About Satomic

Satomic’s mission is to close the gap from idea to molecule with faster navigation of chemical space. We are building an automated chemistry platform that integrates laboratory robotics, software, and AI to transform small-molecule synthesis and drug discovery. 

This role is important to Satomic’s mission. By keeping our labs safe, reliable, and organized, you will enable a productive environment which allows our scientists and engineers to keep our research velocity high. 

Department: Operations

Location: San Diego, CA

Type: Full Time

Reports to: Operations Coordinator

About the Role

Satomic is seeking a hands-on Facilities Manager to oversee the daily operation, maintenance, safety, and continuous improvement of our laboratory and office facilities in San Diego. The role will coordinate building systems, laboratory utilities, vendors, repairs, preventative maintenance, safety infrastructure, equipment installations, and site improvement projects.

The right person will be comfortable moving between planning and execution. On any given day, this could mean coordinating a contractor, replacing a damaged fixture, helping install laboratory equipment, reorganizing a storage area, or inspecting a utility connection. This role works closely with Foundry Operations, Chemistry, Analytical Sciences, Automation, IT, Environmental Health and Safety, company leadership, and external vendors.

Expected Outcomes

By day 30, you will have:

• Delivered an assessment of the state of the current facility, laboratory operations, critical utilities, vendors, service agreements, and maintenance needs
• Established strong working relationships with internal teams, building management, contractors, and external service providers and organize a contact reference list
• Identified the top three safety, reliability, organizational, or maintenance priorities and established action plans and timelines for addressing these priorities
• Become the primary contact for day-to-day facility needs

By day 90, you will have:

• Documented preventative maintenance schedules for critical building and laboratory systems
• Established a clear process for submitting, prioritizing, tracking, and closing facility needs
• Improved the organization of facility tools, supplies, parts, storage, and shared workspaces.
• Led one tenant improvement project which enables scientific excellence

By 1 year, you will have: 

• Built a reliable, well-documented facilities program that supports continuous improvement and business operations
• Led and coordinated laboratory growth including lab installations, facility improvements, and/or laboratory expansion. 
• Developed scalable facility standards and documentation for future Satomic site growth
• Reduced unplanned downtime and recurring facility issues by half. 

By 5 years, you will have: 

• Built and matured a facilities function capable of supporting Satomic across multiple sites, with documented standards and processes that can be handed to a new site or new hire with minimal ramp time
• Led site planning, buildout, or relocation efforts for at least one additional Satomic location
• Established vendor and contractor relationships mature enough to secure favorable pricing, priority response times, and long-term service agreements
• Become the go-to owner for major facility decisions company-wide, trusted to weigh in early on lease terms, capacity planning, and infrastructure investments before they become urgent

What You Will Own

• Maintenance and monitoring of critical building and laboratory systems including electrical service, plumbing, HVAC, compressed air, vacuum, gas distribution, purified water, safety systems
• Coordination of repairs, preventive maintenance, inspections, testing, service visits
• Planning and management of lab modifications, utility additions, bench installations, storage systems, and equipment hookups
• Testing and maintenance of eyewash stations, safety showers, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, spill-control measures, hazardous waste disposal, and other safety infrastructure
• Delivery, placement, installation, relocation, and removal of laboratory equipment
• Coordination of cleaning, waste, recycling, pest control, security, access control, and other workplace services
• Support of employee moves, desk setups, conference room installations, furniture assembly, and workspace changes. 
• Receipt, inspection, and intake of deliveries
• Lead facility improvement projects from initial scope through completion
• Support of future lab expansions, site planning, and buildouts. 

What This Role Is (and Is Not)

This role is: 

• A facility management role that spans strategic planning and hands on execution, owning both the systems and physical work that keeps Satomic’s labs running
• Focused on building processes (PM schedules, vendor relationships, documentation) and personally doing the work when needed.
• A role for someone who moves quickly between planning ahead and rolling up their sleeves, often in the same day.
• A role where ownership means seeing a problem through from identifying it, to deciding how to fix it, to actually fixing it or coordinating whoever needs to. 

This role is NOT: 

• A pure management position where you stay hands-off
• A narrowly scoped facility system job. The job spans all building systems, lab equipment support, EH&S compliance, and lab growth projects. 
• A role with a large team or established playbook. 

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in facilities, laboratory operations, building operations, or related hands-on environment
• Experience supporting laboratory, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, laboratory automation, or technical facilities strongly preferred, ideally at an early-stage or high-growth company; familiarity with lab gases, compressed air, vacuum, purified water, chemical storage, and hazardous materials preferred.
• Practical understanding of building systems, utilities, preventative maintenance, vendor management, and workplace safety; experience with lab permitting, fire-code requirements, or EH&S programs is a plus.
• Experience coordinating equipment installations, repairs, contractors, or facility improvement projects, including support for automated lab equipment, analytical instruments, or robotics, and for facility buildouts, moves, or expansions.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond calmly to unexpected issues; familiarity with work-order, preventative maintenance, or asset-management systems are a plus.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively across scientists, engineers, executives, contractors, and vendors.
• Willingness to work outside a narrow job description in support of a small and growing company; OSHA training, certifications, or related technical education (CFM, FMP, CMRP, EPA 608, OSHA 10/30, etc.) desired.

Overview of Satomic’s Interview Process

• Phone Call: The hiring manager will contact you to schedule a 15 minute call to give an overview of Satomic and the role, and better understand your career goals, experience, and motivations.
• Core Interviews: The hiring manager will coordinate a block where you can have three, 45-minute, back-to-back interviews with different members of the Satomic team, who will ask questions about your past experience and fit for the role.

Compensation

This role offers a base salary of $110,000 - $130,000, along with meaningful equity ownership and competitive benefits. We are an early-stage company and design offers to balance cash compensation and long-term ownership. The salary range above reflects base pay only, and we work with candidates to build a package that aligns with their preferences. Final offers are based on a candidate's experience and expected impact.  

Diversity & Inclusion

We know there's a serious lack of diversity in our industry, and that needs to change. At Satomic, we're committed to helping drive that change. Our culture is built on inclusion, humility, humanity, and ingenuity — values that guide how we work with one another and how we approach the challenges of scaling science. We believe that bringing together people with diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking is not just the right thing to do, but makes us stronger: we want every member of our team to feel they belong and can do the best work of their career here.

Our mission is to close the gap from idea to molecule. That mission carries responsibility: the chemistry we enable can accelerate access to life-changing medicines and technologies, but it can also pose risks if used carelessly. We're not agnostic to how our platform is applied — we care deeply about ensuring it is used for good. Building a team of diverse and thoughtful voices gives us the best chance of delivering a platform that not only advances the future of chemistry and drug discovery, but does so responsibly and with lasting positive impact on our world.