Senior Automation Engineer - Production Chemistry

About Satomic

Satomic's mission is to close the gap from idea to molecule with faster navigation of chemical space. We are building an automated chemistry platform that integrates laboratory robotics, software, and AI to transform small-molecule synthesis and drug discovery.

This role is critical to Satomic's mission of closing the gap from idea to molecule by building the automation systems that reliably synthesize and route customer molecules through our production platform with speed and reliability, enabling our partners to explore chemical space- and advance their programs - faster. Satomic is building an API to atoms, and this role owns the orchestration and physical automation behind that API - ensuring requests are executed cleanly on our synthesis systems with a frictionless experience for our own operators and partners.

About the Role

This is a senior individual contributor role building the preparative liquid handling platform at the center of Satomic's chemistry operations. You will develop and own the Venus methods and instrument integrations that move samples through the production chemistry pipeline, partnering closely with chemists and the software team to ship workflows that run reliably in production.

The right candidate has deep Hamilton experience and strong hardware instincts. You will integrate peripherals into the StarV workcell, develop liquid handling methods across the production chemistry pipeline, define handoff points to downstream purification and analytical workflows, and work with the software team to ensure runs produce traceable data. You will also provide troubleshooting support for the production team and build out workflows that keep batch runs moving as the platform grows.

This is a hands-on, lab-based role for someone who takes pride in building automation the whole team can depend on and who can navigate the intersection of instrumentation, method development, and software integration.

Technologies and systems you may work with include:

• Liquid handling robotics (e.g., Hamilton liquid handlers)
• Automation control software (e.g., VENUS)
• Laboratory instrumentation such as incubators, sample management systems, de-cappers, and analytical systems
• Internal software systems used for experiment orchestration and data capture
• Automation validation and testing frameworks used to ensure reliability of automated workflows

Expected Outcomes:

By day 30, you will have:

• Developed a working understanding of the current chemistry workflows and what the platform needs to support for scale up

• Delivered at least one Venus method or integration into production, with documentation and a validated operating procedure
• Mapped remaining open work against company milestones and identified the critical path with timelines the team can align on

By 90 days, you will have:

• Integrated at least two peripheral instruments into the StarV workflow and validated them in production
• Delivered the core Venus methods and instrument integrations needed to get Satomic's production-scale chemistry workflows running and performed necessary validation testing to meet user requirements
• Worked with the software team to ensure methods are integrated with sample logging and tracking systems
• Written operating procedures for completed integrations and methods

By year 1, you will have:

• Integrated the full instrument suite required to support current chemistry programs
• Established a method development process that lets new chemistry be onboarded efficiently as scope grows
• Trained at least one other team member on platform operation using documentation you authored

By year 5, you will have:

• Built integrations that span multiple workcells that allow for overnight, unattended operation
• Become the go-to reference for Hamilton integrations and scheduling problems at Satomic
• Made the automation platform a core part of how Satomic runs chemistry at scale

What You Will Own

• Method development for production workflows, such as integration, scheduling, and batch processing
• Instrument procurement, installation, and hardware configuration
• Troubleshooting support for the production team and building workflows that keep batch runs moving
• Operating…