Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California is recruiting a full-time Microbiology Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) to join its clinical laboratory team within the Desert Care Network — a three-hospital system serving the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin regions of Southern California. This is a 10-hour day-shift position with a sign-on bonus of up to $20,000 based on experience, offering the chance to work alongside advanced diagnostic technology at a facility that houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a comprehensive stroke program, a cancer center, and the only Level 3 NICU in the Coachella Valley. The role carries genuine breadth — spanning microbiology, hematology, chemistry, serology, and cross-disciplinary coverage — within a collaborative, high-acuity academic-adjacent environment.
Perks and Benefits
- Sign-on bonus of up to $20,000, determined by experience level
- Full-time employment with a comprehensive benefits package (eligibility determined by employment status)
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- CME and career development support, including continuing education opportunities that fulfill licensure requirements
- Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits: pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, auto and home insurance
Practice Highlights
- 10-hour day shifts, 07:30–18:00; days variable with every-other-weekend rotation
- Full-spectrum laboratory testing across microbiology, hematology, chemistry, serology, and microscopy — all within a single integrated department
- Cross-training required in at least one additional discipline, with active performance in that discipline a minimum of twice per month
- Responsibilities include specimen evaluation, stain and reagent preparation, QC performance and documentation, proficiency testing, and instrument calibration and maintenance
- Active role in training and onboarding new laboratory employees, including documentation of progress against departmental guidelines
- Participation in technical projects, procedure development, and coordination of assigned subspecialty areas
- Operates within a three-hospital network (Desert Regional Medical Center – Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital – Indio, Hi-Desert Medical Center – Joshua Tree) with a broad regional referral catchment across the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin
- Facility services include a Level 1 Trauma Center, comprehensive stroke program, oncology center, and Level 3 NICU — the only Level 3 NICU in the Coachella Valley
- Minimum attendance of three quarterly department meetings per year; mandatory safety sessions and regular departmental safety reviews
- Charge reconciliation responsibilities, including managing tests outside normal operational workflows
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology or a related science (or equivalent)
- Active California state licensure in medical technology or a categorical area — required at time of hire
- Demonstrated proficiency in laboratory procedures across multiple disciplines
- Computer experience preferred; must be capable of order entry, result documentation, and troubleshooting laboratory information system issues
- Ability to perform accurately and consistently under high-stress, high-volume conditions while maintaining departmental turnaround-time standards
- Physical requirements include standing or walking 6–10 hours per day, repetitive hand and wrist motion, carrying up to 10 pounds continuously and lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally, and working in areas of restricted space
About the Community
Palm Springs sits at the western edge of the Coachella Valley in Southern California's Inland Desert — a region known for year-round sunshine, world-class golf, vibrant arts and dining, and immediate access to the San Jacinto Mountains for hiking and outdoor recreation. The cost of living is moderate relative to coastal Southern California, and Los Angeles is approximately two hours west via Interstate 10, making weekend access to a major metropolitan area straightforward. The valley's diverse, growing population and resort-city character attract clinicians who want a dynamic lifestyle without the density and commute pressures of urban LA or San Diego.