Associate Director / Director- Lab Automation

Deerfield Management Companies•New York, NY

2d•$150,000 - $220,000

About The Position

Overview Excelsior Sciences of New York is transforming small molecule therapeutic drug discovery with the use of modular chemistry, to make better medicines fast. Excelsior's modular approach leverages smart blocks as the foundation of drug design and synthesis. Our smart blocks and proprietary methodologies enable chemistry that machines can do, rather than building machines that attempt to do chemistry as it is practiced today. By coupling our automated synthesis and testing, we can reduce the design-make-test-analyze cycle to two weeks. This rapid generation of high-quality data allows us to fully leverage AI/ML to create closed learning loops and conduct multiparameter optimization, resulting in better medicines, fast. Excelsior's operations are fully U.S.-based, as our automated approach enables us to onshore integrated drug discovery. Title: Associate Director/Director - Lab Automation We are seeking a senior-level, hands-on lab automation expert with deep experience applying lab automation solutions to drug discovery. This role is ideal for an experienced technical leader who personally designs, builds, programs, and deploys automation systems, while also shaping automation strategy and mentoring scientists across the organization. You will play a critical role in the design, development, and implementation of automated systems and workflows supporting AI-driven small-molecule lead discovery. As part of a small, fast-moving startup, this is a highly hands-on position—you will regularly work directly with robotics, software, and laboratory instruments to improve efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility. While this role carries senior-level influence and ownership, it is not a purely managerial position; sustained technical contribution is a core expectation. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with teams in preclinical pharmacology, chemistry, and AI to automate, streamline, and optimize lead-discovery laboratory processes. You must bring an energetic, innovative approach to problem-solving and a strong willingness to personally implement and troubleshoot solutions at the bench and on automation platforms. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, flexible, and dynamic environment, are essential.

Requirements

BS or MS in the life sciences, or a related field, with 7-15 years of years of progressively responsible, hands-on experience applying lab automation in life science or drug discovery research.
Expert-level ability to program and deploy lab automation systems, including liquid handlers (e.g., Beckman, Hamilton, Tecan) and/or integrated robotic workcells (e.g., Automata, BioSero, HighRes BioSolutions).
Demonstrated experience translating manual chemistry protocols and/or biological assays into robust automated workflows.
Strong problem-solving skills with a proven ability to think creatively and practically in complex automation environments.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and adapt quickly in a rapidly changing startup environment.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a matrixed organization; comfortable wearing multiple hats and operating at both strategic and execution levels.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in modern programming languages (i.e. Python, JavaScript, C#, R)
Experience working with drug discovery LIMS/ELN systems.
Electro-Mechanical design/assembly skills and/or experience with CAD, 3D printing, etc

Responsibilities

Lead by doing: actively identify, assess, implement, and support automation solutions for small-molecule synthesis, sample characterization & purification, and high-throughput biological analysis.
Design, program, and optimize automation workflows, including developing new scripts and improving existing protocols to reduce human error, increase efficiency, and enhance data traceability.
Serve as a technical authority and hands-on problem solver for lab automation across the organization.
Provide biologists and chemists with direct training and ongoing technical support to ensure effective use of automated systems.
Deeply collaborate with biology, chemistry, and AI teams to align automation efforts with scientific and discovery goals.
Continuously identify, evaluate, and implement emerging automation technologies to address workflow bottlenecks and scalability needs.
Maintain the highest level of scientific rigor, operational excellence, and professionalism within the organization.