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Lab Manager Jobs in Fairfield, CA (NOW HIRING)

Omen AI

Lab Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Lab Manager Location: San Francisco (In-person) Who We Are Omen is miniaturizing lab-grade spectroscopy into field-deployable embedded sensors. Our systems deliver PPM-level trace analysis reports on ...

Specter

Engineering Lab Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Role You'll build and maintain the lab and test sites the rest of engineering depends on. That spans standing up outdoor test installations, wiring the lab's network and servers, mounting radios ...

Anthropic

Hardware Lab Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You'd be the first dedicated lab manager, so part of this role will include shaping it to scale from our current lab to much larger ones. What You'll Do * Run the physical lab across both sites ...

Anthropic

Hardware Lab Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You'd be the first dedicated lab manager, so part of this role will include shaping it to scale from our current lab to much larger ones. What You'll Do * Run the physical lab across both sites ...

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Lab Manager information

See Fairfield, CA salary details

$33.1K

$93.6K

$151.6K

How much do lab manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for lab manager in Fairfield, CA is $93,587.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,200.00 and $113,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lab manager do?

A Lab Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a laboratory. Their duties typically include supervising staff, ensuring safety protocols are followed, managing inventory and ordering supplies, maintaining equipment, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Lab Managers also coordinate experiments and research activities, and may handle budgeting and administrative tasks. Their role is crucial in ensuring the lab runs efficiently and safely.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lab manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lab Manager, you need expertise in laboratory procedures, safety protocols, and scientific analysis, typically supported by a degree in a relevant science field and prior lab experience. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), inventory software, and regulatory compliance certifications such as OSHA or CLIA is often required. Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills help manage teams, coordinate projects, and ensure accurate reporting. These abilities are vital for maintaining efficient lab operations, regulatory compliance, and a safe, collaborative work environment.

What are some common challenges faced by lab managers when overseeing a diverse research team?

Lab Managers often encounter challenges related to coordinating schedules, managing conflicting priorities among researchers, and ensuring compliance with safety protocols. Balancing administrative duties with hands-on support requires strong organizational skills and adaptability, especially when unexpected issues arise, such as equipment malfunctions or supply shortages. Effective communication is key to fostering collaboration and maintaining a productive work environment, as Lab Managers frequently serve as the bridge between researchers, technicians, and external vendors.

What is the difference between Lab Manager vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLab ManagerLaboratory Technician
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant science, often with management experienceAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in a science or related field
Work EnvironmentOversees lab operations, manages staff, and ensures compliancePerforms routine tests, prepares samples, and maintains lab equipment
ResponsibilitiesSupervises staff, manages budgets, and coordinates projectsConducts experiments, records data, and maintains lab safety

The main difference between a Lab Manager and a Laboratory Technician lies in their responsibilities and level of oversight. Lab Managers focus on managing lab operations, staff, and compliance, while Laboratory Technicians handle hands-on testing and sample preparation. Both roles require relevant scientific credentials, but Lab Managers typically have more experience and managerial skills.

How much does a lab manager make?

The average salary for a lab manager in California ranges from $70,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and the industry sector. Salaries may also vary based on the size of the laboratory and specific responsibilities, such as overseeing staff, managing budgets, or ensuring compliance with safety standards.

What qualifications do you need to be a lab manager?

A lab manager typically needs a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or engineering, along with experience in laboratory operations. Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills are essential, and certifications like OSHA safety training or specific technical certifications can be advantageous.
More about Lab Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Lab jobs in Fairfield, CA?

The most popular types of Lab jobs in Fairfield, CA are:

What cities near Fairfield, CA are hiring for Lab Manager jobs?

Cities near Fairfield, CA with the most Lab Manager job openings:

Lab Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lab Manager job openings in Fairfield, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,587 per year, or $45 per hour.

Lab Manager

Omen AI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 hours ago

Job description

Lab Manager
Location: San Francisco (In-person)
Who We Are
Omen is miniaturizing lab-grade spectroscopy into field-deployable embedded
sensors. Our systems deliver PPM-level trace analysis reports on the fluids in
industrial machines and datacenters, allowing us to detect complex wear trends
like hydraulic cylinder failures or coolant contamination in real-time. With this
data we can automatically match anomalies with failure modes weeks to months
before catastrophic failure occurs.
Our team is a tightly knit group of ~20 builders, dropouts, and industry veterans.
We don't build things that are good enough, we build things that are 100x better.
The Challenge
We are currently developing two primary systems:
• Omen Scout: for closed-loop hydraulic and lubricating oils.
• Omen Sentry: for direct-to-chip liquid cooling loops (typ. water/glycol
mixtures).
To validate our portable hardware and train our predictive machine learning
models, we need a high volume of ground-truth data. We are in the process of
building our lab; we need a tech-forward expert to own it and bring professional
analytical chemistry standards into our fast moving startup environment.
What You Will Do
• Establish Lab Standards: Bring the rigor of a professional analytical
chemistry lab to our R&D facility. Our machine learning and hardware
teams rely entirely on your results as their ground truth. You must
implement rigorous QA/QC practices, including running blanks, calibration
curves, spike recoveries, and monitoring for instrument drift.
• Integrate: Develop robust sample preparation methodologies for
challenging fluids (industrial oils and liquid cooling mixtures). You will
handle the day-to-day processing and testing of these samples while we
build out the automated pipeline.
• Automate: Collaborate closely with the R&D team to transition manual
sample prep and testing into a software-defined automated pipeline. You
will help define the analytical workflows and test plans that our SCARA
robots will execute.
• Supply Chain & Inventory: Manage procurement for all lab consumables,
reagents, specialty gases, and calibration standards. Assist in
management/procurement for adjacent equipment like resin 3d printers.
• Safety & Compliance: Establish and enforce safety protocols. You will
independently set up our hazardous waste management streams (acid
waste, solvent waste, oil disposal) and ensure compliance with local
environmental regulations.
What We Are Looking For
• A professional background in chemistry or analytical chem is strongly
preferred, with bio experience as a plus. We are open to candidates from a
primarily biology-oriented background provided you have some
experience with organic and/or physical chemistry.
Why Omen?
We take the physics seriously, but we don't let red tape slow us down. If you want
to own a fascinating chemistry problem from the ground up and build something
that protects the most expensive infrastructure on the planet, we want to talk to
you.

Apply