Sr. Automation Engineer

Overview

At Veracyte, we offer exciting career opportunities for those interested in joining a pioneering team that is committed to transforming cancer care for patients across the globe. Working at Veracyte enables our employees to not only make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients, but to also learn and grow within a purpose driven environment. This is what we call the Veracyte way: it’s about how we work together, guided by our values, to give clinicians the insights they need to help patients make life-changing decisions.

Our Values:

• We Seek A Better Way
  :
  We innovate boldly, learn from our setbacks, and are resilient in our pursuit to transform cancer care
• We Make It Happen
  :
  We act with urgency, commit to quality, and bring fun to our hard work
• We Are Stronger Together
  :
  We collaborate openly, seek to understand, and celebrate our wins
• We Care Deeply
  :
  We embrace our differences, do the right thing, and encourage each other

Veracyte is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Automation Engineer to join our growing Automation and Process Engineering team. This is a dynamic and impactful role where you will lead the development, optimization, and validation of automated liquid handling workflows—particularly using Hamilton platforms—for the implementation of molecular Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) in a regulated clinical laboratory environment.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Clinical Operations, Software, and IT teams to design and deploy innovative automation solutions that improve throughput, reproducibility, and efficiency. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of molecular diagnostics through cutting-edge automation and process innovation.

This is an onsite position based in our South San Francisco office.

• Design, program, and validate automated workflows for molecular assays using liquid handling platforms (e.g., Hamilton) and other automated laboratory instruments
• Translate manual molecular protocols (e.g., RNA/DNA extraction, NGS library prep) into robust, high-throughput automated methods
• Collaborate with Product Development, Clinical Operations, and Software teams to integrate automation with LIMS, bioinformatics pipelines, and data management systems
• Lead portions or entire cross-functional projects from concept through implementation, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met
• Collaborate with Equipment Engineering and Operations and QA on equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), calibration, and preventive maintenance procedures
• Contribute to the development of custom 3D printed parts, software scripts, workcells, and novel automation technologies
• Document workflows, SOPs, ERDs, and process maps in accordance with quality and regulatory standards
• Provide technical mentorship and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external vendors

You have worked with both manual and automated molecular assays and feel right at home programming Hamilton systems. You might also have experience with microarray prep, NGS library prep, or RNA/DNA extraction from sample types like FFPE, blood, or cultured cells—that’s a big plus.

You know how to build automation workflows that work in a high-throughput, CLIA-regulated lab—not just in theory. You’re good at spotting potential issues before they become problems, and you’re the kind of person who enjoys figuring out how to fix things when they don’t go as planned.

You manage your time well, stay organized, and aren’t afraid to try new approaches or take calculated risks. You enjoy working with others, sharing ideas, and solving tough problems as a team. Most of all, you’re excited about using your skills to help push the boundaries of what’s possible in molecular diagnostics.

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 5–7 years of industry experience in laboratory automation, with deep expertise in Hamilton Robotics platforms (preferred)
• Strong background in molecular biology techniques such as PCR, RNA/DNA extraction, microarray, and NGS
• Proven experience designing, programming, and troubleshooting automated workflows in a…