Senior Laboratory Automation Engineer

Natera • San Carlos, CA

5d • $125,900 - $157,400

About The Position

The Senior Automation Engineer will join Natera’s Platform group, a cross-functional team of scientists and engineers developing a scalable, robust platform for future clinical assays. The role designs and develops fully automated systems and workcells, helps translate manual molecular biology assays to liquid-handling systems, and integrates in-house and commercial software. The engineer will contribute to a clinical genomics assay platform and establish the architecture for fully automated laboratory systems.

Requirements

• BA/BS or MS in engineering or a similar field.
• At least 5 years of full-time experience in automation and systems development for the life sciences industry.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering complex automation projects into production.
• Ability to integrate instruments such as liquid handlers, plate readers, and plate-handling robotics.
• Software development experience, or at minimum familiarity with software development practices.
• Strong communication, organizational, record-keeping, planning, attention-to-detail, and time-management skills.
• Comfort working with internal teams and managing relationships with external contractors.
• Experience programming and operating liquid handlers, such as Hamilton, Beckman, or Tecan systems.
• Strong project management, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with development and/or verification and validation of a molecular screening or diagnostic product.
• Experience working with LIMS systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and build systems integrating software, automation, and biology into a robust, scalable clinical genomics assay platform.
• Work with scientists during assay prototyping to optimize assay chemistry and laboratory hardware.
• Collaborate with internal software development teams to integrate LIMS with automation software.
• Work with external vendors to design custom hardware solutions and integrate external software.
• Establish the foundation and architecture for fully automated laboratory systems at Natera.
• Write documentation and SOPs, and train engineers in developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting hardware and software systems.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Wellness and work-life benefits.
• Life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
• Free testing for employees and their immediate families.
• Fertility care benefits.
• Pregnancy and baby bonding leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee referral program.

What This Job Offers

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