Cell Culture Technician I

Cell Culture Technician I

Location: This position is based in our Durham, NC office. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM EST. This role requires flexibility, including participation in a rotating on-call schedule (weekdays, weekends, and holidays) and overtime.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $43,000 to $69,000. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• Performance-related bonus.

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.

• 401(k) matching plan.

• Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Employee assistance programs.

• Paid time off (PTO).

Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

What you will do:

The Cell Culture Technician I position is based at our Durham, NC facility and plays a key role in supporting the Production team responsible for manufacturing primary cell products derived from human and animal tissues for use in research. This individual participates in daily lab operations, and ensures all procedures are executed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with SOPs.

• Perform isolation of primary human and animal cells from a variety of tissues (e.g., lung, kidney, bone, blood) to support production needs

• Execute core cell culture techniques including screening, feeding, passaging, harvesting, and cryopreservation

• Coordinate daily laboratory operations to ensure workflows are efficient, organized, and aligned with production goals

• Maintain lab readiness by managing schedules, ensuring equipment functionality, and monitoring inventory of materials and supplies

• Prepare media and production materials, and ensure final products are packaged and labeled according to established specifications

• Review batch records and maintain accurate, compliant documentation, including cell-specific logs

• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule (including evenings, weekends, and holidays) to support critical production activities

• Support team effectiveness by assisting with training, mentoring, and knowledge sharing when needed

• Adhere strictly to SOPs, safety guidelines, and quality standards in all aspects of work

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related field, with 2+ years of hands-on laboratory and cell culture/biology experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Laboratory experience, including working in controlled lab environments and following established protocols and safety procedures

• Technical expertise in aseptic technique and cell culture, including use of pipettes, microscopes, biological safety cabinets, and centrifuges

• Experience working with animal models, including comfort handling rodents

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, or support the development of team members

• Solid understanding of SOP compliance and the importance of maintaining high-quality, reproducible results

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including clear and accurate documentation practices

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with database systems

• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving

Working Conditions:

• A majority of the work is done in a laboratory environment

• Individual is required to wear, gown, booties, hair net, gloves, mask, and safety glasses

• Working conditions can include heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs.), confined space (small lab areas), repetitive motion (vialing with Wheaton and Eppendorff, pipetting, processing tissue), excessive noise (from HEPA filters in ceiling and hoods all day), and chemical hazards including acids, bases, Trypan Blue, DMSO, formalin, PMA SQ, other SQ, etc.

• Individual will be required to be on call and work overtime as needed

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule

• Individual is involved in rotating on-call weekend and weekday/weeknight and holiday schedule

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.