Entry Level Lead Laboratory Technician Jobs
New grad lead laboratory technician jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or hands-on coursework can carry more weight than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, with employers like UPMC, HonorHealth, and Astera Health hiring at this level now.
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See related jobsThe Lead MLS role is eligible for a $15,000 sign-on bonus!
Purpose:
This position assists the Laboratory Supervisor by monitoring the work of technical and ancillary employees. The Lead Medical Laboratory Scientist assists in test development, gathering data for management reports and regularly performs the duties of a Medical Lab Scientist, including the accurate performance of routine and advanced testing. This position functions as the Laboratory Supervisor during the Supervisor's absence. Assures compliance with the UPMC mission and values for providing service excellence.
Responsibilities:
- ACT AS A SUPERVISOR DESIGNATE. Assumes supervisory duties and performs `in charge duties as needed. Evaluates problems in the absence of the Supervisor and solves those that are possible. Communicates problems with the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director as appropriate. Participates in an extensive administrative call rotation with the other supervisory staff (only for Tissue Typing Laboratory).
- COMPETENCY. Assists supervisory personnel in the observation and documentation of laboratory staff competency. Completes all assigned duties within the required time frame.
- OPERATIONS. All duties of a Medical Technologist. Ensures that instrument maintenance and/or function checks are performed and documented accurately, according to procedure. Troubleshoots instrument malfunctions and informs the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director of problems. Reviews QC logs. Documents and brings to the attention of the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director any errors, omissions or discrepancies in QC. Compiles QA data and prepares reports as directed by the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director. Monitors proficiency testing activity and assists the Director with evaluation of results and documentation of responses to deficiencies. Assists the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager with staff scheduling as directed.
- SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL. Maintains confidentiality regarding patient, hospital and laboratory business. Interacts professionally with other departments. Represents the Laboratory on Hospital committees as needed. Adheres to abnormal and/or critical results reporting policy and turn-around-time policy. Participates in and monitors quality assurance indicators. Adheres to personal appearance standards and displays hospital ID badge. Telephone / Internet privileges are followed according to policy. Complies with attendance and tardiness policy. Helps to monitor subordinate attendance and tardiness. Adheres to the compliance policy and serves as a resource for subordinate questions. Adheres to all safety policies as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Manual.
- PURCHASING AND INVENTORY. Demonstrates awareness of appropriate inventory levels in all relevant sections of the laboratory. Takes action to prevent supply shortages or overages. Performs purchasing of supplies in the absence of the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager as directed.
- TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. New procedures are mastered within established time frames. Demonstrates awareness of changes in procedures and protocols. Performs orientation and training assignments in an organized, thorough manner. Serves as a resource to other employees by sharing knowledge of procedures or testing outcomes when consulted. Develops, performs and/or evaluates special projects. Performs test evaluations and validations of new procedures and/or reagent systems. Formulates, authors and/or revises procedures according to CLSI guidelines. Prepares and delivers student lectures and bench instruction where relevant
- Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university AND successful completion of an accredited Medical Lab Scientist program
- OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, or clinical laboratory science AND ASCP or equivalent categorical or MLT certification
-
OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, physical, or clinical laboratory science AND at least three years' experience in a role equivalent to that of a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) in a clinical laboratory.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
ASCP or equivalent certification in medical technology (MT) or categorical certification preferred. Certification as a Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) preferred (only for HLA Laboratory).
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
The Lead MLS role is eligible for a $15,000 sign-on bonus!
Purpose:
This position assists the Laboratory Supervisor by monitoring the work of technical and ancillary employees. The Lead Medical Laboratory Scientist assists in test development, gathering data for management reports and regularly performs the duties of a Medical Lab Scientist, including the accurate performance of routine and advanced testing. This position functions as the Laboratory Supervisor during the Supervisor's absence. Assures compliance with the UPMC mission and values for providing service excellence.
Responsibilities:
- ACT AS A SUPERVISOR DESIGNATE. Assumes supervisory duties and performs `in charge duties as needed. Evaluates problems in the absence of the Supervisor and solves those that are possible. Communicates problems with the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director as appropriate. Participates in an extensive administrative call rotation with the other supervisory staff (only for Tissue Typing Laboratory).
