Bio-Rad Laboratories

Senior Maintenance Technician IV

Bio-Rad Laboratories • $80K — $95K *
Hercules, CA 94547In-Person
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
  • 6+ years of maintenance experience in manufacturing or regulated environments.
  • EPA Section 608 Universal Certification mandatory.
  • Expertise in industrial refrigeration systems and diagnostics.
  • Specialized knowledge of lyophilizers, vacuum systems, and refrigeration equipment.
  • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and control systems.
  • Understanding of cGMP documentation and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

  • Review and prioritize preventive maintenance tasks for manufacturing and laboratory equipment.
  • Monitor and troubleshoot lyophilizer performance and systems.
  • Perform advanced troubleshooting on cold rooms, cooling towers, and other critical equipment.
  • Support installation and commissioning of new equipment and upgrades.
  • Mentor less experienced technicians and share expertise in maintenance operations.
  • Document maintenance work and maintain compliance with cGMP standards.
  • Analyze equipment performance data to drive reliability improvements.

Benefits

  • Opportunity for professional development and mentorship.
  • Work in a regulated environment emphasizing safety protocols.
  • Engage with cutting-edge technology and critical manufacturing systems.
Full Job Description
A typical day begins with reviewing open work orders and prioritizing preventive maintenance tasks across the manufacturing, laboratory, and utility areas. A significant part of the role centers on the site's lyophilizers - the technician monitors cycle performance, troubleshoots vacuum and refrigeration subsystems within the units, calibrates temperature and pressure sensors, and performs preventive maintenance to keep freeze-drying cycles running within tight process tolerances. Because lyophilization equipment sits at the intersection of refrigeration, vacuum technology, and precision controls, this work draws on a background in industrial refrigeration systems, vacuum pump diagnostics, and PLC-based instrumentation - along with the judgment to know when a deviation is a minor adjustment versus a sign of a larger mechanical or electrical failure.

Beyond the lyophilizers, the technician performs advanced troubleshooting and repair on other critical equipment - cold rooms and ultra-low temperature units, compressed air systems, cooling towers, chilled water systems, pumps, and RODI water systems - diagnosing mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, instrumentation, and control system issues along the way. Much of the work is done independently, drawing on technical documentation, schematics, and P&IDs to pinpoint root causes rather than just symptoms.

Throughout the day, the technician may also support installation, commissioning, or qualification activities for new equipment (including lyophilizer upgrades or replacements), coordinate with and oversee contractors or original equipment manufacturer service technicians when specialized lyophilizer service is needed, and document completed work, calibration records, and equipment history to stay audit-ready - since lyophilization equipment in a regulated environment carries close cGMP documentation scrutiny. Because this is a senior, subject-matter-expert role, the day often includes mentoring less experienced maintenance staff on lyophilizer operation and troubleshooting, fielding technical questions from cross-functional teams, and weighing in on how to improve equipment reliability going forward - all while following safety protocols and using appropriate PPE in a hands-on environment that can include ladders, elevated spaces, and physically demanding tasks.

Minimizes unplanned downtime by diagnosing and resolving complex mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and control system failures before they escalate into production-stopping events

• Safeguards regulated operations by keeping critical refrigeration, lyophilization, vacuum, and utility water systems running reliably and in compliance with cGMP documentation standards

• Enables capital projects and upgrades by supporting the installation, commissioning, and qualification of new equipment and system improvements

• Drives measurable reliability gains by analyzing equipment performance data and implementing root-cause corrective and preventive actions

• Strengthens the broader maintenance team by mentoring less experienced technicians and serving as the go-to technical resource across mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines

  • Education: HighSchoil Diploma
  • 6+ years of progressive maintenance experience in a manufacturing or regulated production environment, with a demonstrated track record of increasing technical responsibility
  • EPA Section 608 Universal Certification (required), paired with hands-on expertise in industrial refrigeration systems, diagnostics, and repair
  • Specialized equipment knowledge - lyophilizers, vacuum systems, cooling towers, chilled water systems, RODI/water purification systems, and compressed air systems
  • Advanced technical literacy - able to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and wiring diagrams, and to troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and automated/PLC-based control systems
  • cGMP documentation fluency - working knowledge of compliance requirements, calibration records, and maintenance documentation standards in a regulated setting


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About Bio-Rad Laboratories

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is an American multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products. The company was founded in 1952 in Berkeley, California, by husband and wife team David and Alice Schwartz. The company is a member of the S&P 400 index and has its headquarters in Hercules, California. Bio-Rad's products are used for research and development in the life science market, as well as in clinical diagnostics and industrial markets.
Learn more about Bio-Rad Laboratories
Size
7,900 employees
Market Cap
$12.2 billion
Industry
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Net Income
$3.8 billion
5 Year Trend
+7.2%
Revenue
$2.5 billion
NASDAQ
BIO
* Ladders Estimates

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