Lead Operator, Manufacturing - Day Shift

Work Schedule

First Shift (Days)

Environmental Conditions

Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Fluctuating Temps hot/cold, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)

Job Description

Location: Fremont, CA – Niche Diagnostics Division (NDX)

Shift: First Shift

Shift Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM – 2:45 PM (Overtime as necessary)

Compensation: $25.12/hr – $34.50/hr

Discover Impactful Work:
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges.

The Lead Operator is a working leader on the Packaging and Labeling floor, partnering with the Supervisor and Team Leads to maintain production flow, develop team capabilities, and foster a high-performing environment. This role operates in a cGMP environment and includes handling DEA-controlled substances (Schedules I–V) in compliance with all regulatory and company requirements.

A Day in the Life:

• Lead, coach, and support a team of operators to meet daily production goals
• Run tier meetings and accountability boards; communicate performance, challenges, and updates to leadership
• Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and accountability aligned with Thermo Fisher’s 4i values
• Train and develop team members, providing feedback and supporting performance management
• Coordinate with Planning, Quality, and Engineering to prioritize work and resolve issues
• Review batch records, complete MRP transactions, and ensure compliance with cGMP and quality standards

Keys to Success:

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required

Experience:

• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment required
• 1+ year in a lead, trainer, or coaching role preferred
• Experience working in cGMP environments with knowledge of Quality System Regulations and ISO
• Experience handling nonconformances and CAPAs
• Hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting production equipment

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Strong leadership mindset with ability to motivate and develop team members
• Effective communication skills across all levels of the organization
• Strong attention to detail with documentation, SOPs, and inventory transactions
• Experience with MRP systems, electronic documentation systems, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to adapt leadership style to a diverse workforce and maintain accountability standards

Physical Requirements / Work Environment:

• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs without assistance
• Work in environments that may include cold temperatures and loud equipment
• Required use of PPE (lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, ear protection)
• Must be able to pass background check including controlled-substance screening
• Role involves handling DEA-controlled substances (Schedules I–V)

What We Offer:

Compensation:

• Competitive hourly pay
• Annual performance-based bonus
• Annual merit performance-based increase

Excellent Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision benefits effective Day 1
• Paid Time Off & designated paid holidays
• 401(k)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee referral bonus
• Career advancement opportunities

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly pay range estimated for this position based in California is $25.12–$37.67.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annual