Biotechnology Lab Assistant Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Associate Facility Engineer is an early-career role designed for a motivated, hands-on individual who is eager to learn and grow within a fast-moving biotech environment. Working under the guidance of the Facility Manager, this position contributes to the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of a facility that spans R&D laboratories, GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing, and shared operational spaces.

This is a great opportunity to gain broad exposure across facility disciplines from utility systems and lab infrastructure to construction support, compliance, and security in a startup setting where no two days look the same. You will be mentored by experienced facility and operations professionals and given increasing responsibility as you develop your skills and confidence. We are looking for someone who is curious, dependable, and excited to be part of building something from the ground up.

What Youll Do

1. Facility Buildout & Construction Support

Our facility is actively being built out, and this role will be involved from day one:

• Participate in site walkthroughs with contractors, help track punch lists, and document observations.
• Assist with Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) activities under the direction of senior team members.
• Support commissioning and qualification (CQV) activities, including helping execute protocols and organize turnover documentation.
• Help review as-built drawings and O&M manuals to ensure accuracy as systems are handed over.
• Assist in organizing spare parts inventory as new equipment is installed and commissioned.

2. Facility & Utility Systems

You will assist in keeping our facility infrastructure running day-to-day across Common Space, R&D and GMP cleanroom areas:

• Help monitor facility-wide utility systems including HVAC, chillers, boilers, compressed and medical gases, purified water, and building automation systems (BAS/BMS).
• Conduct routine walkthroughs across manufacturing suites, research labs, mechanical rooms, and common areas to spot and report abnormalities, alarms, or equipment concerns.
• Assist in environmental monitoring of controlled areas (temperature, humidity, differential pressure) and support calibration activities.
• Learn and support the maintenance of facility systems in a validated and qualified state, with guidance from the Facility Manager.

3. Preventive & Corrective Maintenance

• Perform preventive maintenance (PM) tasks according to approved schedules and SOPs.
• Record maintenance activities accurately in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) following GMP documentation principles.
• Assist with corrective maintenance activities including identifying faults, sourcing parts, and supporting repairs.
• Coordinate with and support external vendors during service visits and inspections.

4. Compliance & Documentation

You will learn to navigate a regulated environment with support and clear guidance:

• Maintain accurate facility and maintenance records aligned with GMP documentation standards (ALCOA+).
• Support change control, deviation write-ups, and CAPA activities related to facility systems, as directed.
• Help ensure the facility remains compliant with FDA, OSHA, EPA, and applicable local codes.
• Assist during internal and external audits by gathering documentation and supporting facility walkthroughs.

5. Environmental, Health & Safety

• Follow and promote safe work practices including lockout/tagout (LOTO), chemical hygiene, and biological safety protocols appropriate to each area.
• Assist with safety inspections and support follow-up on corrective actions.
• Develop awareness of radiation safety considerations applicable to a drug development environment, interfacing with the Radiation Safety Officer as directed.
• Contribute to EHS recordkeeping and compliance documentation.

6. Facility Security & Access Control

Facility security sits within the Facility function and will be an area of growing responsibility over time:

• Assist in administering access control systems, including badge setup, access level changes, and audit log reviews.
• Help coordinate with security vendors for maintenance and system updates.
• Support CCTV and alarm system checks and maintenance activities.
• Help maintain visitor management procedures, particularly during audits and inspections.

7. Cross-Functional Support & Learning

• Respond to day-to-day facility requests from R&D and manufacturing teams, learning to triage and prioritize effectively.
• Develop an understanding of how GMP manufacturing suites, research labs, and shared spaces interact and depend on one another.
• Contribute to improvement projects and equipment upgrades as your knowledge and confidence grow.
• Participate in vendor interactions and equipment reviews to build technical knowledge of facility systems.

What Were Looking For

Experience

• 13 years of experience in facilities, maintenance, laboratory operations, or a related technical role internships and co-ops count.
• Any exposure to GMP, pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated research environments is a plus, not a requirement.
• Experience or coursework related to facility systems, lab equipment, or building operations is helpful.

Technical Familiarity

You dont need to know everything on day one well train you. But familiarity with any of the following is a plus:

• Basic HVAC, mechanical, or electrical systems.
• Laboratory equipment such as biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, or cold storage.
• Reading engineering drawings, P&IDs, or equipment manuals.
• CMMS or facility management software.
• OSHA laboratory safety standards or NIH biosafety guidelines.
• Access control or physical security systems.

Who You Are

• Curious and eager to learn you ask good questions and take initiative to understand how things work.
• Detail-oriented and dependable you follow through and document accurately.
• A team player who communicates clearly with scientists, operators, QA staff, and contractors alike.
• Comfortable with variety you can shift from a scheduled maintenance task to an unexpected repair to a documentation request within the same morning.
• Excited by the opportunity to grow within a startup and take on more responsibility over time.

• Ability to stand, walk, climb ladders, and access mechanical and utility spaces.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to work across cleanrooms, biological research labs, mechanical rooms, and outdoor areas.
• Must be able to distinguish colors (required for electrical and utility system work).
• On-site role; occasional off-hours response may be needed for emergencies or commissioning milestones.
• PPE appropriate to biological, chemical, and mechanical hazards will be provided and required in designated areas.