Senior laborant

Job Description

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing ~10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. Lydian is backed by top climate investors including Congruent Ventures, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Union Square Ventures, Voyager Ventures, Grok Ventures, and Overture. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way.

Position Overview

Lydian is seeking a Senior Lab Technician to drive R&D lab operations and support the broader operational readiness and technical upkeep of our 25,000 sq. ft. research lab and pilot facility in Charlestown, MA. In this role, you will be a core technical contributor, bridging the gap between engineering concepts and practical lab operations by ensuring our equipment, test stands, and chemical processes run with high precision and reliability.

You will drive the synthesis of novel catalyst formulations, chemical mixing operations, and own execution of custom test assembly builds. This includes the installation and maintenance of lab and process equipment, as well as oversight of associated process material inventories and lab waste streams. You will act as a leader in lab safety and chemical hygiene, helping to facilitate engineering development goals in safe, efficient, and well-stocked laboratory.

This is a fully onsite position at our facility in Charlestown, MA (5 days/week) that may require night and weekend flexibility to support commissioning, outages, and critical testing campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical execution support for routine chemical synthesis, slurry mixing, and associated lab analysis operations
• Perform assembly, disassembly, and mechanical tuning of custom lab test systems; ensure all test stands are calibrated and leak-checked
• Responsible for inventory tracking and cataloguing process consumables, spare parts, chemicals, gas cylinders, and critical hardware
• Execute the Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedule for engineering equipment, test stands, and facility support systems (HVAC, air compressors, etc.)
• Ensure that all hazardous waste and maintenance logs, equipment status boards, and operational checklists are accurate and up to date
• Diagnose and lead upgrades and repairs on mechanical, fluid, and control systems
• Support the development and refinement of Lab Operations SOPs, focusing on equipment startup/shutdown, safety protocols, and changeover procedures

Who You Are

• You take pride in well-maintained equipment and precise execution of procedures
• You are mechanically inclined, hands-on, curious, and proactive
• You communicate clearly, escalate issues early, and work well across disciplines
• You thrive in an environment where each day brings new equipment, new processes, and new learning
• You enjoy working on breakthrough technology and want your work to have tangible impact

Qualifications

• 8-15+ years of experience as a lab technician, engineering technician, or similar; or 4-10+ years of experience with a degree in science or engineering
• Ability to interpret complex P&IDs, control loop diagrams, and electrical schematics
• Experience with process piping, high-pressure fluid systems (Swagelok or similar), and industrial instrumentation
• Experience with setting up, maintaining, and using analytical lab equipment
• Forklift, crane, or material-handling experience is a plus
• Electrical (eg NFPA 70) or other workplace certifications are a strong plus
• Experience in startups or small engineering teams which require flexibility and autonomy is a strong plus

Company Culture and Benefits

• Challenging, collaborative, and meaningful work and an important voice in company development
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Meaningful equity compensation
• Generous PTO allowing employees to take time off to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside work
• Excellent insurance with 100% of healthcare, vision, and dental premiums covered for the employee, and 80% coverage for dependents
• 401(k) with company match