Sr. Automation Engineer

About the role

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. Moderna is strengthening its presence in Norwood, Massachusetts, a cornerstone of our manufacturing and operational excellence. Our Norwood campus translates mRNA science into scalable impact, supporting the global delivery of our medicines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and hardening of automated bioassay workflows, transforming early-stage prototypes into robust, scalable, GMP-ready systems
• Collaborate with scientists to translate cell-based bioassays and sample preparation workflows into automation solutions, accounting for biological constraints such as cell health, sterility, and timing sensitivity
• Design and implement automation strategies for cell handling workflows (e.g., maintenance, passaging, transfection, assay execution) to ensure reproducibility and assay integrity at scale
• Own technical execution across projects, including requirements definition, system integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment
• Partner cross-functionally with Analytical Development, Applied Technologies, Analytical Sciences & Technology, Digital, and QC Operations to enable successful transfer and deployment of systems into regulated environments
• Develop automation solutions that meet GMP expectations, including data integrity, traceability, and audit readiness
• Troubleshoot complex issues across biological performance, liquid handling, and system integration layers, including investigation of assay variability and automation-induced bias
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of automation platforms and workflows to support scalability across programs

Qualifications

• BS with 8 years of relevant experience, MS with 5 years of relevant experience or PhD in Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or related discipline
• Hands-on experience supporting or working with cell-based bioassays or sample preparation workflows
• Experience working in or supporting regulated laboratory environments (GLP/GMP)
• Experience programming and developing with laboratory automation software/hardware and liquid handlers

Pay & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $121,600.00 - $194,500.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future