Lab Technician

Job Title: Lab Technician

Job Description

This Lab Technician role focuses on performing routine and specialized testing on crude oil, base oils, lube oils, and petrochemical products in a high-volume laboratory. The technician operates and interprets results from analytical instruments, maintains accurate records in the laboratory information management system (LIMS), and follows established safety and standard operating procedures. This position supports quality control activities within the petroleum industry and plays a key role in ensuring reliable and timely test results.

Responsibilities

• Run routine tests on crude oil, base oils, lube oils, and petrochemical samples in accordance with established laboratory procedures.
• Set up, operate, and interpret results from gas chromatographs (GC) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) instruments.
• Perform wet chemistry analyses, including titrations and distillations, following standard methods.
• Operate octane engines and related equipment as required for petroleum product testing.
• Accurately enter and maintain test data in the laboratory LIMS system, ensuring data integrity and traceability.
• Follow laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols at all times.
• Maintain laboratory inventory by monitoring supplies, reagents, and consumables, and notifying appropriate personnel when restocking is needed.
• Ensure instruments and equipment are kept in good working order by performing basic maintenance and reporting issues promptly.
• Work collaboratively with other lab staff to meet testing schedules and quality control requirements.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory processes by following best practices and providing feedback on workflow and procedures.

Essential Skills

• 2-5 years of experience working with ICP instrumentation.
• 2-5 years of experience working with octane engines in a laboratory or petroleum testing environment.
• Hands-on experience running, setting up, and interpreting data from GC and ICP instruments.
• Prior experience using a laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Experience in the petroleum industry, including exposure to crude oil, base oils, lube oils, and petrochemical testing.
• Proficiency in wet chemistry techniques such as titration and distillation.
• A.S. or B.S. degree in Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
• Completion of at least one in-person laboratory course during their academic program, ideally in chemistry.
• Ability to stand and be on their feet for extended periods, including 12-hour shifts.
• Willingness and ability to work rotating shift schedules, including day and night shifts.
• Comfort working in an oil and gas laboratory environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and recordkeeping.
• Ability to follow detailed SOPs and safety protocols consistently.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Degree specialization in Chemistry or a closely related life science discipline.
• Prior quality control laboratory experience.
• Familiarity with testing methodologies specific to crude oil, base oils, lube oils, and petrochemical products.
• Experience working in a high-throughput industrial or production laboratory.
• Strong problem-solving skills for troubleshooting instrumentation and test anomalies.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and report results clearly.
• Organizational skills to manage multiple tests, samples, and priorities during long shifts.

Work Environment

The Lab Technician works in an oil and gas laboratory environment that focuses on testing crude oil, base oils, lube oils, and petrochemical products. The role follows a rotating 2-3-3-2 shift schedule, with two weeks of day shifts from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by two weeks of night shifts from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The position requires being on your feet for up to 12 hours per shift and working around analytical instruments such as GC, ICP, and octane engines, as well as wet chemistry benches for titrations and distillations. The laboratory operates under defined safety protocols and standard operating procedures, and team members are expected to adhere to all safety guidelines and use appropriate personal protective equipment while performing their duties.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Gonzales, LA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $26.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Gonzales,LA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 22, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.