Surgical Technician

The Jackson Laboratory; Bar Harbor (ME); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine is seeking a Surgical Technician to support perioperative mouse procedures and post-operative care. Training is provided to develop aseptic survival surgery skills, with opportunities to pursue AALAS certifications (ALAT, LAT, LATG) as you grow within the role.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, maintain surgical records, and contribute to a fast-paced, mission-driven biomedical research environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with laboratory rodents.
• Ability to learn aseptically perform basic survival surgical procedures on mice using a microscope.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate across levels of the organization.
• Positive attitude and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
• Flexibility to work rotating weekends/holidays and occasional travel.
• Knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology.
• BS in Animal Science or related field, or a high school diploma with 1 year rodents experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform perioperative tasks including pre-operative health assessments, anesthesia, dosing, vitals monitoring and records.
• Provide surgical support and post-operative animal assessment and routine care.
• Stock, sanitize and maintain sterile surgical areas and equipment.
• Pack mice for shipment to customers and ensure traceable records.
• Perform minor surgical procedures as needed and continuously develop skills.
• Support additional duties as needed.

Skills

Rodent handling

Aseptic technique

Team collaboration

Detail-oriented

MS Office proficiency

Flexible schedule

Anatomy knowledge

Learning mindset

Education

BS in Animal Science

High school diploma + 1 year rodents experience

Tools

Microscope

Job description

Are you interested in building a career in animal science or biomedical research? Our Surgical Technician position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a supportive and dynamic environment. Prior surgical experience is not required-we provide comprehensive training to help you develop the skills needed to perform surgical procedures in mice and contribute to essential surgical support tasks.

This is a great opportunity for individuals with experience or interest in veterinary technology, animal care, or laboratory research who are ready to take the next step in a specialized, impactful role. We also support professional development through certification with the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), including ALAT, LAT, and LATG.

What You’ll Do

As a Surgical Technician, you’ll be responsible for:

• Performing perioperative tasks including:
  • Pre-operative health assessments
  • Safe and effective anesthesia administration
  • Accurate medication dosing and documentation
  • Monitoring intra-operative vitals
  • Ensuring smooth anesthetic recovery
  • Maintaining complete and consistent surgical records
• Providing surgical support through:
  • Post-operative animal assessment and treatment
  • Stocking and sanitizing surgical areas
  • Equipment maintenance and basic husbandry
  • Packing mice for shipment to customers
• Performing minor surgical procedures such as incision repair
• Continuously developing your surgical skills
• Supporting additional duties as needed

What You Bring

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience working with laboratory rodents
• Ability to learn to aseptically perform basic survival surgical procedures on mice using a microscope
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate across various levels of the organization
• A positive attitude and adaptability in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel
• Flexibility to work rotating weekends/holidays and occasional travel
• Confidence in animal handling and performing a variety of biomethods
• Exceptional attention to detail and consistency
• Ability to prioritize tasks and communicate effectively with your team
• A proactive mindset for learning and skill development
• Knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology, typically acquired through:
  • A BS degree in Animal Science or a related field, or
  • A high school diploma and at least 1 year of experience working with rodents

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.