Automation Specialist || San Diego CA

Job Title: Automation Specialist

Duration: 12 Month Contract (Possible extension based on work performance)

Location: San Diego CA

Onsite Position

Job Description:

Actively seeking a highly skilled automation specialist with a strong background in liquid handling robotics and integration with supporting instrumentation. The ideal candidate will demonstrate innovative approaches when designing, optimizing, and implementing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) or cell- and organoid-based workflows on automated robotic systems. As part of this role, the candidate will cultivate a growth mindset and develop expertise in emerging automation technologies. The candidate will also conduct experiments, including scale-down, high-throughput, and automation, to enhance our team’s screening capabilities in patient-derived organoid model systems for early drug target discovery. This role offers a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to collaborate with diverse cross-functional scientific teams and contribute to groundbreaking drug discoveries that directly impact patient health.

Responsibilities:

• Integrate Liquid Handling Robotics: Seamlessly incorporate liquid handling robotics (such as Beckman-Coulter Biomek i7 & Dynamic Devices Lynx) with supporting instrumentation to execute molecular and cellular biology and organoid workflows.

• Automate Standardized Assays: Validate and deploy automated workflows for various standardized assays, including DNA/RNA purification, NGS library preparation, qPCR, cell and organoid passaging, cell/organoid media changes, cell-based viability assays, high-content cell imaging, and sample normalization.

• Collaborate and Translate Benchtop Processes: Work closely with scientists to translate benchtop processes into fully automated workflows. This involves programming/scripting stepwise protocols and rigorously validating processes through dry and wet runs.

• Design User-Friendly Processes: Develop and validate end-to-end processes on integrated lab automation platforms, prioritizing user-friendly design, robust execution, and secure data management.

• Troubleshoot and Enhance Efficiency: Perform advanced experimental troubleshooting alongside scientists to improve ease-of-use, process efficiency, and scientific integrity.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate NGS and organoid workflows into automated liquid handling systems, ensuring project success.

• Technical Troubleshooting: Address technical and instrument issues related to automation, NGS, and cell-based workflows.

• User Training: Train end-users in automated platform usage (Beckman-Coulter Biomek i7, Dynamic Devices Lynx, Analytik Jena CyBio FeliX) and workflow execution.

• Stay Current with Technology: Keep up-to-date with advancements in automation technology and emerging methodologies applicable to liquid handling systems.

• Independent Workflow Development: Work independently on novel automated workflows.

• Meticulous Record Keeping: Generate, organize, and maintain meticulous records of all conducted experiments.

• Collaboration and Organization: Collaborate with multiple teams across the organization, supporting and sharing methodologies while aligning efforts and harmonizing experimentation.

• Lab and Equipment Management: Manage lab and equipment organization and maintenance

Qualifications, Skills/Knowledge preferred

• Master’s degree with 1+ year or Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years’ experience in bioengineering or biology with a strong focus on automation platforms & liquid handlers in pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, or academic/not-for-profit organizations

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience programming and troubleshooting liquid handling platforms for high-throughput screening (HTS), as well as NGS- and organoid- or cell-based workflows

• Direct experience with laboratory operations and maintenance of common automation instruments used for NGS workflows

• Strong understanding of molecular and cellular biology, including NGS assays (e.g., DNA-seq, RNA-Seq). Demonstrated utilization of these assays in practical settings.

• Proven ability to create, follow, and maintain Installation Qualifications (IQ), Operational Qualifications (OQ), Performance Qualifications (PQ) protocols as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for lab automation systems

• Successfully worked with R&D teams to deliver automation projects

• Effective communication and collaboration skills within a multidisciplinary team environment

• Functional knowledge of at least one high-level programming language (e.g., Python). Additional knowledge in other programming languages (e.g., Perl, R, C++) is a plus

• Experience programming, executing, and troubleshooting workflows using Beckman-Coulter and/or Dynamic Devices liquid handling platforms

• Proficient at organizing multiple concurrent projects and tasks.

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Rigorous and constant evaluation of own work to maintain high quality

Preferred Skills:

• Extensive hands-on experience with high-throughput methods, liquid handlers, and laboratory automation schedulers

• Proficiency in integrating liquid handling systems with supporting instrumentation

• In-depth expertise of end-to-end NGS workflows, with a focus on instrumentation and automation

• Functional understanding of cellular biology, molecular biology, DNA/RNA purification

• Proficiency in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) protocols

• Knowledge of automation programming and/or scripting (e.g., Python) for liquid handlers

• Previous experience in manual or automated organoid culture and assay development, is a plus