect, prepare, test, and analyze production samples with accurate records.
• Identify opportunities to improve production performance through testing and analysis.
• Evaluate results, document findings, and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain lab records and prepare samples for external analysis when needed.
• Monitor production trends and communicate results to leadership.
• Maintain supplies, equipment, and safety compliance in the lab.
• Travel locally between worksites to collect or deliver samples.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Mathematical skills

Troubleshooting

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Electronic data-recording systems

Job description

We are seeking a hands-on Lab Technician to support laboratory testing, quality control, process monitoring, and continuous improvement within a large-scale fuel ethanol and liquid CO₂ production environment.

This role works closely with production and operations teams to evaluate process samples, monitor production trends, document laboratory results, identify abnormalities, and provide accurate analytical information used to improve product quality and ethanol production performance.

This is an industrial laboratory role rather than a purely academic or research-based position. The strongest candidates will be comfortable working in an active manufacturing environment and connecting laboratory results directly to plant operations.

Candidates with experience in ethanol, renewable fuels, biodiesel, bioprocessing, fermentation, distillation, brewing, food and beverage manufacturing, agricultural processing, chemical manufacturing, industrial gases, wastewater, or similar process environments should translate particularly well.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory testing and experiments supporting ethanol production, product quality, and continuous process improvement.
• Collect, prepare, test, and analyze production and process samples.
• Identify opportunities to improve production performance through testing, experimentation, and analysis.
• Evaluate test results, identify trends or abnormalities, document findings, and recommend corrective actions or process adjustments.
• Maintain accurate laboratory and production testing records using automated and manual reporting systems.
• Prepare samples for shipment to external laboratories for more complex chemical analysis.
• Monitor production trends and operating data to help identify changes in process performance.
• Complete daily production and laboratory reports and provide weekly or monthly summaries of testing results.
• Communicate testing results and significant findings directly with production leadership.
• Maintain appropriate laboratory materials, supplies, equipment, and sample inventories.
• Follow established laboratory methods, SOPs, quality assurance requirements, and documentation standards.
• Support product safety and quality programs, including applicable cGMP, feed/food safety, quality control, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a strong focus on laboratory, chemical, and industrial safety.
• Travel locally or between worksites when necessary to collect or deliver product samples.

Preferred Background

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline preferred.
• Candidates without a bachelor's degree may be considered with approximately 2–3+ years of relevant laboratory, chemistry, quality-control, or industrial testing experience.
• Previous experience in an industrial, manufacturing, production, quality-control, environmental, or process laboratory is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting ethanol, fermentation, distillation, renewable fuels, chemical processing, food/beverage production, agricultural processing, industrial gases, or liquid CO₂ production is particularly valuable.
• Hands‑on experience with sample collection, sample preparation, laboratory testing, chemical analysis, quality control, and accurate documentation.
• Ability to interpret laboratory results and recognize trends, deviations, or unusual process conditions.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong computer skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and electronic data‑recording systems.
• High attention to detail and ability to consistently follow testing methods, SOPs, safety procedures, and quality standards.
• Ability to communicate laboratory findings clearly to production and operations personnel.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with plant operations.
• Must be able to work varying shifts and overtime based on production requirements.

Highly Relevant Experience

Experience in any of the following environments is especially transferable:

Fuel Ethanol | Renewable Fuels | Biodiesel | Fermentation | Distillation | Brewing & Distilling | Bioprocessing | Food & Beverage Manufacturing | Agricultural Processing | Chemical Manufacturing | Industrial Gases / CO₂ | Wastewater & Environmental Testing

Experience with wet chemistry, process sampling, analytical testing, fermentation monitoring, product‑quality testing, chemical analysis, laboratory documentation, QA/QC, GMP environments, or production‑data trending is highly desirable.

This position works within an active industrial manufacturing environment and may involve exposure to changing temperatures, dust, fumes, moderate‑to‑loud noise, and other normal plant conditions.

Candidates must be able to:

• Lift and carry materials weighing up to approximately 40 pounds.
• Stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and perform hands‑on laboratory activities.
• Work safely around industrial production operations.
• Work varying shifts and overtime when business needs require.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with dollar‑for‑dollar company match up to 6%
• Stock‑based incentive eligibility
• Generous paid time off
• Fitness‑related reimbursement/stipend

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Employment is subject to applicable criminal background screening and drug‑testing requirements.