At Amyris, we value that everyone’s career journey is unique and authentic to who they are. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply and grow alongside us! You may be just the right candidate for this or other open roles.
We are seeking a Senior Facilities Engineer Technician to keep the critical infrastructure behind our science running safely and reliably across our Emeryville campus. This role supports the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and utility systems that power our laboratories, pilot plant, and process facilities, which are mission‑critical, high‑reliability environments where uptime matters.
The Senior Facilities Engineer Technician will bring hands-on technical expertise and leadership to maximize system uptime, efficiency, and asset reliability. You will plan, budget, schedule, and oversee preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance, while developing the standards, training programs, and best practices that help our team operate safely and in compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
This is a highly visible role for an experienced technician who enjoys hands-on troubleshooting, mentoring others, and driving continuous improvement across laboratory, pilot plant, and utility systems in a fast-paced biotech environment.
*This is a full-time, fully onsite role based in Emeryville, CA.
Responsibilities
Maintenance & Technical Execution
- Perform hands-on preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance, fault diagnosis, troubleshooting, calibration, and repair of Facilities’ mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure systems independently or with a team, requiring minimal supervision.
- Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair flow, pressure, temperature, and analytical instruments, as well as mechanical components including bearings, gearboxes, pumps, valves, and seals.
- Recommend and implement preventative and proactive maintenance methods to improve system reliability, reduce downtime, and extend asset life.
- Coordinate proactive monitoring of facility systems to ensure maximum operational efficiency, uptime, and compliance in high‑reliability environments.
Utilities Systems
- Operate, maintain, calibrate, and repair utilities systems to the component and instrument level, including:
- HVAC&R and environmental control systems
- Boilers and clean steam systems
- Air compressors and compressed gas systems
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Deionized (DI) water systems
- Chilled water systems
- Pumps, agitators, mechanical seals, piping, drainage, and waste equipment
Process & Pilot Plant Systems
- Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and repair process equipment including:
- 1000L, 300L, and 20L reactors and associated piping and instrumentation
- Centrifuges, TFF skids, and CIP skids
- Establish maintenance practices supporting safe, reliable operation of pilot plant and process systems at optimized life‑cycle costs.
Laboratory Systems
- Maintain, troubleshoot, calibrate, and repair laboratory equipment in collaboration with equipment owners and users.
- Determine best repair approach including in‑house repair, vendor support, spare part procurement, or equipment replacement.
Leadership, Supervision & Training
- Provide technical leadership, tasking, training, oversight, and mentorship to Facilities and Machine Shop personnel to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
- Develop, implement, and maintain basic and advanced machine shop and mechanical training programs for facilities personnel.
- Select, develop, and evaluate personnel to ensure effective staffing, skill development, and efficient operation of the function.
- Lead and coordinate daily maintenance operations, work prioritization, and resource allocation.
Planning, Budgeting & Continuous Improvement
- Plan, budget, and schedule repairs, maintenance activities, system upgrades, and modifications for critical facilities systems.
- Provide relevant maintenance and asset data to support budget development, forecasting, and cost control.
- Develop and implement maintenance standards, procedures, and best practices to improve operational efficiency and reliability.
- Establish and sustain maintenance practices aligned with company standards and regulatory requirements.
Compliance, Safety & Reliability
- Ensure maintenance programs comply with internal standards and all applicable regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.
- Monitor execution of facility policies, practices, and procedures to ensure compliance with organizational and governmental standards.
- Inspect new installations, repairs, and modifications performed by contractors to ensure quality, code compliance, and operational readiness.
- Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; promote safe work behaviors and hazard awareness at all times.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Emergency Response & Vendor Coordination
- Coordinate and lead response to emergency situations or unplanned events that may impact operations, including after-hours call-ins as required.
- Establish and manage effective partnerships with external vendors and service providers to support maintenance activities and share best practices.
Documentation & Asset Management
- Ensure timely completion of work orders with accurate documentation in accordance with applicable standards.
