Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Assistant Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Assistant Technician provides hands-on operational support to technical teams by performing routine maintenance, troubleshooting equipment, preparing and calibrating instruments, maintaining accurate documentation, and ensuring safety and compliance. This entry-to-mid-level role supports engineers, senior technicians, lab staff, and facilities teams to maintain uptime, quality, and regulatory standards across mechanical, electrical, laboratory, and medical device environments. The Assistant Technician is practical, detail-oriented, safety-focused, and capable of executing standard operating procedures (SOPs) with minimal supervision while escalating complex issues appropriately.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Recent graduate from a technical school or community college program (mechanical/electrical/biomedical)
On-the-job trainee, intern, or apprenticeship in maintenance, lab, facilities, or production
Military technical training, trade school graduate, or vocational certificate holder

Advancement To:

Technician / Maintenance Technician
Laboratory Technician / Biomedical Equipment Technician
Field Service Technician / Service Engineer
Senior Technician / Lead Technician
Facilities Supervisor or Technical Supervisor
Quality Technician or Production Support Lead

Lateral Moves:

Quality Assurance / QC Technician
Inventory & Parts Coordinator
Technical Support Specialist
Calibration Technician
Facilities Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist senior technicians and engineers in performing preventive maintenance (PM) on electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and production equipment, executing scheduled PM tasks according to the CMMS and updating maintenance records accurately.
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and electronic faults on lab or production equipment using multimeters, oscilloscopes, schematics, and diagnostic software, escalating unresolved issues to senior staff.
Calibrate instruments and test equipment (e.g., pressure gauges, thermometers, scales, pH meters) following manufacturer guidelines and SOPs, documenting calibration certificates and tolerances for audit readiness.
Perform routine repairs and component replacements (motors, bearings, belts, sensors, solenoids, valves) on-site, ensuring parts are installed to specification and equipment is tested post-repair for safe operation.
Set up, clean, sterilize, and maintain laboratory or clinical instruments and workspaces according to aseptic techniques, GMP and ISO requirements, and internal cleaning logs.
Prepare and label samples, reagents, and consumables for laboratory processes, following chain-of-custody, sample handling procedures, and safety protocols to preserve data integrity.
Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and hand tools to move equipment and materials safely; assist with installation and relocation of machinery under supervision and according to site safety procedures.
Assist with electrical wiring basics, cable management, and conduit runs for equipment installations while following lockout/tagout (LOTO), NFPA, and site electrical safety policies.
Support assembly and disassembly of test rigs, prototypes, and production fixtures, interpreting mechanical drawings and BOMs to ensure components are assembled correctly.
Conduct routine inspections of equipment and facilities (lubrication points, belts, hoses, filters, fittings) and log findings, initiating work orders for corrective maintenance as needed.
Maintain inventory of spare parts, tools, and supplies, performing cycle counts, generating parts requisitions, receiving shipments, and restocking maintenance carts to minimize downtime.
Execute basic software diagnostics and firmware updates for embedded devices and lab instruments in coordination with IT or engineering, ensuring compatibility and documenting version control.
Adhere to environmental health and safety (EHS) requirements, including PPE usage, chemical handling, hazard communication (GHS), and participation in safety audits and incident investigations.
Assist in the fabrication of simple replacement parts using machine shop equipment (drill press, band saw, bench grinder) and hand tools while following machining best practices and quality checks.
Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) sessions for recurring equipment failures, collecting data, performing repeatability checks, and providing hands-on replication of reported issues for engineering review.
Perform basic soldering, wire termination, and connector assembly tasks for control panels and sensor assemblies under guidance, following IPC or company soldering standards where applicable.
Maintain accurate maintenance logs, service reports, calibration records, and equipment history in both paper and digital formats to support audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support production startups, run checks, and first article inspections by assisting operators with machine setup, alignment, and trial runs to verify tooling and process parameters.
Execute sample preparation and simple analytical assays per SOPs (e.g., pH adjustment, centrifugation, microscopy slide prep) and record observations and measurements in lab notebooks or LIMS.
