Laboratory Technician (Contingent Upon Contract Award)

Genex Systems • Missoula, MT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Genex Systems is looking for a Laboratory Technician to support the U.S. Forest Service's National Technology & Development Program (NTDP) at the Wildland Fire Chemical Systems (WFCS) Lab in Missoula, Montana. This lab has run the government's quality-control and field-support program for wildland fire chemicals since 1962: the foams, gels, and long-term retardants used on wildfires nationwide. The WFCS Lab evaluates wildland fire chemical products for possible inclusion on the federal Qualified Product List (QPL) and performs the ongoing quality-assurance testing required once a product is qualified. Testing follows current Forest Service specifications for foams (FS 5100-397b), gels (FS 5100-306b), and long-term retardants (FS 5100-304d), with support from outside laboratories for tests the WFCS Lab isn't equipped to run in-house. As a Laboratory Technician, you'll be the one preparing samples, running the instruments, and generating the data sets the lab's scientists and the Forest Service rely on: routine, disciplined bench work where precision and documentation matter as much as the science itself.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline or a related technical field, plus a minimum of 1 year working in a chemistry laboratory setting, OR a minimum of 5 years of experience working in a laboratory setting. (Graduate or undergraduate coursework with associated laboratory time may count toward the experience requirement).
• Proficiency with basic lab equipment and standard operating procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strict adherence to all laboratory safety rules and practices.
• Able to lift 50 lbs and spend extended periods standing or walking.
• Able to pass a federal background investigation to obtain USDA facility and IT system access.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with wildland firefighting chemicals (foams, gels, and retardants).
• Prior experience with specification/compliance testing, sample chain-of-custody, or hazardous-materials handling and tracking.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine laboratory procedures and prepare test equipment and samples.
• Select and operate appropriate analytical instruments; maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment.
• Conduct scientific experiments on wildland fire chemicals, adhering to test protocols and procedures outlined in specifications, standard test procedures (STPs), project study plans, and other written documents.
• Identify acceptable and unacceptable outcomes of test results.
• Use various tools and computer programs for data collection, analysis, and report writing.
• Generate data sets for specification testing of foams, gels, and retardants, and complete quality-assurance test data and reports.
• Perform laboratory safety checks and track hazardous waste in accordance with laboratory protocols.
• Conduct inventory evaluations and maintain the incoming samples log.
• Build combustion-retarding-effectiveness fuel beds; perform initial and final acid cleaning of corrosion test samples; measure, mark, and track corrosion coupons.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level