Manager, Automation Service Engineering

Freenome • Brisbane, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

You will play a key role in learning, improving, and organizing the culture of efficiency within the clinical laboratory and broader operation. You will be directly responsible to provide world-class Laboratory Equipment Lifecycle Management service and support, while contributing to efficient processes, procedures, and best practices. You will have the opportunity to join a fast-growing automation service group, to make an immediate impact on the team’s dynamic and culture.
As the Manager, Automation Service Engineering, you will lead a team responsible for ensuring our laboratory equipment is always operating at peak performance. This role is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing company at the forefront of cancer diagnostics and make a significant impact on our operational efficiency and culture.
You will be a key player in shaping and scaling our equipment lifecycle management processes, from installation and qualification to maintenance and decommissioning. You'll ensure all procedures meet strict regulatory requirements (CLIA/CAP, FDA, IVD) and support the development of our high-throughput, fully automated laboratory systems.
The role reports to the Director, Automation Service Engineering. This role will be an Onsite role.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in engineering or a scientific discipline, with at least 7 years of related industry experience or equivalent.
• A minimum of 7 years of combined experience supporting and sustaining laboratory equipment in a regulated production setting.
• Proven ability to successfully lead, coach, and mentor engineering teams.
• Strong hands-on experience with troubleshooting and maintaining complex lab automation, especially liquid handling systems.
• Support training program for automation service engineers with the diverse scientific and technical skills required to support, troubleshoot and improve complex automation systems in a regulated environment.
• Administrator for Freenome’s asset management software program, responsible for overseeing the asset management system.
• Knowledge of IT networking and automation systems infrastructure to support complex equipment integration.

Nice To Haves

• Technical Expertise
• Accelerates integration; leads to more robust, scalable, and maintainable systems from the ground up.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving
• Transforms the support model from reactive to predictive; significantly reduces unexpected downtime and failure rates.
• Communication
• Produce clear, concise, and detailed technical documentation, reports, and presentations.
• Automation laboratory equipment IT infrastructure operations
• Integrating technology and robotics with software systems to streamline lab workflows, enhance efficiency, and minimize manual intervention.
• Serve as Tier 1/2 support for infrastructure issues, troubleshooting OS (Windows/Mac), network connectivity, and specialized software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Mentor: Guide and develop a team of automation service engineers, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across R&D/SciOps and Clinical Laboratories.
• Manage Equipment Lifecycles: Oversee the full lifecycle of laboratory equipment, including installation (IQ/OQ/PQ), maintenance, calibration, and decommissioning, ensuring all processes are compliant and efficient.
• Ensure Compliance: Work closely with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance to develop and enforce policies that meet all regulatory standards.
• Troubleshoot and Support: Provide hands-on technical expertise to resolve equipment-related issues, including after-hours and weekend support as needed.
• Manage Projects: Lead medium-scale projects, from planning to execution, to support the scaling of our laboratory operations.
• Drive Process Improvement: Implement changes to enhance equipment performance and streamline workflows, collaborating with lab teams to gather feedback and requirements.
• Continuous Improvement Projects: Sets strategic direction, reviews progress, provides guidance, and priorities to implement process optimization to improve efficiency, throughput and robustness.
• Equipment Reliability/Sustainment: Focus on extended equipment lifespan through robust maintenance and repair programs to consistently produce accurate and reproducible results.

What This Job Offers

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