Life Support Tech I

Position: Technician I - Life Support Systems

Reports to: Life Support Manager

Compensation: $21.00/hr

Why Utah? 

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: 

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

This position is for an entry-level technician responsible for monitoring and maintaining all of the equipment and infrastructure that is associated with live animal exhibits. Duties include performing routine maintenance on life support equipment, backwashing filters, conducting water changes and managing chemical additions to maintain the quality of the water. LSS Technicians are involved in the building of new systems and the replacement of LSS equipment

Essential duties and responsibilities:

· Responsible for all cleaning and maintenance of life support equipment, supplies, support spaces

· Responsible for management of aquarium water supplies, including synthetic seawater production, disinfection, testing, and life support system operation

· Responsible for timely response to life support failures that affect animal health or habitat integrity

· Proactively review records and inspect life support equipment function to identify system issues

· Work closely with a diverse staff of employees and volunteers

· Maintains all necessary records, and reviews regularly in support of ensuring other priorities

· Responsible for supporting institutional and best practice standards

· Assist with other life support-related projects

Qualifications:

· An AA degree or equivalent experience in a relevant trade

· Minimum 6 months of internship or paid experience operating, maintaining, and repairing plumbing and related equipment

Critical Skills/Competencies:

· Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following fields: life support equipment operation, plumbing, electrical, water chemistry, water disinfection technology.

· Ability to work with power tools and other equipment.

· Good interpersonal verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

· Maintaining a consistent professional attitude, high motivation, and ability to accept feedback.

· Interest in developing efficiency, good time management, and demonstrated desire for growth.

Certificates/Licenses:

· Valid Utah driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

· Outdoor and indoor environments in varying weather conditions including: elevated platforms, aquarium habitats, uneven surfaces, enclosed spaces, noisy workspaces.

· Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs, ability to swim, ability to stand for long periods of time, ability to walk up and down ladders, ability to work with various cleaning chemicals, ability to operate power tools or heavy machinery, ability to drive aquarium vehicles

Benefits & Perks

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies. 

The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.