Lab Aide
Helix
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 23-29 / hour + Equity
Posted on Nov 14, 2025
Lab Aide
San Diego, CA
Lab Operations
In office
Full-time
Who We Are & What We Do
At Helix, our mission is simple: to help everyone improve their lives through their DNA.
Ready to make a real-world impact with your skills? At Helix, we're transforming healthcare by making genomics a standard of care. We partner with health systems and life science companies to accelerate the integration of genomic data into clinical practice. Join us in building a future where healthcare is personalized, proactive, and powered by genomics.
What is special about this role?
Join Helix's world-class, high-volume CAP/CLIA certified laboratory where transforming health organizations by weaving genomics into the fabric of healthcare. As a Lab Aide, you'll be at the forefront of our pre-analytical operations, working with a dynamic team that processes thousands of patient specimens daily. This role offers unique opportunities to challenge industry standards through innovative solutions. You'll gain hands-on clinical laboratory experience in a state-of-the-art facility while supporting the accessioning activities, plating procedures, and biohazardous waste program. With clear advancement pathways, you'll have the opportunity to grow from executing foundational tasks to becoming a subject matter expert and leader within the laboratory operations team.
As a Lab Aide, you will:
- Work onsite in our CAP/CLIA certified laboratory located in San Diego, CA
- Receive, unpack, and verify patient specimens against requisitions with high accuracy
- Perform specimen accessioning and data entry while maintaining sample integrity
- Identify and flag specimen issues such as missing information or incorrect sample types
- Execute plating procedures according to established protocols
- Operate automated equipment consistent with established protocols
- Support and maintain the biohazardous waste program in compliance with regulations
- Maintain a clean, organized laboratory and assist with general laboratory housekeeping
- Collaborate with team members to ensure efficient workflow in a fast-paced environment
- As you advance, take on additional responsibilities including training new staff, troubleshooting complex specimen issues, and contributing to process improvement initiatives
About you:
- Associate's degree in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology.
- Course work MUST include completion of 60 semester hours from an accredited institution with 24 semester hours of science courses (including 6 hours in chemistry, 6 hours in biology, and 12 hours in chemistry, biology, or medical lab technology).
- 0- 1 year of experience in a clinical laboratory or healthcare setting (Lab Aide I), academic experience will be considered.
- Proficient computer skills (Excel, Microsoft Word) with exceptional accuracy in data entry
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
- Understanding of patient confidentiality (HIPAA) requirements
- Developing knowledge of CAP and CLIA requirements
- Ability to follow established procedures and work under direct supervision
- Willingness to commit to a Tuesday through Saturday work schedule
Pluses:
- Bachelor’s degree in laboratory science or medical laboratory technology.
- Prior experience in a high-volume clinical laboratory setting
- Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
- Experience with biohazardous waste handling and disposal
- Knowledge of pre-analytical specimen processing best practices
- Demonstrated interest in process improvement and operational efficiency
- Experience working in regulated environments
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on routine tasks
Expected Interview Process:
1) Recruiter Screen 2) Manager Screen/Tech Screen 3) Onsite 4) Offer
Expected Pay For This Role:
There are 3 distinct parts to your Helix offer: 1) Base Salary 2) Annual Bonus 3) Equity
- Expected Helix Base: $23 - $29 per hour
- Expected Helix Discretionary Annual Bonus: 5% of your annual salary
- Equity: We offer generous equity at Helix. If you receive a Helix offer your recruiter will book dedicated time with you to educate you on our equity model.
Aside from working alongside brilliant, dedicated, passionate, down-to-earth, curious, warm, and thoughtful people, we also provide great benefits:
- Comprehensive Health Insurance with Date of Hire eligibility
- Above average employer paid premium coverage
- 12 weeks Helix Paid Parental Leave option
- 401(k) with employer matching of up to 3% and 100% Vesting on the Date of Hire
- Comprehensive Well-Being Benefits
- PTO
- Remote options for many roles and a home office stipend
What To Expect During Your First 90 days:
- 30 Day: you’ll spend time learning the Helix way, completing training and onboarding for your role, getting introduced to the team and relevant stakeholders. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of our customer, our products, the impact we make in the lives of our communities, and how to thrive at Helix through participation in Helix U.
- 60 Day: you’ll spend time contributing to projects, deeply familiarizing yourself with team and company processes, and developing a deeper understanding of Helix’s products, services, and capabilities.
- 90 Day: you’ll build your OKR’s with your manager, start to take ownership of projects and initiatives on your team, and begin to demonstrate your impact on the Helix mission.
Helix is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
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Compensation
The base pay range for this role is $23 – $29 per hour.
Req ID: R750