In Vivo Research Technician

We are a vibrant and intensely mission-driven team in San Francisco, comprising members from MIT, Harvard Medical School, Roche, ETH, and Dana-Farber.

We value speed and rigor, coupled with excitement, drive, and a strong work ethic. In an early-stage environment, we value people who can bring clarity to open-ended problems, take ownership of the next steps, and follow through with energy.

Capable Labs is a place for ambitious, high-integrity people who want to become dramatically better. You will be surrounded by people who care intensely about the work, get close feedback from the people making scientific and company-defining decisions, and have room to own increasingly important problems.

We believe excellent work should be met with meaningful reward, ownership, and trust. Responsibility is earned through contribution, not title alone: anyone who demonstrates the judgment, rigor, and follow-through to move important work forward can earn meaningful scope.

About the Role

You will support mouse studies and vivarium operations on a dedicated night-shift schedule, enabling overnight timepoints and around-the-clock study execution. You will perform careful animal work, collect and preserve samples for the day team, monitor animal welfare, and leave complete, reliable handoffs. This role requires comfort operating independently during quieter laboratory hours.

Responsibilities

• Execute overnight study activities, including scheduled dosing, observations, collections, and time-sensitive procedures.

• Dose mice using common routes such as IP, IV, SC, PO, and intranasal administration in accordance with study protocols and your training.

• Collect, process, label, track, and store blood and tissue samples so they are ready for day-team analysis.

• Conduct overnight animal-welfare checks, document observations, and escalate issues according to established protocols.

• Support surgeries and specialized procedures, including EEG studies, with training where appropriate.

• Perform routine husbandry and vivarium duties and maintain a clean, organized, well-stocked environment.

• Provide concise, complete morning handoffs covering completed work, deviations, animal-health concerns, samples, and open issues.

Ideal Qualifications

• Able and willing to commit long-term to the designated night-shift schedule and operate independently when needed.

• Hands-on experience working with laboratory animals in biotech, pharma, academia, or a related setting.

• Comfort with basic husbandry, common mouse-handling or dosing procedures, and accurate study records.

• Sound judgment and the ability to follow protocols, document decisions, and escalate appropriately when the usual day-team contact is unavailable.

• Strong attention to animal welfare, sample integrity, cleanliness, and detail.

• The ability to work independently and hand off work clearly to the day team.

Pay & Benefits

• Compensation and equity will depend on the skills, experience, and scope of impact you bring. We are open to a conversation based on the scope and impact you could bring.

• $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools that help you perform at your best.

• Healthcare: We offer a broad range of medical, dental, and vision coverage options, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.

• You will also have access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans.

• Healthy vegetarian dinners with the team are provided daily.

• We support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways. Our team is already international, with members from Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, India, and the United States.

Application Process

Our process is fast, transparent, and personal. We care about getting to know the person behind the application.

• Initial application

• First phone screen

• Second phone screen

• In-person on site work trial in San Francisco: designed to give both sides a realistic sense of working together. Get to know the founding team!

Apply Today

Curious but not sure? Apply anyway. It takes 5 minutes, and you do not need to be actively job searching to start a conversation.

Some of the best people do not map perfectly to a job description. If this sounds like a place where you could do important work, we would like to hear from you.

And if someone exceptional comes to mind, send them our way here. We read every referral carefully, and if your referral joins Capable, we’ll send you a thank-you bonus.

Equal Opportunity

Capable is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Capable is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.