Data Systems Specialist - Laboratories

Onterris•Orange, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Onterris Laboratories is hiring a Laboratory Data Systems Specialist to bridge laboratory operations and technology solutions at its Orange and Anaheim, California sites. The specialist translates operational and client needs into practical tools, workflows, reporting solutions, automation opportunities, and system enhancements that improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and support laboratory growth. The position focuses primarily on CT LIMS, the Onterris Enterprise LIMS, and serves as the onsite technical systems advocate for both laboratories. The role promotes adoption and standardization, helps users make effective use of enterprise systems, and ensures operational requirements are documented, prioritized, and tracked through resolution. The role follows a standard-first approach: determine whether existing CT LIMS functionality or another established enterprise system can meet a need before considering custom work. The specialist is the local contact for routine CT LIMS configuration and user requirements and coordinates with the enterprise LIMS team, but does not develop or modify CT LIMS code. Local tools may be built using approved AI coding tools and the LIMS team’s GitHub repository, with version control, documentation, and user-testing records. This is not a traditional programming role; it emphasizes laboratory knowledge, clear specifications, testing, and practical problem solving. This is a full-time, permanent, 100% onsite position, Monday through Friday during normal business hours, working between the Orange and Anaheim locations. The specialist is dedicated to the two laboratories and reports to the Laboratory Director, with a dotted line to the Director of Enterprise LIMS. Day-to-day work is directed by the Orange Laboratory Director in coordination with the LIMS team. Compensation is listed as $30 to $40, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location.

Requirements

At least 3 years of laboratory experience and a strong understanding of laboratory operations and workflows.
A science degree or diploma, or equivalent experience.
Hands-on CT LIMS proficiency gained through operational use.
A track record of solving CT LIMS problems and helping colleagues use the system correctly.
Advanced Excel and data-management skills, including building documented and validated tools that others can support.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and the ability to translate business needs into technical requirements.
Comfort using AI-assisted tools to build and test solutions.
Excellent communication, precise technical writing, and organizational skills.
Working knowledge of data integrity in an accredited laboratory, such as TNI/NELAP or state accreditation, including control of spreadsheets used for calculations.
Credibility at the bench, ability to distinguish operational needs from customary practices, follow-through without close supervision, and willingness to raise risks early.
Experience leading or adopting a lasting process change, including relinquishing a preferred way of working in favor of a standard approach.

Nice To Haves

Onterris laboratory experience, ideally in a CT LIMS chemistry or data review role.
Genuine interest in computers and technology, including AI knowledge or use.
Experience with reporting tools, databases, automation platforms, version control such as GitHub, or laboratory systems.

Responsibilities

Partner with laboratory, project management, business development, and operational excellence teams to understand operational and client requirements.
Gather and document business requirements for reporting, automation, workflows, and system enhancements, working from priorities set by Laboratory Management.
Classify requests as Use As-Is, Work Around, or Build New, document the rationale, and challenge requests based on preference rather than need; the Laboratory Director and Director of Enterprise LIMS collaborate to reprioritize Work Around and Build New items.
Coordinate with the LIMS development team to communicate requirements, test solutions, and support implementation.
Submit Build New LIMS coding requests through the agreed prioritization process, supported by evidence and complete specifications.
Track site requests through completion, communicate status and barriers, and escalate unresolved or time-sensitive operational and client needs when standard prioritization does not meet business timelines.
Check whether requested EDDs or client reports already exist and gather complete specifications before requests reach the EDD developer, starting from standard CT LIMS output and documenting the rationale for any non-standard format.
Develop and maintain operational tools, spreadsheets, forms, trackers, reports, and workflow solutions, including validated Excel e-logs, digital bottle locations, bottle-preparation automation, and comparison tools using LIMS data extracts.
Build local solutions with approved AI coding tools and the LIMS team’s GitHub repository, maintaining version control, documentation, and user-testing records for support or handover.
Confirm with the LIMS team that no enterprise system or planned project already addresses a need before building a local tool; contribute requirements to enterprise projects rather than create parallel solutions.
Evaluate manual processes for simplification, digitization, and automation, standardizing and harmonizing with the Onterris standard before automating existing practices.
Develop, test, and validate workflows and worksheets before full automation or system integration, with validation approved by site QA.
Support reporting, workflow, automation, and data-management initiatives, including user acceptance testing, go-lives, and first production cycles.
Verify CT LIMS configuration against bench practice before release and, once trained, maintain routine configuration under program change control.
Create process documentation, user guides, and training materials; draft SOP and work-instruction changes for site QA approval; train users on changed workflows.
Monitor the effectiveness of implemented solutions and recommend improvements, feeding lessons learned back into the CT LIMS program.
Attend weekly CT LIMS program meetings and raise risks early with the Orange Laboratory Director and LIMS team.
Respond to urgent operational and client requests within the agreed priority process while balancing them against planned project work.