Product Realization Part-Time Biolab Technician

Product Realization Part-Time Technician - Biolab

Location: Brooklyn, NY (On-site)

Team: Product Realization

About the Role

Newlab is seeking a highly capable, hands-on Biolab Technician to support and evolve our laboratory facilities. This part-time role is responsible for maintaining lab infrastructure, supporting member research and biotechnology prototyping, and ensuring a safe, high-performing, and compliant laboratory environment.

The Biolab Technician is a core part of the greater Newlab Product Realization team, which provides the critical infrastructure and support necessary for members to turn ambitious, real-world solutions into physical reality. You will work directly within our laboratory spaces, supporting startups, engineers, and scientists building cutting-edge biological and life-science solutions.

What You’ll Do

Operational Excellence & Lab Maintenance

• Procurement & Sourcing: Consult on the specification, sourcing, and optimization of new or replacement laboratory instrumentation.
• Inventory Control: Maintain an inventory schedule for shared consumables, reagents, and laboratory PPE.
• Technical Presence: Provide a consistent, expert presence in the lab to offer real-time troubleshooting, equipment maintenance, and ensure adherence to best practices.

Member Education & Technical Mentorship

• Onboarding & Orientation: Lead mandatory "Safety and Basic Use" orientations for all lab users to ensure compliance with Newlab policies.
• Equipment Training: Conduct hands-on training sessions for specialized laboratory tools, ensuring members are ready for independent use.
• Knowledge Continuity: Update, refine, and maintain the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and OS section for Biolab tools and materials.
• Experimental Guidance: Act as a resource and mentor for members regarding experimental setup and best practices for laboratory instrumentation.

Safety & Compliance Oversight

• Documentation: Modernize, update, and manage the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) database.
• Vetting & Intake: Oversee the technical assessment and intake of new project proposals and SDS submissions.
• Waste Protocols: Establish and enforce clear, company-specific disposal protocols for both lab-provided media and proprietary project waste.
• Inspections: Perform routine safety inspections and ensure absolute adherence to standard laboratory safety protocols.

Legacy Material & Chemical Management

• Audit: Resolve the backlog of abandoned chemicals left by former companies.
• Assessment Framework: Develop and implement a "Disposal vs. Community Use" assessment framework for incoming and legacy materials.
• Long-Term Tracking: Implement a more robust system for tracking materials in long-term storage to prevent future abandonment.

What you’ll Bring

Technical Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on laboratory experience: Prior experience working in or managing a wet lab, biological research facility, or shared incubator environment.
• Relevant coursework in biology, chemistry, or material science.
• Facility Knowledge: An understanding of chemical hygiene, bio-safety protocols (BSL-1), and regulatory compliance.
• Equipment Familiarity: Hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting standard laboratory instrumentation and analytical equipment.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with a "customer-service" mindset to support, train, and mentor a diverse community of innovators and startups.

Operations and Systems: Ability to track maintenance logs, inventory, and workflows digitally, proficiency in Google Workspace

Professional Traits

• Strong customer service mindset and ability to support a diverse technical community
• Highly organized and safety-conscious
• Strong troubleshooting instincts
• Comfortable training and mentoring others
• Self-starter who takes ownership of tools and spaces
• Patient, collaborative, and community-oriented

Physical Requirements:

• Able to stand for extended periods
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs
• Bending, reaching & able to climb ladders
• Wearing required personal protective equipment (lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, etc.)
• Moving carts or equipment around the lab

Nice to Have

Experience or interest in any of the following:

• 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics
• Plumbing, pneumatic, hydraulic systems
• Web design (portfolio sites, documentation pages, or light front-end development)
• Supporting hardware startups or product teams
• Working in a makerspace or shared lab environment

Culture at Newlab

Newlab is a community-driven innovation platform where engineers, founders, and creative technologists build ambitious solutions in climate, energy, mobility, and advanced technologies.

We value safety, curiosity, craftsmanship, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Our Biolab is a central part of turning ideas into physical reality - and this role helps ensure that infrastructure remains reliable, safe, and responsive to member needs.

You’ll work in a fast-moving, hands-on environment where no two days are the same.

Schedule & Compensation

• Schedule: Part-time, 25-29 hours per week. Hours must be consistent and aligned with core laboratory operational needs within the Mon-Friday 9AM-5PM. 
• Hourly Rate (NYC): $25.00 - $30.00 per hour.
• Final compensation will be determined based on experience, technical breadth, and scope of responsibility.

Perks & Community

• Facility Access: Full access to Newlab’s state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and prototyping spaces.
• Network & Community: Opportunity to work closely with groundbreaking startups, engineers, and scientists in a mission-driven, highly collaborative environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Newlab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.