Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician

About Periodic Labs

We're an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.

About the Role

Periodic Labs is building an autonomous laboratory for high-throughput materials discovery — combining advanced synthesis, characterization, automation, robotics, and AI to accelerate the development of next-generation materials. We're looking for a highly capable, hands-on Laboratory Operations & Maintenance Technician to help build, maintain, and scale the physical infrastructure that enables our scientific and engineering teams to move quickly.

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys solving practical problems, working with tools, building systems, troubleshooting equipment, and taking ownership of laboratory operations. You'll work across equipment maintenance, gas and vacuum systems, utilities, instrumentation, automation support, machine shop operations, inventory management, and laboratory buildout projects.

What You'll Do

Equipment Maintenance & Reliability

• Execute preventative maintenance programs for laboratory equipment using MaintainX CMMS; develop and improve maintenance procedures, inspection checklists, and work order templates

• Perform routine inspections, cleaning, calibration checks, and equipment upkeep across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, gas, vacuum, and fluid handling systems

• Troubleshoot and repair equipment; identify recurring failure modes and implement corrective actions to improve uptime

• Coordinate service visits and maintenance activities with equipment vendors

• Service vacuum pumps, cooling water systems, chillers, and associated infrastructure; verify equipment meets OEM specifications after maintenance or repairs

Asset Management & Documentation

• Maintain an accurate asset registry within MaintainX, including equipment records (manuals, schematics, service histories, serial numbers, manufacturer contacts)

• Label equipment with asset numbers and QR codes; update equipment layouts, utility matrices, and infrastructure documentation

• Track maintenance history and equipment performance metrics

Utilities & Infrastructure

• Maintain laboratory utility systems including compressed gases, vacuum systems, process cooling water, exhaust systems, gas detection, and general lab infrastructure

• Build and modify gas and fluid handling systems from P&IDs and engineering drawings; assemble and install tubing, regulators, valves, gauges, sensors, and associated hardware

• Support utility capacity planning and identify infrastructure constraints

Equipment Installation & Commissioning

• Support installation and startup of new laboratory equipment; coordinate utility hookups including power, water, gas, vacuum, and networking

• Procure and install supporting infrastructure including tubing, fittings, pumps, sensors, regulators, and instrumentation

• Perform installation verification and commissioning activities; document as-built configurations and equipment changes

Automation & Controls Support

• Support Controls and Automation Engineers with equipment integration projects

• Install and maintain thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, solenoid valves, gas sensors, and safety interlocks

• Route, terminate, and label instrumentation and communication wiring; assist with sensor replacement, control panel modifications, and field troubleshooting

Machine Shop & Fabrication

• Fabricate fixtures, brackets, guards, adapters, and experimental hardware using drill press, band saw, chop saw, belt sander, bench grinder, manual mill, and manual lathe

• Modify commercial components and support custom equipment builds; maintain machine shop organization and tooling

Inventory & Laboratory Operations

• Maintain inventories of spare parts, maintenance consumables, PPE, and laboratory supplies; identify critical spare parts and establish appropriate stock levels

• Receive and organize incoming equipment, chemicals, gases, and supplies; register chemicals and gas cylinders within laboratory inventory systems

• Coordinate gas cylinder replacement and deliver