Responsibilities

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for the role of Automation Specialist.

In this role, the successful candidate will work on-site at clients' locations to provide support, responsiveness, and knowledge to the customized specifications of the clients' users.

The Automation Specialist will conduct critical experiments to facilitate the advancement of laboratory operations, utilizing the clients' existing lab processes and facilities to ensure the seamless delivery of high-quality results within established timelines.

Ability to operate automated systems and associated instrumentation, execute cell-based and biochemical assays (luminescence, fluorescence, AlphaScreen, imaging, etc.) is required

Job Responsibilities

· Leverage integrated assay automation platform to execute medium-high-throughput cell-based screens and assays in collaboration with therapeutic area and functional area scientists.

· Train equipment users on key concepts associated with the platforms to support best-practice and mitigate avoidable run failures, ensuring optimal routine operation.

· Assist with the programming of the automated platform for assay protocol development.

· 'First-responder' for troubleshooting and error recovery.

· Maintain cell lines and primary cell cultures.

· Flexibility to accommodate to rapidly changing priorities and deadlines.

· Manage laboratory inventories

· Ensure compliance with laboratory safety procedures and guidelines.

· Support equipment maintenance and establish strong relationships with OEM Service Organizations.

· Interact with other engineers to leverage platform / systems knowledge to minimize instrument downtime.

· Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time.

Critical Skills:

· Comprehensive understanding of automation equipment and cell culture

· Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, especially adherence to laboratory notebook practices.

· Attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, the ability to multitask

· Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

· Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems independently.

· Ability to read and interpret chemical labeling and hazardous signage.

· MS Office Skills: Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word.

Basic Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related discipline with 2 years of experience in laboratory automation and/or lab instrumentation support OR

· Associate degree with 5+ years of experience in laboratory automation and/or lab instrumentation support

Preferred Qualifications:

· Master’s Degree in a Life Sciences or Engineering related subject.

· Experience with Biomek iSeries, Combi, BlueWasher, Cytomat, Precise, Staubli, WDII, PlateLoc, Xpeel, Cytation, Pherastar, Vspin, Echo is preferred.

· Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team-based environment.

· Proficient in cellular and biochemical assay techniques.

· Experience with immortalized and/or primary cell culture.

· Knowledge of device networking and communications protocols.

· Experience of scripting and other advanced programming languages a plus.

Working Environment:

· Must be able to work in a laboratory, controlled environments requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses, etc.) in laboratory.

· Job pace may be fast and job completion demands may be high.

· Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time

· The person needs to occasionally move between labs, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite Frequently operate on instruments, objects, tools or controls, which will require regularly bending, squatting, stretching and reaching in order to perform in a service function.

· Occasionally move or lift up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds).

· Specific vision abilities required by this position include without limitation, the ability to observe details at close range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus in order to perform the essential service functions of this position.

· Occasionally operates a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

· Employee may be required to handle hazardous waste according to local, state, and federal regulations. Duties may include identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing and labeling hazardous waste.

· Potential risk to lab-based hazards including but not limited to extreme temperature, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals.

· May be required to complete Medical Clearance, Respiratory Protection Training, and Fit Testing to wear a respirator as protection against hazards present in the laboratory environment.