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Production & Laboratory Shift Lead Phykion 250 West Schrimpf Road, Calipatria, CA 92233 $34 - $42 an hour - Full-time Apply with Indeed About Phykion Phykion is reimagining aviation fuel. We cultivate hyper-productive microalgae to produce a scalable, low-carbon oil that drops directly into the HEFA pathway — the most commercially established route to sustainable aviation fuel. Our platform is built on three breakthroughs: a field-proven algae host with 5+ years of outdoor cultivation, strain engineering trait stacking that has delivered a 10x gain in oil productivity to date, and an outdoor cultivation process on non-arable land fed by seawater and CO2. We are scaling this validated technology into demonstration production, paving the way for commercial supply of low-carbon oil by the end of the decade. As part of that scale-up, we are re-opening our pilot facility near Calipatria, California, and building the small team that will bring the site back online and run it. The Role We are hiring a Production & Laboratory Shift Lead to run the lab and production operations during their shift at our Calipatria pilot facility. Reporting to the Algae Production Lead, the Shift Lead is a working lead — doing production and lab work alongside the team while owning the shift's rhythm: start and end handoffs, task delegation, data quality, safety, and first-line response to deviations. This role is central to keeping cultivation running smoothly across shifts, and it is a strong path to broader production leadership as the facility ramps. Duties and Responsibilities Run the shift: open and close shift handoffs, delegate daily tasks across production and lab technicians, and keep the operating rhythm steady. Work hands-on alongside the team on production operations, cultivation measurements, and routine lab work; set the pace by example. Own data quality for the shift — ensure measurements, logs, and dashboards are complete, accurate, and reviewed before shift handoff. Be first line on deviations — contamination events, equipment issues, off-spec results, weather events — triage, respond, and escalate to the Algae Production Lead as needed. Enforce safety on the shift; make sure PPE, SOPs, and clean-work practices are followed; stop work when needed. Support training, coaching, and development of technicians on the shift; help onboard new hires. Partner with the Maintenance & Utilities Lead and O&M Technicians on site coordination during the shift. Flex to help with commissioning, campaign runs, and operational pushes beyond regular shift duties. Requirements and Experience Bachelor's degree (or Associate's, with appropriate experience) in Biology, Agriculture, Agronomy, or related field preferred. 3+ years of relevant experience in production, laboratory, or combined production/lab operations; algae cultivation, aquaculture, greenhouse operations, or bioprocessing experience is strongly preferred. Prior lead, senior technician, or working-supervisor experience preferred — comfort delegating and managing. Strong working knowledge of lab analytical methods supporting cultivation (optical density, dry weight, nutrient and pH analysis, microscopy, contamination screening). Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable running shift handoffs and briefing leadership on shift events. Forklift certification (or willingness to obtain promptly) preferred; valid driver's license. Able to work outdoors in Imperial Valley conditions and in a lab environment on the same day. Able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, kneel, stoop, bend, crouch, and crawl as the work requires. Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred given the Calipatria site and workforce. Authorization to work in the United States is required. Work Location and Schedule On-site at our pilot facility near Calipatria, CA. Schedule includes nights, weekends, and overtime as the operating schedule requires.

Compensation Hourly pay range:

$34 - $42 per hour, depending on experience and background. Compensation also includes participation in Phykion's stock option program, offering meaningful equity upside at a seed-stage company with significant near-term growth ahead. We offer comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), generous vacation and PTO, and wellness days. Equal Opportunity Phykion is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Pay:

$34.00 - $42.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Paid time off Relocation assistance Vision insurance Application Question(s): This role is full-time and 100% onsite at our facility in Calipatria, CA. Are you able to work onsite at this location five days per week?

Work Location:

In person