Laboratory Automation Lead

About the role

Zoetis is the global leader in animal health, developing innovative pharmaceutical products across the full spectrum of veterinary care. The Laboratory Automation Lead will join the world-class Veterinary Medicine Research and Development (VMRD) organization and lead a team responsible for the development and implementation of laboratory automation solutions within the Automation & Data Sciences (ADS) group. This position will build on ADS's industry-leading capabilities and help shape the next generation of assay automation at Zoetis.

Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory automation initiatives by partnering with scientific teams to understand workflows, translate needs into clear requirements, and oversee delivery from planning through execution.
• Own operational excellence for existing automated workflows by establishing support routines, monitoring performance, prioritizing improvements, and driving enhancements to increase reliability and throughput.
• Guide technology evaluation and strategy by assessing new assay automation capabilities, synthesizing findings, and informing VMRD's automation roadmap and investment decisions.
• Set quality and maintenance processes by defining routine instrument QC standards, ensuring adherence, and coordinating preventive maintenance.
• Enable teams through coaching and support by training end users, building documentation and escalation paths, and ensuring sustained adoption of automated workflows.
• Manage external partnerships by effectively leveraging vendors, integrators, and other outside resources to accelerate development and reduce delivery risk.
• Drive cross-functional alignment by convening automation stakeholders, clarifying roles and decisions, and ensuring consistent practices and priorities across VMRD.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering field with a minimum of 6 years' industry experience.
• Extensive experience programming at least one of the relevant liquid handlers on the market.
• Ability to understand end-user experience and design user-focused software interfaces.
• Experience in integrating automation instrumentation with inventory management systems.
• Experience with the development, validation, and maintenance of liquid handler liquid classes.

Skills

• Strong background in streamlining workflows and developing automated laboratory processes from the collection of requirements through to implementation and support.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills required to interact with colleagues, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Wet lab experience with attention to detail and desire to be a hands-on team member.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS Degree in a science or engineering field.
• Experience managing a team of 3+ colleagues.

About Zoetis

At Zoetis, our purpose is to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals. As a Fortune 500 company and the world leader in animal health, we discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other technologies for companion animals and livestock. We know our people drive our success. Our award-winning culture, built around our Core Beliefs, focuses on our colleagues' careers, connection and support. We offer competitive healthcare and retirement savings benefits, along with an array of benefits, policies and programs to support employee well-being in every sense, from health and financial wellness to family and lifestyle resources.