Automation Engineer (I, II, III)

Cellares; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans

401(k) Matching

Free EV Charging

Onsite lunches

Stock options

Job summary

Cellares, situated in South San Francisco, is seeking an Automation Engineer to enhance lab automation systems for high-throughput QC testing. The role focuses on optimizing workflows and involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams to advance cell therapy manufacturing. This position offers a competitive salary and unique perks.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience designing and implementing laboratory automation systems.
• Experience programming and optimizing liquid handling methods.
• Familiar with genomic and cell-based assays.

Responsibilities

• Transfer and validate manual to automated QC workflow steps.
• Develop, validate, and optimize automated methods for sample preparation.
• Analyze automation workflows to identify bottlenecks.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's or higher degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Biotechnology, or a related field

Tools

Biosero’s Green Button Go software

LIMS

Laboratory analytical instruments

Programming languages (Python, C#)

Job description

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to contribute to the development, implementation, and optimization of innovative lab automation systems. The role involves enabling scalable and robust end-to-end automated workflows for high-throughput cell therapy manufacturing QC testing.

The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and managing liquid handling methods, as well as supporting the integration of specified off-the-shelf instruments and custom hardware within a fully automated workcell. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, the hire will contribute to iterating on various aspects of system designs and developing strategies for workflow optimization. Additionally, the role involves leading the development and testing of specific verification and validation plans for our automation systems

Candidates should enjoy working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and be prepared to tackle a broad selection of challenges as the company grows.

Responsibilities

• Transfer and validated manual to automated QC workflow steps
• Develop, validate, and optimize automated methods for sample preparation, analysis, and data collection
• Design and execute validation experiments to optimize assay and workflow parameters
• Conduct verification and validation testing of integrated systems to verify proper functionality and performance
• Analyze automation workflows to identify bottlenecks and areas for optimization
• Implement troubleshooting methodologies to identify and resolve complex assay method issues

Requirements

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Biotechnology, or a related field
• 4+ years of experience designing, implementing, and maintaining laboratory automation systems
• Experience programming and optimizing liquid handling methods
• Experience developing and implementing integrated automation solutions using Biosero’s Green Button Go software
• Experience with laboratory analytical instruments and automated systems
• Experience integrating and managing assay results with LIMS
• Familiar with flow cytometry, genomic, and cell-based assays
• Strong technical writing skills and experience authoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), documentation, and training materials
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C#
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues
• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Attention to detail and the ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Creative, self-motivated, eager to take on a wide variety of tasks and grow with the evolving technology
• Self-awareness, integrity, authenticity, and a growth mindset

$90,000 - $210,000 a year Cellares total compensation package contains competitive base salaries, highly subsidized Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans, 401(k) Matching, Free EV Charging, Onsite lunches, and Stock options. All displayed pay ranges are approximate, negotiable, and location dependent.

This is Cellares

Cellares is the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) and takes an Industry 4.0 approach to mass manufacturing the living drugs of the 21st century. The company is both developing and operating integrated technologies for cell therapy manufacturing to accelerate access to life-saving cell therapies. The company’s Cell Shuttle integrates all the technologies required for the entire manufacturing process in a flexible and high-throughput platform that delivers true walk-away, end-to-end automation. Cell Shuttles will be deployed in Cellares’ Smart Factories around the world to meet total patient demand for cell therapies at global scale. Partnering with Cellares enables academics, biotechs, and pharma companies to accelerate drug development and scale out manufacturing, lower process failure rates, lower manufacturing costs, and meet global patient demand.

The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California with its commercial-scale IDMO Smart Factory in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The company is backed by world-class investors and has raised over $355 million in financing.

Leveling will be based on overall experience, education, and demonstration of knowledge throughout the interview process.