About the role
Our Mission Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life. For more information, see our website at altoslabs.com. Our Value Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission . Diversity at Altos Altos Labs has been named one of the Top 3 Biotech Companies and ranked for the second year on the Forbes 2026 Best Startups in America list. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment. What You Will Contribute To Altos The Senior Animal Care Technician is a key member of the vivarium operations team. This position will perform advanced husbandry and technical tasks and serve as a lead resource for the vivarium team. In addition to mastering all duties associated with ACT I and II, this role combines hands-on daily animal care with specialized expertise in room-level colony management, complex health monitoring, and the intake of new animal arrivals. Key
Responsibilities Animal Care, Welfare & Vivarium Operations Perform and oversee daily husbandry for research animals (rodents), including: Cage changing, bedding and enrichment, feed and water provision Room cleaning and rack/equipment sanitation according to SOPs. Perform routine animal observations and basic measurements as needed, including: Weighing animals according to study or health-monitoring schedules. Changing or providing special/experimental diets, medicated feed, and water treatments as directed by veterinary staff or study protocols. Conduct and review daily health and welfare checks; promptly escalate concerns (e.g., illness, injury, abnormal behavior, weight loss) to veterinary and supervisory staff. Maintain species-appropriate environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting, enrichment) in accordance with institutional and regulatory standards. Assist with and, where appropriate, coordinate animal receipt, identification, housing assignments, and transfers, ensuring proper acclimation and accurate records. Operate and perform routine care on cage-wash machines, autoclaves, and related equipment; report issues promptly and support facility readiness for inspections and audits. Adhere to biosafety and biosecurity procedures (PPE, traffic flow, barrier practices) to maintain a safe and compliant environment. Colony Management (Breeding, Weaning & Genotyping) Plan, set up, and monitor rodent breeding schemes (pairs/trios) in alignment with requests and colony objectives. Perform timely weaning, sexing, and identification of pups; ensure appropriate group housing and minimize stress. Collect tissue samples for genotyping (e.g., ear punches, tail tips, or other IACUC-approved methods) following welfare-focused best practices. Coordinate submission of genotyping samples to external vendors; ensure accurate sample labeling, documentation, and chain-of-custody. Record breeding events, litters, weaning, animal assignments, diet changes (if tracked), and genotyping results in colony management software (e.g., SoftMouse or similar platforms). Maintain accurate genotype and lineage records; reconcile discrepancies between expected and observed genotypes and communicate impacts on study timelines and colony plans. Support investigators in ensuring timely availability of correctly genotyped animals for experiments and in optimizing colony size to meet demand while minimizing surplus animals. Documentation, Compliance & Health Monitoring Accurately document all relevant activities, including husbandry tasks, health observations, body weights, mortality, breeding events, diet changes, and environmental monitoring in designated paper or electronic systems. Support institutional health surveillance programs through appropriate sample handling and reporting. Follow IACUC-approved protocols, SOPs, and institutional guidelines for animal care, breeding, genotyping, diet changes, and handling; identify and report potential deviations. Communication Communicate clearly and promptly with veterinary staff, Vivarium manager, and research personnel regarding animal health, body weight trends, colony status, diet changes, room conditions, and any operational issues or deviations. Collaborate with colleagues to coordinate daily and weekly work assignments, ensure adequate coverage, and maintain consistent standards across rooms and functional areas.
