Ohalo

Greenhouse Technician at Ohalo (Watsonville, CA)

Ohalo· Watsonville, CA·

Job description

Position Title: Greenhouse Technician

Location: Watsonville, CA

Time Type: Full Time

The Opportunity:

Ohalo is seeking candidates with a passion for hands-on work growing plants to join our greenhouse team. Greenhouse Technicians will produce beautiful, healthy plants to support a team of scientists who seek to revolutionize plant breeding. Job responsibilities include planting, transplanting, watering, scouting for pests and disease, weeding, data collection, seed harvesting and processing, and performing controlled pollinations. The successful candidate will be safety-aware, efficient, reliable, and responsible. The candidate must also be willing and able to perform repetitive physical tasks such as potting and planting within the greenhouse. Previous greenhouse or field experience is beneficial, but not required.

Responsibilities:

  • Daily care and upkeep of multiple species of plants
  • Interact with scientists to accurately collect and record data using an electronic notebook
  • Scouting for and manually removing pests and weeds, as well as applying beneficial insects to control pests
  • Pesticide applications, reporting, and record keeping
  • Prepare media for planting, plant or transplant seeds, cuttings, and other propagules
  • Monitor and adjust irrigation, nutrient, lighting and climate to optimize plant health
  • Harvest, process, record, and organize seed
  • Maintain a clean and safe work environment
  • Maintain security of company information including trade secrets

Candidate Profile:

  • Basic knowledge of plant science, horticulture and plant materials, propagation, and pest management
  • Ability to collaborate with diverse and creative teams
  • Ability to problem solve and find solutions
  • Detail oriented and takes a proactive approach to routine tasks
  • Ability to lift 50 pounds
  • Ability to perform repetitive tasks for several hours
  • Must be able to work weekends
  • Ability to hold a California driver’s license and potential to be covered by a company vehicle insurance plan

Below is the pay range for this position that we reasonably expect to pay. Individual compensation is based on various factors including experience, education, skillset, and other relevant qualifications. This range is for the Watsonville, CA location and may be adjusted to the labor market in other geographic areas.

Anticipated compensation: $27/hr

About Ohalo:

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.

Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time.

This organization participates in E-Verify. Posters linked here.

No recruiters please.

Why work at Ohalo

  • Mission-driven work: Directly contribute to solving global food security and sustainability challenges through cutting-edge science.
  • Innovative culture: Described as "Farmers First," with a bias toward action, iteration, and finding truth — a fast-paced, science-first environment.
  • Talent & team: Employees come from top institutions (UC Davis, Iowa State, North Carolina State) and companies (Driscoll's, Zymergen, Inari). The team includes 29 researchers (26% of workforce) and 20 technical staff (18%).
  • Growth trajectory: 40% YoY headcount growth and $100M in funding signal a well-resourced, scaling company with career advancement opportunities.
  • Diverse roles: Openings range from Senior Full Stack Engineer and Quantitative Geneticist to Technical Sales Representatives and Greenhouse Technicians — appealing to both technical and commercial talent.
  • Location & flexibility: Headquarters in South San Francisco, CA, with remote roles available for some positions (e.g., Technical Sales Representatives across multiple US regions). Presence in Brazil and UAE offers global exposure.
  • Perks: Not explicitly listed, but as a well-funded private company, competitive compensation and equity are likely. The company emphasizes "improving the lives of farmers" and a collaborative, truth-seeking culture.

Application questions