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Blood Component Manufacturing Technician

American Red Cross · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How do you follow a written procedure exactly when you think there's a faster way?

What they are checking: Whether they respect regulated procedures instead of improvising in a manufacturing setting.

Tell me about a time you worked with lab or production equipment like centrifuges.

What they are checking: Hands-on equipment experience relevant to blood component processing.

This is a union position. How do you work within set rules about schedules and duties?

What they are checking: Whether they can work within an agreement that defines job roles and procedures.

How do you stay accurate during a long shift with repetitive tasks?

What they are checking: Focus and consistency in work where small mistakes have serious consequences.

Tell me about a time you caught your own mistake before it caused a problem.

What they are checking: Self-checking habits that are essential in regulated manufacturing.

What would you do

You notice a label that doesn't match the unit it's on. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop the line and report errors that could harm a patient.

A machine gives an error mid-process. What would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they follow troubleshooting steps and escalate instead of guessing.

About the work

This role turns whole blood into components. What do you know about separating blood into red cells, plasma and platelets?

What they are checking: Basic understanding of component manufacturing or their readiness to learn it.

Why does documentation matter so much in blood manufacturing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that records prove each product was made safely and correctly.

How do you handle biohazardous materials safely?

What they are checking: Awareness of personal protection and contamination control with blood products.

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The full job description

As published by American Red Cross.

Please use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox when accessing Candidate Home. By joining the American Red Cross you will touch millions of lives every year and experience the greatness of the human spirit at its best. Are you ready to be part of the world's largest humanitarian network? Join us—Where your Career is a Force for Good! Job Description: Blood Component Manufacturing Technician (Union) WHY CHOOSE US? Joining The American Red Cross is like nothing else – it’s as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better. When you choose to be a force for good, you’ll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life’s work with an ongoing mission that’s bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you’re cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work. Where Your Career is a Force for Good! What You Need to Know: In this role, you will be manufacturing blood products and samples. You will be processing blood products after the units have been received from the donors. This will involve scanning in the units of blood, processing the units into transfusable components (red cells, platelets, and expressing plasma) and leukoreducing. As a Red Cross Team member, you will take care of your team members – show up for every shift and give 100% while you’re there. Interact in a positive, proactive, and customer-focused manner with both internal and external customers, demonstrating care and compassion at all times Key Responsibilities: • Meet the quality and quantity production goals, while prioritizing workload expectations and maintaining accurate documentation • Perform good inventory management practices throughout the manufacturing and distribution process. • Perform data entry and operate the computer programs associated with component production, labeling, storage, and sample tube management. • Analyze and make decisions based on visual inspection and information provided from other departments to meet time. • Perform complex manufacturing tasks such as pooled product manufacturing, freeze, wash, or deglycerolizing of blood products, and pathogen reduction. • Communicate effectively with internal customers, vendors, and volunteers. • May require flexibility to work a variable schedule that includes weekends & holidays to meet the needs of our hospitals Pay Information : $19.61 per hour, plus shift differential pay ($2.00 more per hour for all hours worked on the weekend) Schedule: Tuesday- Saturday, 6:00 am- 2:30 pm Training schedule: First 4 weeks, Monday- Friday, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm. Full attendance is mandatory. WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED: • High School or equivalent required. • Minimum 2 years of related experience in a regulatory, laboratory, or manufacturing environment or equivalent combination of education and related experience preferred. • Good computer skills, ability to use a wide variety of programs and laboratory equipment, attention to detail, accurate documentation, and good decision-making skills. • Good communication skills, with the ability to work on a team, as well as independently with minimal supervision Physical Requirements : Requires standing, stretching, stooping and bending for extended time periods. Lift, pull, push and move objects of up to 50 pounds. May work in walk-in refrigerator/freezers for periods of time. May be required to wear protective clothing such as lab coats, gloves, face shields, etc. BENEFITS FOR YOU: As a mission-based organization, we believe our team needs great support to do great work. Our comprehensive package includes: • Medical, Dental Vision plans • Health Spending Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts • PTO: Starting at 15 days a year; based on type of job and tenure • Holidays: 11 paid holidays comprised of six core holidays and five floating holidays • 401K with up to 6% match • Paid Family Leave • Employee Assistance • Disability and Insurance: Short + Long Term • Service Awards and recognition Apply now! Joining our team will provide you with the opportunity to make your career a force for good! The American Red Cross is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. ​ Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, San Diego Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and any other applicable state and local laws. AmeriCorps, the federal agency that brings people together through service, and its partners — the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps Alums, National Peace Corps Association, and the Service Year Alliance — launched Employers of National Service to connect national service alumni with opportunities in the workforce. American Red Cross is proud to be an EONS partner and share our employment opportunities with the network of organizations. Interested in Volunteering? Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including our most-needed volunteer positions. To view the EEOC Summary of Rights, click here: Summary of Rights

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