Building Maintenance Technician, Senior

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Building Maintenance Supervisor, Building Maintenance Technician, Senior is responsible for maintaining and repairing the Academy's facilities and exhibits. This role includes specialized fabrication work, as well as general maintenance tasks. The technician will work with various hand, power, and shop tools and will be required to ensure the Academy's aesthetic and operational standards are upheld. Manages tasks without supervision, plans work, resolves issues proactively, while maintaining quality, safety, and professionalism.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy's mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform general maintenance and repair tasks across the museum, aquarium, and collections, including floors, walls, paint, automated doors, door hardware, restroom fixtures, access platforms, exhibit installations, aquarium tank and support spaces.
• Complete fabrication projects in wood, metal and fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
• Repair and paint walls, including surface preparation, paint mixing, and application using brushes, rollers, or sprayers.
• Office workstation repairs, and configuration changes for staff moves.
• Conduct periodic inspections to identify repair and maintenance needs.
• Assist with the maintenance of the Academy's vehicles
• Track work assignments using the Limble maintenance management system.
• Follow all Academy safety rules and regulations.
• Handle hazardous materials, disposal, and PPE according to safeguards, rules, and regulations.
• Work from verbal or written instructions, sketches, or plans.
• Maintain professional and effective working relationships with team members, staff, and the public.
• Ability to Work Independently: Demonstrated capacity to manage assigned tasks without constant supervision, taking initiative to identify and resolve maintenance needs, plan fabrication and repair projects, and follow through on responsibilities with minimal follow-up or direction while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and professionalism.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following:

Experience and/or Education:

• A high school diploma or equivalent technical training is required.
• Up to fifteen years of experience in building maintenance.
• Proven experience or technical training in a minimum of eight two of the following:
• Exhibit and Tank Repair: Skilled in maintaining aquarium and museum displays, including acrylic polishing and leak repairs.
• Carpentry and Woodworking: Measure, cut, shape, and assemble wood for cabinets, displays, and other structures.
• Metalwork: Cutting, bending, shaping, and assembling metal components. Metal framing for interior walls, partitions, and ceilings.
• Plastics and Fiberglass Fabrication: Cut, form, bond, and weld plastic and fiberglass materials for various uses.
• Welding: Proficient in MIG, TIG, and stick welding to join steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.
• Drywall Installation and Repair: Repair or replace drywall to a uniform, smooth finish.
• Painting: Painting and finishing for architectural elements and exhibits, using specialized paints and textures.
• Flooring: Install and repair carpet, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl flooring.
• Tile Installation: Install and repair tile on walls and floors.
• Furniture and Fixture Repair: Maintain and repair office furniture and fixtures, including seating, display stands, desks, and cabinets.
• Door Hardware and Locks: Replace and repair commercial door locks, hinges, panic bars, closers, and automated openers.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Familiarity with specialty paint products and applications.
• Valid California driver's license.
• Experience in the maintenance and repair of building hardware and surfaces.
• Skilled in shop fabrication (woodworking, finish carpentry, metal fabrication, plastics fabrication).
• Welding skills with MIG and/or TIG welders are desirable.
• Good mechanical aptitude and strong problem-solving skills.
• Skilled and safe use of power tools, including shop production tools.
• Previous experience or the ability to be trained in the safe and proper operation of scissor lifts, genie lifts, and forklifts.
• Ability to work on ladders of various heights.
• Ability to work swing shift.

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, standing, sitting, kneeling, walking, crawling, reaching, talking, and hearing.
• Work in high places from ladders, scaffolds, or lifts.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions 75% of the time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 70 lbs.
• The job is performed under some temperature and humidity extremes

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $44.95 - $46.77. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).