Senior Automation Engineer

About the role

Caris is pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose. The Senior Automation Engineer is a technical leader and subject matter expert for laboratory automation and liquid-handling systems supporting high-throughput clinical workflows. This role owns automation solutions across the full lifecycle and partners with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, compliant, and reliable automated laboratory processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, testing, implementation, and lifecycle support of automated laboratory workflows.
• Develop and optimize liquid handling methods and liquid classes.
• Integrate automation platforms with instruments, LIMS, and software systems.
• Execute feasibility, verification, validation, and qualification activities.
• Author SOPs, protocols, reports, and quality documentation.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware, software, robotics, and assay issues.
• Drive throughput, reliability, and process improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical support, mentoring, and project leadership.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Laboratory Science, Biotechnology, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on liquid handler programming experience.
• Experience with automated molecular biology workflows and NGS sample preparation.
• Experience with equipment and method verification/validation.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, documentation, and project management skills.
• Experience with liquid class development and process optimization.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree in a related discipline.
• Experience in regulated CAP/CLIA, FDA, GLP, GMP, or ISO environments.
• Programming experience in Python, C#, SQL, JavaScript, or similar languages.
• Experience with LIMS, APIs, and laboratory data integrations.
• ASCP certification or relevant laboratory credential.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading cross-functional teams.

Physical demands

Ability to work in a laboratory environment, stand for extended periods, perform repetitive motions, and occasionally lift laboratory equipment or supplies.

Additional details

• May require periodic travel.
• May require occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or after-hours support.
• Must be able to support multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.