Assist with the safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials, coordinating with EHS and waste contractors to ensure regulatory compliance for biohazardous, chemical, or electronic waste.
Provide basic customer-facing technical support on-site or by phone, answering common user questions, performing operator-level troubleshooting, and escalating complex service requests to field engineers.
Participate in continuous improvement projects by collecting metrics, documenting process steps, suggesting improvements, and assisting with small-scale pilot implementations.
Support calibration and quality teams during internal and external audits by providing documentation, guiding auditors through equipment status, and addressing auditor queries promptly.
Conduct preventative checks and environmental monitoring for controlled areas (temperature, humidity, pressure differentials) and initiate corrective actions when readings fall outside specified ranges.
Follow change control procedures when modifying equipment or process settings, ensuring changes are documented, approved, and verified to maintain product quality and process stability.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with training new hires and cross-training peers on equipment operation and basic maintenance tasks.
Help coordinate contractor access and provide technical guidance for external service providers performing specialized repairs.
Maintain and calibrate safety equipment (gas detectors, fire suppression systems, PPE inventories) and report deficiencies to management.
Support documentation updates for SOPs, maintenance procedures, and preventive maintenance schedules based on observed improvements or equipment changes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Equipment maintenance & preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling and execution using CMMS (e.g., Maintenance Connection, Fiix, Maximo).
Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems (reading schematics, wiring diagrams, using multimeter and oscilloscope).
Instrument calibration and documentation (calibration certificates, traceability to standards).
Basic HVAC, refrigeration, and environmental control familiarity (refrigerant handling awareness preferred).
Mechanical assembly, disassembly, and hand/tool proficiency (torque wrenches, impact drivers, precision tools).
Pneumatics and hydraulics basics (reading pneumatic diagrams, changing seals and valves).
Laboratory techniques and sample handling (pipetting, centrifugation, sterile technique) where applicable.
Use of fabrication and shop equipment (drill press, lathe basics, band saw) with attention to safety.
Basic PLC and control system awareness or exposure to SCADA and HMI operations.
Computer skills: MS Office, email, basic data entry, and familiarity with LIMS or equipment management software.
Soldering, cable termination, and connector assembly per IPC or company standards.
Knowledge of safety standards and compliance frameworks: OSHA, NFPA, GMP, ISO 9001.
Inventory and spare parts management, barcoding, and parts ordering.
Ability to perform first article inspections, basic metrology, and use of hand-measuring tools (calipers, micrometers).
Basic firmware updates and software diagnostics for equipment with embedded systems.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation for maintenance and calibration records.
Clear verbal and written communication skills to coordinate with engineers, operators, and third-party vendors.
Problem-solving mindset and curiosity to perform root cause investigations and support continuous improvement.
Team player attitude with ability to work cross-functionally and support multiple stakeholders.
Time management and prioritization skills to handle reactive repairs and scheduled preventive tasks.
Adaptability and willingness to learn new technical domains, tools, and procedures quickly.
Customer-service orientation when supporting site operators, clinicians, or external clients on equipment issues.
Safety-first mindset with ability to follow and enforce PPE and lockout/tagout procedures.
Dependability and punctuality for shift work, on-call rotations, and emergency response situations.
Initiative to propose small efficiencies, tool improvements, or documentation updates that reduce downtime.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with relevant vocational training or on-the-job technical experience.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree, diploma, or certificate from a trade school in Mechanical Technology, Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Biomedical Equipment Technology, or Laboratory Technology.
Industry certifications such as OSHA 10/30, IPC soldering, HVAC/EPA refrigerant handling, or biomedical/clinical equipment certifications are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical Engineering Technology
Electrical/Electronic Technology
Biomedical Equipment Technology / Clinical Engineering
Laboratory Science / Medical Laboratory Technology
Industrial Maintenance / HVAC / Mechatronics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years of hands-on technical experience; entry-level candidates with internship or apprenticeship experience are acceptable.

Preferred:

1–3 years supporting maintenance, laboratory, or facilities operations with documented experience in preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, and record-keeping.
Prior exposure to regulated environments (GMP, ISO) or manufacturing/laboratory settings is highly desirable.