Biomanufacturing Insect Technician [Rolling Applications]

Ready to be the foundation of innovation? Every scientific breakthrough starts with a perfectly managed fly population

Changing the world—one fruit fly at a time

We’ve developed a novel insect-based expression platform to enable bio-products across humanity’s most critical verticals.

We’re unleashing the next biorevolution

At Future Fields, we are continually learning and evolving. We know we don’t have all the answers, but we try to ask all the questions. We believe in “failing forward” and leveraging our mistakes to help us grow. We never want our team to feel constrained by the status quo and we don’t judge ideas based on where they come from. We actively work to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and psychological safety through transparency, structure, and open communication. We know it sounds cliché, but every employee really is a valued and equal member of the Future Fields team.

Come find your purpose with Future Fields

We are a rapidly growing venture-backed startup (with support from awesome investors including Bee Partners, Y Combinator, BDC Climate Tech, R7 Partners, Toyota Ventures and Amplify Capital). We’ve even had a shoutout from Ironman himself! Joining our team now means you’ll have the opportunity to shape our culture and products, to lead others, and to influence the direction of our company. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll be joining a team that is genuinely energized by this work and the meaningful potential of biotech to change the world.

About the role

Please note this is a rolling posting without a fixed application deadline. We will review applications on an ongoing basis to fill current openings as well as build a talent roster for our upcoming growth milestones. Because we take our time to thoughtfully review candidates as submissions arrive, timelines can flex - we truly appreciate your patience, and we will be in touch directly if your profile is a strong match for an interview round.

The Biomanufacturing Insect Technician plays a critical role in supporting our most important asset—fruit flies! Yep, you read that right. We farm fruit flies (in our super cool custom-built Insect Rearing Facility, Instar 1.0). This is a full-time, hourly position, with a 5-day work schedule (3 weekdays, 2 weekend days).

The primary mission of this role is to keep our insect rearing operations running like clockwork. This role will have varied responsibilities including fly rearing, preparing fly media, sample collection, washing dishes and data entry. This role provides many learning opportunities across a diverse set of areas and exposure to the inner workings of a scaling biotech company.

The Biomanufacturing Insect Technician will work under the supervision of our Upstream Processing Lead, Kennedy, and will actively participate in collaborative discussions driving the core work at Future Fields.

This role will own (day-to-day operations):

• Fly rearing & colony management: handle daily fly tipping and cage seeding. You will transfer flies between cages smoothly to ensure they have fresh food, keeping workflow and cage organization immaculate.
• Media preparation: Prepare fly media from food-grade ingredients. This is a time-sensitive, multi-component task requiring excellent parallel-processing skills to ensure consistent batch quality.
• Data logging & integrity: track all metrics of insect rearing (cages, fly strains, population mass, harvest mass) in our database with a high level of accuracy to maintain strain integrity.
• Biomass harvesting: harvest biomass in a timely, consistent manner that strictly adheres to established protocols and best practices.
• Sanitation & turnaround: Wash and sanitize dishes, fly media prep tools, fly cages, and component parts at an expedient pace.

This role will assist:

• Helping to maintain a safe, sanitary, and clean work environment at all times.
• Ensuring biomass inventory is up to date and organized.
• Monitoring supply of fly media ingredients to ensure an adequate stock of ingredients is always in hand. Monitoring and adjusting cages for optimal breeding conditions.
• Standing for extended periods, performing repetitive hand motions, and comfortably lifting up to 25–30 lbs

About you

This role is all about speed, precision, and coordination. Because our workflows are sequential, the ability to prioritize and multitask in parallel is your superpower.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Meticulous attention to detail: you don't skip steps, and you catch the small things before they become big things.
• Exceptional time management: you thrive in a time-sensitive environment and know how to pace your day.
• A collaborative spirit: you love working closely with a team to "divide and conquer" daily workflows effectively.

Bonus points (nice-to-haves)

• Experience in the restaurant, catering, or high-volume food preparation industry.
• Hands-on experience working with Drosophila (fruit flies).
• Knowledge of recombinant proteins or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• A keen sense for engaging banter and a positive attitude.

Your future (with Future Fields)

This roadmap outlines the impact you'll make as you grow with us. We'll use this as a guide for your first year, knowing that in a fast-paced environment, we'll adapt and evolve these goals together.

