What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Assistant position at Actalent?
Job Description
The Lab Assistant supports engineers in a busy laboratory environment by organizing materials, managing lab items, and coordinating shipments to offsite locations. This role focuses on maintaining an efficient, orderly lab space and ensuring that equipment and materials are available, properly stored, and clearly documented.
Responsibilities
- Support engineers in daily lab activities by helping to manage equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Reach out to item owners to confirm usage needs, ownership, and disposition of lab items and materials.
- Identify and scrap items that are determined to be no longer needed, following established lab procedures.
- Organize boxes, components, and materials to maintain a clean, efficient, and well-structured lab environment.
- Package and consolidate similar materials for shipment to offsite locations, ensuring accurate labeling and documentation.
- Maintain clear records of items that are retained, scrapped, or shipped, in line with lab standards.
- Apply and refine organizational systems that improve lab workflows and material accessibility.
- Collaborate with engineers and other lab staff to support ongoing projects and priorities.
- Experience working in a laboratory environment.
- Strong organizational skills, including the ability to develop and apply effective organizational systems.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a structured and detail-oriented manner.
- Clear communication skills for coordinating with item owners and lab staff.
- Comfort with handling, sorting, and packaging various lab materials and components.
- Demonstrated experience improving organization or workflows in a lab or similar technical setting.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while supporting a broader engineering team.
- Interest in a longer-term opportunity, with an initial expected duration of approximately 6–9 months and potential for conversion afterward.
This position is based in a laboratory setting that supports engineering activities and technical projects. The work involves frequent handling, sorting, and organizing of boxes, equipment, and materials, as well as preparing items for shipment to offsite locations. The schedule typically follows standard business hours, with work performed on-site in the lab. The environment is hands-on, collaborative, and process-driven, with a strong emphasis on maintaining a clean, orderly, and well-labeled workspace.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Palo Alto, CA.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.
Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on May 8, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
- Hiring diverse talent
- Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
- Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
- Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000 extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
Salary : $30 - $35