Lab Technician

About The Role

We are seeking a highly effective, motivated individual to join our team as a part-time Lab Technician (20–30 hours/week). You will experience all facets of building a startup at a cutting edge biotech company in San Carlos. You will work with an experienced team of founders and scientists performing pharmaceutical batch release testing, maintaining a controlled cleanroom environment, and supporting USP-compliant assays. You are a good fit for this role if you resonate with our values, namely if you work hard, are ambitious, detail-obsessed, and honest, and will do whatever it takes to win.

Application Requirements
Your cover letter should be one page and give clear examples of the following:

• An instance in which you demonstrated exceptional work ethic
• An instance in which you caught a critical error through rigorous attention to detail
• An instance in which you followed a complex protocol or SOP without cutting corners
  

Who You Are

• BS in biology, biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, or a related STEM field preferred; relevant laboratory experience considered in lieu of degree
• Extremely strong work ethic
• Fanatical attention to detail — you treat each sample as if several lives depend on it Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple lots and competing turnaround times
• Strong reading comprehension for SOPs, USP chapters, and scientific literature
• Proficiency with pipetting and general wet lab technique
• Available to work 20–30 hours per week on a consistent schedule
• Live within a 30 minute commute of San Carlos
  

Nice to Haves

• Experience working in an ISO-classified cleanroom (ISO 5, 7, or 8)
  
• Experience performing qPCR assays
  
• Nucleic acid extraction experience
  
• Knowledge of USP <71>, <797>, <85>, or <1223>
  
• Experience working in a BSL-2 laboratory
  
• Familiarity with aseptic technique and gowning procedures

Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of a research scientist, perform lab work including:
  
• Check in pharmaceutical lots and compounded medications submitted for USP batch release testing, verifying chain of custody, lot documentation, and sample integrity
  
• Perform sterility testing via qPCR-based rapid detection in an ISO 5 Biosafety Cabinet within an ISO 7 cleanroom environment
  
• Support endotoxin (LAL), potency, and Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing (AET) per USP guidelines
  
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and compliance of the ISO 7 cleanroom and BSL-2 laboratory
  
• Accurately document all methods, sample data, and results per cGMP and GLP standards
  
• Read and summarize relevant scientific papers and USP chapters
  
• Whatever else is needed for the company to succeed

Details

• Available to work 20–30 hours per week on a consistent schedule; hours set in advance. 
  
• In-person role in San Carlos, CA. 
  
• The compensation range for this role is $32 - $38 per hour
  • Please note: part-time employees are not eligible for full benefits; details provided upon offer

Life at Sapho

• High-Impact Work – Shape the future of healthcare at a pivotal moment in our growth
  
• Competitive Compensation – Top-tier hourly rate
  
• Fast-Paced & Exciting – Join a hypergrowth team that moves fast and builds with purpose
  
• World-Class Team – Work alongside top researchers, scientists, and engineers in a high-performance environment
  
• Prime Location – Enjoy a sunny workspace in San Carlos

*We are an equal opportunity employer*