Laboratory Mechanic I

Agency

Department

Who We Are

The Comparative Medicine Program (CMP) enhances excellence in research and teaching at Texas A&M through high quality animal care. We provide a variety of services to researchers at the university through standard and specialized facilities. These services include the procurement of animals and animal husbandry supplies, provision of veterinary care, use of CMP surgical facilities, a polyclonal antibody production service, technical support services, and animal use training services. To learn more, visit https://vpr.tamu.edu/manage-research/cmp.

What We Want

The Laboratory Mechanic I, under general supervision, is responsible for animal husbandry equipment deliveries, minor vivarium maintenance services, general repairs, cage setups, autoclaving of biohazardous loads, and cleaning and maintaining CMP and CMP supported areas that are access restricted by Animal Bio Safety Lab (ABSL) requirements. We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual with maintenance and repair experience who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can effectively manage multiple responsibilities, and is committed to supporting animal care and research operations through reliable facility, equipment, and vivarium support services.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Commensurate

A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience in mechanical and/or building trades or laboratory and/or vivarium maintenance.

Preferred Experience

• Three or more years of applicable vivarium support experience.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Must have a Class “C” vehicle operator’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work from pencil sketches, plans, blueprints, and broken or worn parts as patterns.
• Knowledge of saws, drills presses, sanders and other machines.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Responsibilities

Vivarium Maintenance

• Assists in overall LARR vivarium maintenance and operations.
• Makes repairs to equipment to include paint, electrical, and plumbing and ensures the environment meets the applicable standards in animal rooms to ensure compliance with animal welfare SOPs.
• Performs routine service and preventive maintenance of carts, racks, and cages.
• Constructs, repairs, maintains, and installs various electronic and mechanical equipment used in laboratories and vivarium’s housing research animals.

Deliveries

• Makes daily deliveries of specialized animal husbandry equipment for CMP to CMP supported vivarium’s and/or storage sites requiring the use of personal or University owned vehicles.
• Sets up, ensures operability, and makes necessary repairs to equipment.
• Stores and issues materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Keeps records, takes inventory, and recommends purchase of items needed to successfully pursue work.

Autoclave

• Autoclaves biohazard loads to include water bottles, cages, and other necessary items.
• Maintains records of destructed items for inventory.

Cage Wash

• Assists in the cage wash facilities as needed.
• Follows established protocols and procedures and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines concerning quality assurance and laboratory animal care and use.
• Prepares cage and bottle set-ups based on knowledge of different animal caging types, required bedding material and environmental enrichment per requests submitted by on-duty supervisor.

Custodial

• Cleans, sanitizes and maintains CMP common/non-animal laboratory care areas within BSL2/BSL3 access restricted areas with the use of floor scrubbing equipment.
• Access to BLS2/BLS3 restricted areas granted after successful completion of required trainings.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Autoclave
• Cage and rack washers
• Animal Caging Systems
• Computer
• Ability to lift heavy objects

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Why Texas A&M University? 

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays 

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more 

• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.