- COMPETENCY. Assists supervisory personnel in the observation and documentation of laboratory staff competency. Completes all assigned duties within the required time frame.
- OPERATIONS. All duties of a Medical Technologist. Ensures that instrument maintenance and/or function checks are performed and documented accurately, according to procedure. Troubleshoots instrument malfunctions and informs the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director of problems. Reviews QC logs. Documents and brings to the attention of the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director any errors, omissions or discrepancies in QC. Compiles QA data and prepares reports as directed by the Laboratory Supervisor, Manager or Director. Monitors proficiency testing activity and assists the Director with evaluation of results and documentation of responses to deficiencies. Assists the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager with staff scheduling as directed.
- SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL. Maintains confidentiality regarding patient, hospital and laboratory business. Interacts professionally with other departments. Represents the Laboratory on Hospital committees as needed. Adheres to abnormal and/or critical results reporting policy and turn-around-time policy. Participates in and monitors quality assurance indicators. Adheres to personal appearance standards and displays hospital ID badge. Telephone / Internet privileges are followed according to policy. Complies with attendance and tardiness policy. Helps to monitor subordinate attendance and tardiness. Adheres to the compliance policy and serves as a resource for subordinate questions. Adheres to all safety policies as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Manual.
- PURCHASING AND INVENTORY. Demonstrates awareness of appropriate inventory levels in all relevant sections of the laboratory. Takes action to prevent supply shortages or overages. Performs purchasing of supplies in the absence of the Laboratory Supervisor or Manager as directed.
- TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. New procedures are mastered within established time frames. Demonstrates awareness of changes in procedures and protocols. Performs orientation and training assignments in an organized, thorough manner. Serves as a resource to other employees by sharing knowledge of procedures or testing outcomes when consulted. Develops, performs and/or evaluates special projects. Performs test evaluations and validations of new procedures and/or reagent systems. Formulates, authors and/or revises procedures according to CLSI guidelines. Prepares and delivers student lectures and bench instruction where relevant
- Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university AND successful completion of an accredited Medical Lab Scientist program
- OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, or clinical laboratory science AND ASCP or equivalent categorical or MLT certification
-
OR Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological, chemical, physical, or clinical laboratory science AND at least three years' experience in a role equivalent to that of a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) in a clinical laboratory.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
ASCP or equivalent certification in medical technology (MT) or categorical certification preferred. Certification as a Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) preferred (only for HLA Laboratory).
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
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Entry Level Lead Laboratory Technician Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level lead laboratory technician job?
Employers hiring at this level look for hands-on lab experience from coursework, internships, or volunteer research, plus familiarity with standard techniques like pipetting, sample preparation, and equipment calibration. A degree in chemistry, biology, or a related science is the most common baseline. Candidates who can show documented lab work, even from academic projects, stand out over those with no practical exposure at all.
Which companies hire entry level lead laboratory technicians?
Companies hiring entry level lead laboratory technicians right now include UPMC, HonorHealth, and Astera Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from pharmaceutical manufacturers, clinical testing labs, environmental services firms, and food and beverage producers that run large lab operations and regularly onboard junior staff.
Are there remote entry level lead laboratory technician jobs?
Yes, though most lab technician roles require physical presence for hands-on work. About 0% of entry level lead laboratory technician openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically involve data entry, lab documentation review, or quality assurance tasks that can be performed off-site rather than bench work.
Are these new grad lead laboratory technician jobs?
Yes, this category includes new grad, recent graduate, and junior lead laboratory technician roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or academic lab work in place of professional history, or lists a degree as the primary qualification rather than requiring prior employment in a formal lab setting.
Which industries hire the most entry level lead laboratory technicians?
Entry Level lead laboratory technician roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Those sectors drive entry level hiring because they maintain high sample volumes, face regulatory compliance requirements, and need a steady pipeline of junior technicians to support experienced staff on routine testing and documentation.