- Update, generate, and maintain maintenance documentation, procedures, engineering records, service manuals, and asset data.
- Identify, anticipate, and manage acquisition of spare parts, safety equipment, tools, and test equipment to support reliable operations.
Basic Qualifications
- Minimum of a completed trade apprenticeship or technical school program, plus relevant on-the-job training.
- Proficiency in standards and practices for industrial mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.
- 7+ years of experience in facilities operations and maintenance in the biotech/laboratory industry or a similar environment.
- Understanding of and experience with general safety and Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) standards.
- Proficiency reading drawings, sketches, and O.E.M. instructions and specifications for troubleshooting and repair.
- Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
- Strong mechanical aptitude.
- Strong team player who can change direction quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and proficiency with Word and Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Extensive experience safely operating tools and testing equipment and executing field work in compliance with applicable safety procedures and requirements.
- Extensive machine shop experience with equipment such as mills, lathes, grinders, drill presses, table saws, and welders.
- Demonstrated welding proficiency (MIG, TIG, and/or SMAW/stick).
Physical Requirements
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, push and pull equipment, kneel and bend to install equipment, crawl through low spaces, and climb ladders.
- Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
The salary range for this role is: $122,000 to $158,000.
As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Amyris is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amyris complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Amyris is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Salary offers are made based on internal equity and market analysis, and will vary based on the candidate’s skills, depth of experience and specific work location.
Amyris is committed to providing a diverse array of inclusive benefits and perks to support employees and their families’ wellbeing including access to robust healthcare, mental wellness benefits, family leave, discounted fitness memberships, education reimbursement, flexible paid time off, 17 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days, and additional paid time off including 3 volunteer days, and bereavement.
What may Candidates Expect from Amyris?
At Amyris, we strive to provide a transparent and professional hiring experience. Our interview process typically includes a combination of in-person meetings and phone conversations. Genuine job offers are always communicated by an authorized member of our Human Resources team before being sent via email. Please note that all official communication from Amyris employees will come from an email address ending in “@amyris.com” or from "no-reply@greenhouse.io".
- Fraudulent Employment Offers: Amyris has experienced a recent increase in fraudulent Amyris job listings on third-party sites, as well as fraudulent interview requests and job offers sent to candidates. In addition, people impersonating employees of Amyris have been sending fraudulent job screening or new-hire screening communications requesting candidates to provide personal information. Please be advised that these offers, communications, and impersonations are illegitimate and fraudulent. If You Receive a Suspicious or Fraudulent Communication or Employment Offer, please contact hr@amyris.com
- We hold deep regard in the power of representation and cultivation of a diverse work environment. Join us at Amyris, where you can find a sense of belonging and know that your voice is centered. At Amyris, we believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) is essential to our core values. We embrace and encourage an equity-minded work culture, knowing that it is the driving force of innovation that positively impacts our employees, consumers, and communities. For Amyris, a sense of belonging is what drives our mission forward and is the foundation of everything we do, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for us all.
- Amyris, the Amyris logo, Unlock the Chemistry of Life TM, and Lab-to-Market are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
- Under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), Amyris is required to inform California residents who are our job applicants (“Applicants”) about the personal information we collect about you when you apply to a job on this site. As an Applicant, you have the right to know and understand the categories of personal information we collect about you, and the purposes for which the categories of personal information shall be used, pursuant to the CCPA.
- By clicking the “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” button below and submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the complete Privacy Notice for Employees, Independent Contractors and Job Applicants. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Amyris at privacy@amyris.com
- As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Amyris is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amyris complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
- If you are a recruiter or placement agency, please do not submit resumes to any person or email address at Amyris, Inc. prior to having a signed agreement. Amyris is not liable for and will not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved recruitment partners. Furthermore, any resumes sent to us without an agreement in place will be considered your company’s gift to Amyris and may be forwarded to our recruiters for their attention.