Within 1 month, you will:

• Master the fundamentals: complete all necessary training and demonstrate proficiency in the core Upstream Processing workflows, including preparing fly media, washing and sanitizing equipment, and accurate data entry according to our established protocols.
• Integrate into the workflow: become a reliable part of the daily operational rhythm. You'll learn the time-sensitive nature of fly tipping, cage seeding, and biomass harvesting by working closely with the Upstream Processing Lead and your team to ensure our flies are healthy and happy.

Within 3 months, you will:

• Execute with independence: confidently manage the full cycle of daily Upstream Processing tasks with minimal supervision. You will have mastered the art of multitasking, efficiently preparing media, managing cage transfers, and harvesting biomass in parallel to keep the operation running smoothly.
• Own your data: take full responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of all data tracking for your assigned tasks. You’ll ensure that every cage, strain, and harvest is meticulously recorded, maintaining the high level of integrity crucial to our research.

Within 6 months, you will:

• Troubleshoot and improve: move beyond the daily checklist to anticipate the team’s needs. You will proactively monitor supplies, identify bottlenecks, and begin to independently troubleshoot minor operational problems to keep workflows running smoothly.
• Take ownership of key processes: become a go-to team member for specific, recurring processes. You will take initiative to maintain and improve these areas, ensuring the facility operates at the highest standard.

Within 1 year, you will:

• Drive initiatives: act as a trusted driver for operational excellence. You will leverage your deep understanding to not only suggest but, with guidance, lead small initiatives to improve protocols, making our processes faster, easier, or more consistent.
• Become a team pillar: Be an indispensable member of the Upstream Processing team, capable of independently troubleshooting and resolving common operational issues. You will be a key contributor to training new technicians, solidifying your role as a reliable pillar of our Upstream Processing team.

About our team

Our story and approach to science are anything but conventional. Matt (co-founder/CEO) was a touring punk rock musician who dropped out of University before returning to complete his PhD in cell biology. Jalene (co-founder/COO) is a social researcher by training, previously working on issues from the right to affordable housing to harm reduction. The spark of an idea for our technology came while waiting in line for tiny, Canadian donuts. Our broader team of scientists, engineers, circus performers, restaurateurs, dancers, music aficionados, kid parents, pet parents, cyclists, and artists hail from every corner of the world - from small town Alberta to Poland, India, Vietnam and Pakistan. We credit our diverse team and experiences as the key to our success - and we encourage candidates of all identities and backgrounds to apply.

FAQs

Where is Future Fields located?

Our headquarters and production facility are located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, in a renovated historic warehouse. From the exposed brick to our summer patio - it’s not your average lab space. It is central, close to transit and bike lanes, and walking distance to some of the city’s best coffee shops, restaurants and Edmonton’s incredible river valley.

I don’t live in Edmonton. Why would I want to relocate there?

Because it’s great! Edmonton is a young, vibrant city that punches way above its weight. We are one of Canada’s sunniest cities and offer an unmatched quality of life with a low cost of living. We’re home to North America’s largest urban parkland (the River Valley is a playground for cyclists and runners), a festival scene that runs year-round, a rapidly growing tech and biotech ecosystem, and we’re exploding with award-winning independent restaurants. It’s a place where you can build a career and a life - without the big-city price tag.

Any other perks?

Many! Some include: comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; flexible paid time off policy; and the office is always stocked with snacks and all the coffee you can drink.

Will I like working for a startup?

Great question. Startup life is definitely not for everyone. We move quickly. Projects and priorities shift fast. There is a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty at times and we’re not immune to the growing pains of a rapidly scaling startup. The risk is high, but so is the reward. We promise you will never get bored. You will have fun and learn a lot. You will grow personally and professionally in ways you never imagined (alongside our company). You will be part of something much bigger than yourself and contribute directly to the mission of a team who cares deeply about changing the world for the better. Oh, and equity!

Sound like something you are interested in? Here are the next steps:

Apply online using our job portal.

Application deadline: This role will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

If it seems like a good fit, next steps will look somewhat like this:

• We will contact you for a casual 15-minute video call.
• We will set up an interview to dive into your technical skills and motivation.
• We’ll arrange another interview to figure out how you fit with our team and culture, and better understand your career trajectory.
• We will set up a coffee chat with you and a team member. This is your chance to dig in and find out what it’s really like to work for Future Fields. This is for you!
• We will speak with two of your references to confirm our assumption that you are, in fact, our next great hire.
• We offer you a job!

We are committed to building a diverse team and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities and candidates from all backgrounds and identities. Please note that for this specific position, we are unable to provide sponsorship for work authorization; candidates must currently be legally authorized to work in Canada.