Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician

Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician

Periodic Labs is building an autonomous laboratory for high-throughput materials discovery — combining advanced synthesis, characterization, automation, robotics, and AI to accelerate the development of next-generation materials. We're looking for a highly capable, hands-on Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician to help build, maintain, and scale the physical infrastructure that enables our scientific and engineering teams to move quickly.

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys solving practical problems, working with tools, building systems, troubleshooting equipment, and taking ownership of laboratory operations. You'll work across equipment maintenance, gas and vacuum systems, utilities, instrumentation, automation support, machine shop operations, inventory management, and laboratory buildout projects.

What You'll Do

Equipment Maintenance & Reliability

Execute preventative maintenance programs for laboratory equipment using MaintainX CMMS; develop and improve maintenance procedures, inspection checklists, and work order templates

Perform routine inspections, cleaning, calibration checks, and equipment upkeep across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, gas, vacuum, and fluid handling systems

Take initiative to troubleshoot to component level and repair equipment; identify recurring failure modes and implement corrective actions to improve uptime

Coordinate service visits and maintenance activities with equipment vendors

Service vacuum pumps, cooling water systems, chillers, and associated infrastructure; verify equipment meets OEM specifications after maintenance or repairs

Asset Management & Documentation

Maintain an accurate asset registry within MaintainX, including equipment records (manuals, schematics, service histories, serial numbers, manufacturer contacts)

Label equipment with asset numbers and QR codes; update equipment layouts, utility matrices, and infrastructure documentation

Track maintenance history and equipment performance metrics

Utilities & Infrastructure

Maintain laboratory utility systems including compressed gases, vacuum systems, process cooling water, exhaust systems, gas detection, and general lab infrastructure

Build and modify gas and fluid handling systems from P&IDs and engineering drawings; assemble and install tubing, regulators, valves, gauges, sensors, and associated hardware

Support utility capacity planning and identify infrastructure constraints

Equipment Installation & Commissioning

Support installation and startup of new laboratory equipment; coordinate utility hookups including power, water, gas, vacuum, and networking

Procure and install supporting infrastructure including tubing, fittings, pumps, sensors, regulators, and instrumentation

Perform installation verification and commissioning activities; document as-built configurations and equipment changes

Automation & Controls Support

Support Controls and Automation Engineers with equipment integration projects

Install and maintain thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, solenoid valves, gas sensors, and safety interlocks

Route, terminate, and label instrumentation and communication wiring; assist with sensor replacement, control panel modifications, and field troubleshooting

Machine Shop & Fabrication

Fabricate fixtures, brackets, guards, adapters, and experimental hardware using drill press, band saw, chop saw, belt sander, bench grinder, manual mill, and manual lathe

Modify commercial components and support custom equipment builds; maintain machine shop organization and tooling

Inventory & Laboratory Operations

Maintain inventories of spare parts, maintenance consumables, PPE, and laboratory supplies; identify critical spare parts and establish appropriate stock levels

Receive and organize incoming equipment, chemicals, gases, and supplies; register chemicals and gas cylinders within laboratory inventory systems

Coordinate gas cylinder replacement and deliveries; support hazardous waste staging and disposal activities

Assist with laboratory organization, equipment moves, and expansion projects

Safety & Compliance

Perform all work in accordance with laboratory safety procedures and LOTO requirements; participate in routine safety inspections and identify unsafe conditions

Support safe installation and modification of laboratory equipment and infrastructure

Maintain clean, organized, and professional workspaces; use all appropriate PPE (lab coats, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators)

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have

5+ years of experience in laboratory operations, manufacturing, semiconductor, chemical processing, pilot plant, industrial maintenance, or a related environment

The ability to read and interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, electrical wiring diagrams, and equipment manuals

Strong hands-on experience with hand tools, power tools, and mechanical assembly, with excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

An associate degree, technical certification, military technical training, trade apprenticeship, or equivalent hands-on experience

Comfort operating in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment with shifting priorities

Especially Strong Candidates Should Have

Swagelok tubing, fitting, and tube bending experience; gas manifold assembly from P&IDs

Vacuum systems and/or compressed gas systems experience

Semiconductor equipment maintenance experience

Electrical troubleshooting down to PCB/component level using multimeters

MaintainX or other CMMS experience

Forklift or material handling equipment experience

Handling of hazardous chemicals & laboratory operations experience

Process piping and instrumentation experience

Mechanics

Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience

Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park

Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role is approximately $100,000 - $140,000

Visa sponsorship: No, sorry we are not able to sponsor visas at this time.

We're building a team of the world's best — the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.