Senior Associate Scientist, Automation Specialist

Position Summary

The Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center at BMS Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is actively seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Senior Associate Scientist, Automation Specialist to join our early drug discovery team in San Diego. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing, optimizing, validating, and implementing automated laboratory workflows that support next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular biology, cell-based assays, and patient-derived organoid culture models for early drug discovery.

Position Responsibilities

• Translate Benchtop Protocols into Automated Workflows
• Partner with scientists to convert benchtop protocols into automated workflows by helping clarify assay requirements and critical process parameters, programming stepwise methods, and validating performance through dry/wet runs and fit-for-purpose testing.
• Automate Standardized Assays
• Validate and deploy automated workflows for various standardized assays, including DNA/RNA purification, NGS library preparation, qPCR, cell and organoid passaging, media changes, cell-based viability assays, high-content cell imaging, sample normalization, and other assay readouts.
• Enable Scalable NGS and Screening Workflows
• Improve throughput, reproducibility, sample tracking, process robustness, and data integrity across automated sample preparation and assay execution.
• Support User-Friendly Process Design
• Support the development, optimization, and validation of automated processes on integrated platforms, contributing to user-friendly design and following established data-management practices.
• Troubleshoot and Improve Workflows Efficiency
• Troubleshoot routine issues in automated workflows and instrumentation (liquid-handling performance, deck layouts, method scripts), escalating complex device-integration or assay-compatibility failures to senior staff.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Cross-functional team members to align automated workflows with project needs and communicate technical requirements and progress effectively.
• Support Laboratory Operations and Equipment Management
• Maintain equipment organization, coordinate preventative maintenance, ensure instrument readiness, track critical consumables, and coordinate with vendors or internal support teams to resolve operational or technical issues as needed.
• Create Clear User-Friendly Documentation
• Create clear user-facing documentation and quick-reference guides, and provide peer-level guidance on routine instrument operation and method execution.
• Meticulous Record Keeping
• Maintain accurate and well-organized documentation of experimental records, automation methods, validation activities, troubleshooting outcomes, SOPs, and workflow handoff materials to support reproducibility, traceability, and seamless knowledge transfer.
• Contribute to Qualification and Standardization Efforts
• Support Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, and Performance Qualification activities, as well as the development and maintenance of SOPs for laboratory automation systems.
• Stay Current with Advances in Laboratory Automation
• Keep up-to-date with advancements in automation technology and emerging high-throughput methodologies applicable to liquid handling systems.
• Contribute to Workflow Development
• Contribute to the development and optimization of automated workflows under the guidance of senior scientists, executing assigned workflow components with work reviewed for technical soundness, while managing priorities across concurrent tasks.

Experience

• Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree4+ years of academic and / or industry experience Or Master’s Degree2+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree with 2+ years of academic and/or industry experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of academic and/or industry experience in bioengineering, or biology with hands-on experience with laboratory automation platforms, liquid handling robotics, or high-throughput experimental workflows in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, or not-for-profit research environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience programming, operating, optimizing, and troubleshooting automated liquid handling platforms for high-throughput screening, NGS workflows, molecular biology assays, and/or cell- or organoid-based workflows.
• Demonstrated experience with automated liquid handling systems such as Beckman Coulter Biomek, Dynamic Devices Lynx, Analytik Jena CyBio FeliX, or comparable platforms.
• Experience integrating liquid handlers with supporting instrumentation, including plate readers, incubators, sealers, centrifuges, thermocyclers, magnetic separation devices, imaging systems, barcode scanners, and/or laboratory automation scheduling software.
• Strong working knowledge of molecular biology and end-to-end NGS workflows, including DNA/RNA purification, sample quantification, normalization, library preparation, QC, qPCR, RNA-seq, DNA-seq, and related sequencing-based assays.
• Experience supporting cell-based and/or organoid-based workflows, including culture maintenance, passaging, compound treatment, assay setup, viability measurements, imaging workflows, patient-derived model systems, or functional screening.
• Hands-on expertise with high-throughput methods, automated liquid handling, assay miniaturization, workflow standardization, and automation-enabled process optimization.
• Experience creating, following, and maintaining high-quality documentation, including SOPs, method documentation, validation summaries, troubleshooting logs, and qualification documentation such as Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) protocols.
• Experience improving laboratory workflows through standardization, automation, process mapping, digital sample tracking, and/or enhanced workflow handoffs.
• Proven ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary R&D teams to deliver automation-enabled solutions that support project goals and improve workflow efficiency.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks, and maintain accurate records in a fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality, reproducibility, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and scientific integrity.
• Strong attention to detail, scientific curiosity, and willingness to learn and implement emerging automation technologies.