Associate Laboratory Automation Scientist

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine • Spring House, PA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Laboratory Automation Scientist supports the scientific execution layer of automated discovery workflows. The role helps prepare samples, labware, reagents, consumables, worklists, run logs, and files so automated systems can complete assay and analytical methods reliably. The Associate Scientist will support deployment, operation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of laboratory automation systems used in therapeutic discovery and analytical workflows, with emphasis on scientific workflow execution, sample traceability, consumable readiness, metadata capture, documentation rigor, and first-line run recovery under guidance. This role is complementary to the Automation and Robotics Engineer. While the scientist focuses on assay context, sample identity, method execution, and data handoff; the engineer focuses on the physical transfer, equipment readiness, basic machine behavior, and safety access.

Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Laboratory Automation, Robotics, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and at least 1 year of relevant experience is required.
• Demonstrated understanding of laboratory workflows, sample handling, plate/tube formats, assay execution, consumable preparation, run documentation, and data capture.
• Hands-on or practical experience with automated liquid handlers or integrated laboratory automation equipment appropriate to the level of the role.
• Ability to translate scientific workflows into executable automated methods, worklists, run states, exception pathways, and user-facing procedures.
• Working knowledge of sample identity, labware identity, reagent identity, consumable state, barcode traceability, metadata capture, and downstream data requirements.
• Ability to collaborate with scientists, automation engineers, IT, data science, AI, EHS, facilities, vendors, and laboratory operations.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant experience may include academic research, internships, co-ops, or early industry experience with laboratory automation, biological assays, analytical workflows, automated instruments, or sample tracking is preferred.
• Exposure to Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman, Agilent, Thermo Fisher, HighRes, Biosero, Azenta, Waters, ELN, LIMS, barcode tracking, automated data capture, or basic scripting.
• Experience with protein, cell-based, molecular, NGS, screening, biochemical, biophysical, or analytical assays.
• Exposure to regulated or quality driven R&D, GLP, GCLP, GMP-adjacent, or biosafety-controlled laboratory environments.

Responsibilities

• Supporting configuration, testing, and routine execution of liquid handlers, plate readers, plate sealers and peelers, washers, centrifuges, incubators, storage systems, barcode readers, labelers, and workcell peripherals.
• Assisting with automated methods for protein discovery, analytical, molecular, NGS, screening, cell-based, biochemical, and biophysical workflows.
• Supporting setup of samples, reagents, labware, consumables, waste containers, barcode labels, storage locations, and run documentation before scheduled automation runs.
• Participating in user acceptance tests, workflow demonstrations, and handover activities by completing defined scientific run steps and capturing observations.
• Performing first-line troubleshooting of barcode failures, consumable depletion, liquid handling exceptions, plate handling errors, instrument alarms, missing data files, failed transfers, and interrupted workflows.
• Documenting exception events, manual interventions, sample rescue steps, plate quarantine actions, run status changes, and user observations accurately.
• Escalating assay, method, instrument, data, sample identity, or consumable issues through defined pathways.
• Supporting basic run readiness and post-run checks, including sample location confirmation, output file presence, instrument status, waste state, and consumable reconciliation.
• Supporting capture of sample identity, labware identity, reagent identity, method version, run context, instrument output, file transfer status, and user comments needed for downstream analysis.
• Following procedures for barcode scanning, label printing, ELN or LIMS entries, run log maintenance, and file transfer checks where applicable.
• Applying biosafety, contamination control, waste handling, laboratory safety, and data integrity expectations during automated workflow execution.
• Building practical understanding of upstream and downstream workcell dependencies so outputs from one platform are prepared correctly for the next.
• Support technology evaluations, proof-of-concept studies, workflow readiness assessments, user demonstrations, and vendor evaluations for future automation capabilities.
• Contribute to laboratory automation standards, workflow templates, data handoff expectations, training materials, and playbooks.
• Support audit, inspection, or quality documentation requests where automated scientific workflows intersect with regulated or quality driven environments.
• Participate in lessons learned and continuous improvement activities to improve future automation delivery and adoption.

Benefits

• Inclusive work environment
• Respect for diversity and dignity
• Recognition of merit

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level