Animal Care Washroom Technician

Job ID: 176331 | Boston, MA | 13-Week Contract | Full-Time | Onsite

Sigma, Inc. is seeking a reliable and detail-oriented Animal Care Washroom Technician to work onsite in Boston, MA. This position supports an animal care/laboratory facility by maintaining clean, sanitary, and properly sterilized cage components, equipment, and work areas.

No previous animal care experience is required. Candidates with janitorial, sanitation, housekeeping, warehouse, or other hands-on cleaning experience are encouraged to apply. Training will be provided to candidates who demonstrate reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to follow detailed instructions.

Position Details

• Job Title: Animal Care Washroom Technician
• Job ID: 176331
• Location: Boston, MA
• Contract: 13 Weeks
• Schedule: Monday–Friday
• Hours: 7:30 AM–4:00 PM
• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite
• Weekend Work: No regular weekend requirement
• COVID-19 Vaccination: COVID-19 vaccination + booster required

Job Summary

The Animal Care Washroom Technician is responsible for the cleaning, sanitation, processing, and sterilization of animal cage components and related equipment within an animal care/laboratory environment.

The technician will operate mechanical cage, rack, bottle, and tunnel washing equipment, process waste bedding, stage cage components, operate steam autoclaves, and document sanitation and sterilization results.

This is a hands-on role that requires the ability to work in environments with odors, heat, humidity, and animal-related materials. Candidates must be comfortable routinely lifting up to 50 pounds and following established safety and sanitation procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Cage & Equipment Sanitation

• Clean and sanitize animal cage components and related equipment.
• Process cage components through mechanical cage, rack, bottle, and tunnel washers.
• Operate mechanical cage wash equipment according to standard operating procedures and manufacturer instructions.
• Follow applicable animal care and facility sanitation guidelines.
• Ensure cage components and equipment are properly cleaned and maintained.
• Inspect cage components for deficiencies and report problems to the Supervisor.
• Stage clean cage components using appropriate bedding and enrichment materials.

Waste Bedding & PPE

• Process waste bedding using vacuum bedding disposal or HEPA-filtered bedding disposal equipment.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling waste bedding and related materials.
• Follow established safety procedures when handling animal-related waste.
• Immediately report equipment or process deficiencies to the Supervisor.

Autoclave & Sterilization

• Operate steam autoclaves to sterilize equipment as required.
• Follow established autoclave operating procedures.
• Use cycle assurance indicators to verify proper sterilization.
• Record sterilization results accurately on the Autoclave Assurance Log.
• Immediately report sterilization failures or equipment issues to the Supervisor.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow standard operating procedures and detailed written instructions.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary work environment.
• Follow applicable laboratory animal care and facility guidelines.
• Use required PPE and safety equipment.
• Work effectively with the Animal Facilities team.
• Complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision once trained.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 0–1 year of related experience preferred.
• Ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to complete assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Ability to routinely lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Comfortable working in environments with odors, heat, and humidity.
• Must not have animal allergies that would interfere with working around laboratory animals.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to navigate basic web-based applications.
• Must be able to work onsite in Boston, MA.
• COVID-19 vaccination and booster required.

Experience That Can Transfer to This Role

Previous animal care experience is not required. Candidates with backgrounds in the following areas may be considered:

• Janitorial
• Housekeeping
• Environmental Services
• Sanitation
• Custodial Services
• Industrial Cleaning
• Facility Maintenance
• Warehouse Operations
• Laundry Operations
• Food Production Sanitation
• Manufacturing Cleaning
• Laboratory Support

We are especially interested in candidates who are dependable, teachable, safety-conscious, physically capable, and comfortable following standard operating procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating mechanical washing equipment.
• Experience with cage wash, rack wash, bottle wash, or tunnel wash systems.
• Experience maintaining clean and sanitary environments.
• Previous animal facility or laboratory experience.
• Experience operating or working around steam autoclaves.
• Familiarity with PPE and sanitation procedures.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Takes pride in maintaining a clean and sanitary environment.
• Pays close attention to details and follows procedures consistently.
• Is comfortable performing repetitive, hands-on work.
• Can safely lift up to 50 pounds.
• Is comfortable working around odors, heat, humidity, and animal-related materials.
• Can learn mechanical equipment and facility procedures quickly.
• Works well with supervisors and team members.
• Can work independently after training.