Lead Automation Engineer, Autonomous Lab Science & Technology
genentechMillbrae (CA)
Lead Automation Engineer, Autonomous Lab Science & Technology
Posted today
genentechMillbrae (CA)
SENIORITY
Manager
About the role
Overview:
In this role you will lead the Lab Automation technical architecture for Roche's Autonomous Lab Accelerator. You will translate scientific workflows into scalable, robotic-enabled lab processes and ensure robust, autonomous operation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to define interfaces between digital orchestration and physical execution, driving reusable engineering patterns and operational readiness. This is an opportunity to shape end-to-end laboratory automation at scale in a mission-driven biotech context. Compensation / Benefits discretionary annual bonus benefits package collaborative culture
Responsibilities:
Own the end-to-end physical execution platform architecture, including robots, instruments, and unattended lab systems Translate scientific requirements into automatable unit operations, flows, and execution sequences Define the boundary between digital orchestration and physical execution; manage physical-platform interfaces and device requirements Lead selection, integration, commissioning, and verification of robotics, liquid handlers, schedulers, and control layers Engineer unattended execution capabilities and ensure maintainability, observability, and safe-stop behavior; support operational handoff Provide technical leadership, reviews, and mentoring; establish reusable engineering standards
Key requirements:
Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, computer science, life sciences, or related discipline Extensive experience in laboratory automation and systems integration Strong Python and API-integration skills; experience with instrument integration to schedulers, databases, LIMS/ELN, etc. End-to-end ownership of greenfield automation platforms from architecture to production deployment Proven technical leadership, ability to mentor and coordinate with engineers, vendors, and contractors leadership and mentoring cross-functional collaboration clear communication of tradeoffs Hamilton, Tecan, Agilent, HighRes, Opentrons (robotics/instrumentation) robotic arms and liquid handlers schedulers and control layers
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