Technical Cleaner

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Job Summary

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Technical Cleaner to join its team. This position is located in Richland, WA. LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing the newly discovered gravitational-wave universe. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA, and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory’s mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, education, and public outreach. For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at

The successful candidate will be a member of the Facilities Group. This position will be a part of the maintenance staff and report to the Facilities Team Lead. The maintenance staff is responsible for all of the day-to-day maintenance and repair of the entire Observatory and support buildings. This position requires an understanding of and compliance with cleanroom protocols and laser safety procedures.The successful candidate will work under general supervision and will be required to use a variety of tools and techniques of facilities maintenance services to work on semi routine assignments where good judgment is required to properly maintain the LIGO buildings and site and ensure that they are in proper working order and safe.

Essential Job Duties

• Applies basic skills in maintaining clean room conditions and selects from standard procedures, techniques, tools, materials, and equipment appropriate to accomplish tasks. Responsible for clean room standards in the Electronics Lab, Mechanical Lab, Vacuum Lab and Vacuum Equipment Areas. This requires special care to ensure the safety of highly technical equipment. In particular, the candidate must be extremely careful working around vacuum components, optics tables, electronic test and control equipment, and computing equipment.
• Will be required to use standard techniques and tools to perform routine support functions.
• Interact daily and professionally with functional peer group and supervisors.
• Maintain several cleanrooms around the site and several Class 100 cleanroom areas. This requires working in cleanroom conditions, wearing mask and garb and possible laser glasses.
• Operate a mobile lift and scissor lift as required to access and clean some components of the cleanrooms and cleanroom areas.
• Provide cleanroom support during vacuum chamber entries.
• Will be required to collect, handle, and properly dispose of contaminated and sometimes flammable trash.
• Responsible for collecting dirty garb at all site garbing areas and keeping these areas stocked with clean garb.
• Responsible for sorting and making ready for shipping, dirty garb to be sent to the cleaners.
• Vacuum and mop floors, hallways, and offices. Maintain kitchen and restrooms. Replenish supplies as needed. Replace incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes in buildings, as necessary.
• Under the direction of the Facilities Team Lead, will be required to fill in for shipping and receiving personnel when needed to help with the receiving, logging, sorting, and distributing received packages.
• Will be needed to escort contractors around site as they perform contractual duties like fire system testing or pest control measures for facilities including, mice removal, treatments for bug infestation in building, snake removal.
• Responsible for working in a team environment and being able to communicate with people who have a broad spectrum of backgrounds, skills, and educational preparation.
• Applies basic knowledge of policies and practices to assignments.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• The candidate must have a minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent experience.
• Must have at least 1 year of related work experience facilities cleaning.
• Proficiency with communication skills, written and verbal, and be able to communicate with people who have a broad range of backgrounds and skills.
• Must have a valid driver's license at the time of employment and be able to maintain it throughout the course of employment.
• Must have the ability to lift 20 pounds of office supplies and equipment.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of cleanroom and contamination control procedures.
• Working knowledge with standard office computing applications (e.g., Outlook and web applications).
• General knowledge in planning and scheduling work task.
  
  

Required Documents

• Resume.
• Cover letter expressing your interest in working at LIGO Lab. Please note: this is a required document for a complete application.
  
  

Hiring Range

$26.50 - $30.25 Per Hour

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at