Automation Engineer - Cell Line Development (Contract)

Hydrogen Group; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 61,992,000 - 75,768,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k plan

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company in Emeryville is looking for an Automation Engineer / Senior Research Associate to support laboratory automation for cell line development. The role involves developing and optimizing automated workflows to enhance efficiency and data quality. Candidates should have a relevant degree and 2-4+ years of industry experience. This contract position offers a competitive hourly rate and an opportunity for long-term employment based on performance. Benefits include health insurance and a 401k plan.

Qualifications

• 2-4+ years of experience in a related industry.
• Practical experience in CLD or similar cell-based settings.
• Ability to develop and validate automation protocols.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine automated protocols for workflows.
• Improve efficiency and reduce variability in experiments.
• Integrate laboratory instruments into automation systems.
• Perform maintenance and troubleshoot automation setups.
• Collaborate with scientists to use automation tools.

Skills

Automated laboratory workflows

Communication skills

Collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biological Sciences or Engineering

Tools

Automation tools

Job description

Automation Engineer / Senior Research Associate – Cell Line Development (Contract)

Hourly rate: $45-55/hr (~$90-110K/year). The salary offer will be based on a variety of factors, including experience, qualifications, internal equity etc.

A Bay Area-based biotechnology company is seeking an Automation Engineer or Senior Research Associate to support automated, plate-based workflows within a cell line development (CLD) group. This role will focus on building, optimizing, and maintaining laboratory automation to improve consistency, efficiency, and data quality across routine experimental workflows.

This is a hands‑on, on‑site contract role with the potential to transition into a longer‑term opportunity based on business needs and performance. As a w2 contract worker you are eligible to a benefits package including health/dental/vision/life insurance, a 401k vehicle and more.

About the Company: This organization operates at the intersection of biology and engineering, developing advanced technologies to support modern biological research and development. The team is highly collaborative, fast‑moving, and focused on building scalable solutions that enable high‑quality experimental execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and refine automated protocols supporting CLD and plate-based workflows
• Improve execution efficiency while reducing variability and manual intervention
• Support integration of peripheral laboratory instruments into automated workflows
• Perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting to ensure reliable system performance
• Partner closely with scientists to enable safe, confident use of automation tools
• Contribute to continuous improvement of lab processes and automation capabilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biological Sciences, Engineering, or a related field with 2-4+ years of industry experience
• Practical experience supporting automated laboratory workflows in a CLD or related cell‑based setting
• Ability to develop, test, and validate automation protocols
• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating across technical teams
• Interest in working within a growing biotechnology environment

Please apply with an up-to-date copy of your resume to be considered.

Seniority level

Associate

Employment type

Contract

Job function

Research, Science, and Engineering

Industries

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Biotechnology Research