Automation Technician

About the role

The Automation Technician maintains, troubleshoots, validates, and supports laboratory automation systems to ensure efficient, reliable, and compliant laboratory operations. This role serves as the primary first-line automation support resource and collaborates closely with laboratory operations, quality, engineering, and external vendors to keep critical equipment running smoothly and to drive continuous improvement across multiple laboratory sites. This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mebane, NC. This is a fully onsite position in Mebane, NC.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, calibration, and operational checks on laboratory automation systems to ensure reliable performance.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, software, instrumentation, and process issues to minimize downtime and maintain consistent laboratory operations.
• Support the installation, setup, qualification, and validation of new automation platforms, equipment upgrades, and associated control systems.
• Assist with technical investigations, root cause analyses, deviation reviews, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions related to automation systems.
• Maintain and support automated liquid handling systems, robotic platforms, thermal control devices, and a wide range of laboratory instrumentation.
• Configure automation software, execute methods, perform system backups, and support approved programming modifications to meet operational needs.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation for maintenance, calibration, validation, and change control activities in accordance with internal procedures.
• Coordinate with Quality, Engineering, Operations, and external vendors to support equipment reliability, performance, and timely issue resolution.
• Monitor automation system performance, identify trends, and recommend continuous improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and data integrity requirements in all automation-related activities.
• Stay current with evolving laboratory automation technologies, tools, and best practices and apply them to improve existing systems.
• Support the standardization, deployment, and optimization of automation solutions across multiple laboratory sites.

Skills

• Minimum 3 years of experience supporting an automation environment.
• Proven experience maintaining and troubleshooting automated equipment in a laboratory or production setting.
• Hands-on experience with automation systems, including robotics, automated liquid handling systems