Lab Automation Scientist

Responsibilities

• Maintain safety as the top priority in all laboratory and automation work, including proper identification and handling of chemical and biological materials that pose potential risks to health, safety, or the environment.
• Maintain detailed, prompt, and compliant documentation of platform configurations, experimental procedures, maintenance activities, and outcomes.
• Own the day-to-day operation and maintenance of laboratory automation systems supporting molecular pharmacology, small molecule chemistry, and Global Sample Management Center workflows.
• Develop, optimize, and validate automated methods and workflows; maintain SOPs, maintenance logs, and method in accordance with internal standards.
• Drive root cause analysis and troubleshooting of automation issues; perform hands-on repairs and adjustments for routine hardware and software problems, and coordinate with vendors for corrective and preventive maintenance when required.
• Act as the primary automation point of contact for supported scientific teams, providing real time support and training on platform operation, standard processes, and data interpretation.
• Collaborate with the Scale4Insight team across sites to share methods, adopt proven solutions, and contribute to a unified automation strategy.
• Partner with pharmacologists, synthetic chemists, analytical scientists, and Global Sample Management Center operations to understand their research and operational needs and translate requirements into practical automation solutions.
• Support the design and execution of automated biochemical and cell-based assay workflows, compound profiling campaigns, small molecule chemistry experiments, and sample management operations, ensuring data quality and reproducibility standards are met.
• Contribute to the definition of data generation standards that enable effective data analysis and the training of predictive models and AI tools.
• Ensure effective integration of automation platforms with compound management systems, LIMS, ELN, and downstream data pipelines, including connections to data management and AI/ML tools.
• Champion the adoption of AI/ML tools and digital workflows within the platform environment, finding opportunities to enhance automation capabilities, improve data quality, and accelerate scientific decision-making.
• Develop scripts or configuration tools (e.g., Python, C#) to extend platform capabilities and enable new workflow possibilities.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation for all supported systems, methods, and integrations.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A strong scientific understanding of the workflows being automated is essential, whether that comes from a science or an engineering background.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in laboratory automation in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or drug discovery environment.
• Demonstrated ability to program and troubleshoot automated workflows on liquid handling or integrated robotic platforms.