What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Technician position at AgLab Solutions?
Laboratory Technician – Agricultural Soil Testing
AgLab Solutions, LLC | Cunningham, Kansas
Full-Time · In Person · $20.00 per hour to start
About the Job
AgLab Solutions, LLC is opening a new agricultural testing laboratory in Cunningham, Kansas. We analyze soil, plant tissue, and water samples for growers, crop consultants, and ag retailers — the results we produce go directly into fertilizer and nutrient decisions on working acres.
This is a ground-floor opportunity. We are a small, owner-operated lab building out modern instrumentation, automated sample handling, and barcode-based sample tracking. The person we hire will help set up how this lab runs, not just follow someone else's routine.
No prior lab experience is required — we will train the right person. What we can't train is showing up, paying attention, and caring whether the number is right.
What You'll Do
Sample Preparation
- Receive incoming sample shipments, verify counts against submittal paperwork, and log samples in using barcode scan-in
- Dry, grind, and sieve soil samples; prepare plant tissue for digestion
- Weigh or scoop samples into extraction vessels and maintain correct sample-to-extractant ratios
- Keep chain-of-custody paperwork and sample retention organized
Analysis
- Run routine soil fertility tests: pH, buffer pH, soluble salts, organic matter, Mehlich-3, Bray P, KCl nitrate, and extractable bases
- Operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot lab instruments — flow injection analyzers, ICP-OES, pH and EC meters, muffle furnaces, drying ovens, and analytical balances
- Mix reagents, extractants, and calibration standards; document lot numbers and dates
- Perform acid digestions on plant tissue and other sample types
- Help with water, feed, and manure analysis as volume requires
Quality Control
- Run check samples, duplicates, and blanks at set frequencies and compare results against control limits
- Catch out-of-spec runs, flag questionable data, and pull samples for retest
- Maintain calibration logs, maintenance records, and QC documentation
Data & Reporting
- Enter and verify results in the lab's data system; catch transcription and unit errors before results go out
- Review reports for reasonableness before they reach the client
- Keep the lab manager posted on turnaround, sample problems, and re-runs
Lab Upkeep & Safety
- Wash and maintain glassware, autosampler racks, and filtration equipment
- Track supply inventory and flag reorders
- Follow all chemical safety, PPE, SDS, and waste handling requirements
- Pitch in on equipment setup, method development, and process improvement as the lab grows
What You Need
Required
- High school diploma or GED
- Comfortable with basic math — unit conversions, dilutions, percentages
- Careful and consistent; able to follow a written procedure exactly, every time
- Basic computer skills (data entry, spreadsheets)
- Able to stand for long stretches and lift up to 50 lbs repeatedly
- Dependable attendance, including longer hours during spring and fall peak season
- Valid driver's license
Nice to Have (Not Required)
- Coursework or a degree in agronomy, soil science, chemistry, biology, or environmental science
- Any previous laboratory, ag retail, co-op, or crop consulting experience
- Familiarity with soil fertility concepts or nutrient recommendations
- Experience with lab data systems or LIMS software
What We Offer
- $20.00 per hour starting pay
- RetireMint Plan: A Defined Pension Plan with a 4% employee contribution and company contribution on your behalf
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 days per year
- Paid Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, plus one additional day. There may be up to two floating holidays pending leadership approval
- Paid training on professional analytical instrumentation
- Room to grow into QA/QC, method development, or lab supervision as we expand
- A small team where your work is visible and your input actually changes things
Schedule
Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Overtime and occasional Saturdays during spring and fall sampling seasons.
Location
AgLab Solutions, LLC
112B West 1st Street
Cunningham, KS 67035
Within commuting distance of Kingman, Pratt, Cheney, Nashville, Zenda, and the surrounding communities.
Work Location: In person
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
Salary : $20