Lab Automation Engineer

Location:

Cambridge, MA (100% onsite) Duration: 9+ Months Contract

Schedule:

~9–5; flexibility for occasional off-hours work to run/maintain equipment (i.e., work a little earlier or after 5 to work on equipment when they're not in use) Reason Open:
Additional support alongside the existing Sr. Automation Engineer

• Onsite lab with multiple standalone and integrated automation systems
• Bloodborne pathogens exposure (animal tissue) → suppliers must have appropriate insurance

• Years
  : 5–10 years ideal
• Education
  : BS/MS required;
  PhD considered if highly hands-on
• B.S. or M.S. degree in Bioengineering, Engineering, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience operating and programming robotics platforms.
• Ability to understand diverse and complex workflows on liquid- and plate-handling systems, including the sources and statistical assessment of unwarranted assay variance
• Experience with liquid handlers and integrated platforms such as Perkin Elmer, High Res Cellario, and Beckman Coulter.

• Lab instrumentation - Experience with liquid handling robots (e.g., Tecan, Hamilton), plate readers
• Programming, Scripting, automation software - C# for writing automation scripts, API integration, and developing tools, LIMS
• Protocol development - Creating, testing, and documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) for automated systems.
• Collaboration: Working with scientists to translate manual assays into automated protocols.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills for root cause analysis in troubleshooting.

• Biology background to partner with scientists
• Vendor management and user training

• Purely automation-focused; currently in an automation engineer role
• Comfortable being onsite and working directly in lab
• Collaborative, adaptable to shifting priorities
• Pharma experience preferred but not required as long as they have the automation engineer skill set

• Automate lab workflows and maintain automation platforms
• Develop and script protocols (C#; LIMS/API integrations)
• Troubleshoot instrumentation and system connectivity issues
• Method development and SOP creation
• Work with vendors for maintenance/PM
• Translate manual assays into automated processes
• Train users and collaborate with scientists