Automation Engineer, Laboratory Automation – Analytical Sciences

AstraZeneca • Santa Monica, CA

2d • $90,961 - $136,441 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to join the Laboratory Automation team within Analytical Sciences. This fully on-site role is based in Santa Monica, California, and reports to the Senior Automation Scientist. The position supports the development, implementation, testing, and optimization of automation solutions for analytical science workflows, including cell-based, immunological, and genomic assays.

The role focuses on hands-on support for converting laboratory processes into reliable, scalable, and data-enabled automated workflows. The Automation Engineer works with scientists, engineers, and cross-functional partners to build and test workcells, develop liquid-handling methods, support data automation, troubleshoot system performance, and document technical solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, biotechnology, or a related scientific or technical field, with at least 2 years of work experience with laboratory automation or automated liquid-handling systems.
• Experience developing workcell automation solutions and building and integrating automation workflows involving liquid handlers, laboratory instruments, robotics, or scheduling software.
• Experience with data automation and data handling associated with automated laboratory workflows.
• Familiarity with Hamilton VENUS, Dynamic Device Method Manager, HighRes Cellario, or comparable automation software.
• Basic programming or scripting experience in Python, C++, or a similar language.
• Strong troubleshooting, organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to proactively communicate project progress, issues, risks, dependencies, and support needs to the Senior Automation Scientist and project team.
• Ability to work hands-on in a fully on-site laboratory environment and manage assigned deliverables.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, biotechnology, or a related scientific or technical field.
• Hamilton experience.
• Experience supporting analytical laboratory workflows, such as cell-based, immunological, genomic, or flow cytometry assays.
• Experience with Hamilton VANTAGE, STAR, STARlet, or comparable liquid-handling platforms.
• Experience integrating laboratory automation with LIMS, instrument-control, scheduling, or data-management systems.
• Familiarity with barcode-based sample tracking, chain of identity, or chain of custody controls.
• Familiarity with the cell therapy CMC fast-paced environment and matrix, project-based team work.
• Hands-on experience with engineering design, prototyping, and machine-shop fabrication, including developing custom fixtures, components, and in-house laboratory automation solutions from concept through build and testing.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, development, and implementation of laboratory automation solutions for analytical workflows.
• Operate, program, test, and maintain automated liquid-handling platforms.
• Develop, modify, and optimize liquid-handling methods and scripts under the guidance of senior team members.
• Build automation modules and/or workcells, integrating liquid handlers, laboratory instruments, robotic devices, scheduling software, and supporting equipment.
• Integrate automated workflows into workcells and test communication between instruments, automation platforms, and scheduling systems.
• Help translate manual laboratory procedures into robust automated workflows.
• Conduct automation testing, method verification, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, software, liquid-handling, communication, and workflow issues.
• Support data automation and data engineering for automated workflow operation, including file management, data transfer, data parsing, result tracking, and basic data review.
• Maintain technical documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, test plans, user guides, and technical reports.
• Support training laboratory personnel on automation systems and workflows.
• Communicate project progress, issues, risks, dependencies, and support needs to the Senior Automation Scientist and project team.
• Support integration of automated instruments with workflow execution software, data repositories, and LIMS platforms where applicable.

Benefits

• Qualified retirement programs
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and leaves
• Health coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Eligibility for short-term incentive bonuses
• Equity-based awards for salaried roles

What This Job Offers

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