Lab Associate Jobs in California

SMSbiotech intro:

SMSbiotech, founded in 2015, is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company based in Carlsbad, CA, developing a novel, first-in-class, allogeneic SMS cell therapy platform with broad potential across chronic degenerative diseases and healthy aging/longevity. We bring together world-class scientific, clinical, and business leadership focused on translating innovative stem-cell science into potentially life-changing therapies across multiple disease areas.

Position Summary

SMSbiotech is seeking a motivated Laboratory Associate I, Mammalian Cell Culture to support day-to-day cell culture operations in our cell therapy manufacturing area. This is an introductory, entry-level role designed for someone early in their career who is eager to learn GMP biomanufacturing from the ground up. The Associate will work alongside experienced manufacturing and quality staff to perform routine mammalian tissue culture thawing, feeding, passaging, expanding, harvesting, and cryopreserving cells under direct supervision, with a strong emphasis on aseptic technique and accurate documentation. Prior professional GMP experience is not required, though hands-on mammalian cell culture experience gained during college is strongly preferred. We are looking for a dependable, detail-oriented self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, regulated manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine mammalian cell culture under supervision, including thawing, feeding, media exchange, passaging, expansion, harvest, and cryopreservation of adherent and suspension cultures.
• Execute all tissue culture work inside biosafety cabinets using proper aseptic technique to maintain sterility and protect product quality.
• Monitor cultures on a defined schedule, assessing confluence, morphology, growth, and signs of contamination, and perform cell counts and viability measurements using hemocytometers and automated cell counters.
• Prepare, label, and verify media, buffers, supplements, and reagents used in cell culture operations.
• Operate and maintain readiness of tissue culture equipment, including CO2 incubators, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, water baths, microscopes, and cryogenic storage.
• Perform routine cleaning, sanitization, and decontamination of the labs, biosafety cabinets, incubators, equipment, and work surfaces as a substantial and regular part of this role.
• Accurately complete and maintain logbooks, batch documentation, and other GMP records following Good Documentation Practices.
• Perform inventory checks, monitor supply levels, and support material receipt, labeling, and stocking of consumables and reagents.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions, and escalate deviations, contamination events, or unexpected culture results to supervisors promptly.
• Support environmental monitoring, aseptic process simulations, and equipment-readiness activities as directed.
• Complete assigned training, including gowning and aseptic technique qualification, on time and apply learned procedures consistently.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, cell biology, biotechnology, life sciences, or a related field is required.
• Hands-on mammalian cell culture experience including thawing, feeding, passaging, and counting cells gained through coursework, research, internship, or a prior role.
• Working understanding of aseptic technique and proper use of a biosafety cabinet.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, legible documentation.
• Self-motivated, quick learner who can follow detailed instructions and procedures.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Good communication skills and a reliable, professional work ethic.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1–2 years of hands-on mammalian tissue culture experience (internship, academic research, or prior lab role).
• Experience culturing primary human cells, stem cells, or other sensitive cell types.
• Prior experience working in a cleanroom or GMP/regulated manufacturing environment, including gowning qualification.
• Familiarity with cell counting and viability instrumentation, cryopreservation, and liquid nitrogen storage systems.
• Exposure to Good Documentation Practices, batch records, or environmental monitoring programs.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 35 lbs.
• This is a physically demanding role involving frequent cleaning, prolonged standing, bending, reaching, and repetitive motion, including extended periods of pipetting and seated or standing work at a biosafety cabinet.
• Comfortable handling primary and mammalian cells, biological materials, cryogenic materials, cleaning agents, and associated reagents in accordance with safety procedures and while wearing required PPE.
• Flexibility to support cell culture schedules that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays as culture timelines require.
• Willingness to work within a controlled, GMP-regulated manufacturing setting and adhere to all gowning, hygiene, and safety requirements.

At SMSbiotech, our culture is built around a shared purpose: advancing innovative solutions that improve patients’ lives. Our values define who we are, how we work together, and the standards we hold ourselves accountable to every day.

We believe our success comes from talented people who bring curiosity, integrity, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence to everything they do.

Our Core Values:

• Patients First: we put patients at the heart of every decision, striving to improve lives through innovative regenerative therapies, customized services and meaningful patient outcomes
• Win Together: we collaborate across teams, embrace diverse perspectives, and succeed together through trust, partnership, and shared purpose
• Act with Integrity, Accountability, Respect for All: we do the right thing, take ownership of our actions, and treat everyone with honesty, fairness, and respect
• Relentless Execution & Results Driven: we execute with urgency, focus, and discipline, delivering meaningful results that advance our mission and create lasting impact
• Courageously Strive for Excellence & Continuous Improvement: we challenge ourselves to innovate, learn, and continuously improve, striving for excellence in everything we do

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute:

• Carlsbad, CA 92008 (Required)

Work Location: In person