Lead/ Senior Automation Engineer
insitroMillbrae (CA)
Lead/ Senior Automation Engineer
Posted today
insitroMillbrae (CA)
SENIORITY
Lead
About the role
Overview:
In this role you drive automation across the platform, partnering with scientists and engineers to build scalable, high-quality automation systems. You will embed with scientific teams to translate workflows into automated solutions and support data capture that feeds AI/ML pipelines. The position balances hands-on development with cross-functional collaboration to improve throughput and reliability. You’ll contribute to a mission-focused biotech startup shaping the future of drug discovery. Compensation / Benefits 401(k) with employer matching medical, dental, and vision coverage flexible vacation policy parental leave budget for books and online courses home office setup stipend
Responsibilities:
Embed with scientific teams to define workflows, quality metrics, and automate translations to automation systems Design and qualify new workcells and liquid handling protocols to enable platform capabilities Collaborate with the LIMS team to automate data capture and ensure seamless data flow to AI/ML pipelines Diagnose and resolve mechanical, software, and system integration issues with Systems Engineering to minimize downtime Work with ML, software, and science groups to address onboarding, batch effects, and process improvements Identify opportunities to develop, test, and deploy automation more efficiently Collaborate with automation leadership to inventory automation usage and plan for retirement, growth, or redeployment
Key requirements:
Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field and 8+ years (or MS 6+ years, PhD 3+ years) in automation hardware Proficiency in automation and systems development/integration in life sciences, especially robotics and liquid handling platforms Proficiency in programming (Python, SQL, and/or C#) and data handling (including databases) Strong track record in automation systems across scales and independent project execution; able to guide others Experience coordinating with other engineering functions (vendor management and internal teams) Experience automating scientific workflows (cell culture, genomic screening, DNA-encoded libraries) independent worker with initiative cross-functional collaboration clear communication robotics and liquid handling platforms automation hardware integration software programming (Python, SQL, C#)
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