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