Field Service Engineer (FSE I) | Laboratory Automation

Galatek Life Sciences; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Paid time off and company holidays

Professional training and development

Job summary

Galatek Life Sciences is seeking a Field Service Engineer (FSE I) to support the reliability, performance, and uptime of laboratory automation instruments deployed across pharmaceutical, biotech, and research customers. This early‑career role emphasizes hands-on installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of advanced automation systems.

This position requires regular communication with teams in China; proficiency in English and Mandarin Chinese is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical certification, military technical training, or equivalent hands-on experience in electronics, mechatronics, automation, mechanical systems, biomedical equipment, or a related technical field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline is welcomed but not required.
• Hands-on experience through employment, internships, apprenticeships, military service, laboratory work, technical coursework, or personal projects involving automation systems, robotics, electronics, instrumentation, or mechanical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Install, commission, maintain, and repair laboratory automation instruments at customer sites using established procedures and technical documentation.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance, upgrades, and retrofits to ensure reliable system performance.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, fluidic, and software issues using standard tools, diagnostic equipment, and service software; elevate complex problems when needed.
• Document all service activities, maintenance actions, and resolutions accurately in company systems.
• Provide basic customer training on instrument operation, routine maintenance, and best practices.
• Communicate field observations and customer feedback to Service, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Product teams to support continuous improvement.
• Maintain a professional, customer‑focused presence while working independently at customer locations.

Skills

Hands-on troubleshooting

Field service

Electronics repair

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree welcomed

Job description

Galatek is seeking a Field Service Engineer (FSE I) to support the reliability, performance, and uptime of our laboratory automation instruments deployed across pharmaceutical, biotech, and research customers. This early-career position focuses on hands‑on installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of advanced automation systems.

As a customer‑facing technical professional, you will support instrument health throughout its lifecycle while developing expertise in laboratory automation technologies. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated technician, recent graduate, military veteran, or early‑career professional looking to build technical skills in cutting‑edge laboratory environments.

This position requires regular communication and technical collaboration with teams based in China; therefore, professional working proficiency in both English and Mandarin Chinese is strongly preferred.

Location

United States; 40–60% travel

Preferred Residence

Boston strongly preferred

Reports to

Field Service Lead (US)

Key Responsibilities

• Install, commission, maintain, and repair laboratory automation instruments at customer sites using established procedures and technical documentation.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance, upgrades, and retrofits to ensure reliable system performance.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, fluidic, and software issues using standard tools, diagnostic equipment, and service software; elevate complex problems when needed.
• Document all service activities, maintenance actions, and resolutions accurately in company systems.
• Provide basic customer training on instrument operation, routine maintenance, and best practices.
• Communicate field observations and customer feedback to Service, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Product teams to support continuous improvement.
• Maintain a professional, customer‑focused presence while working independently at customer locations.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate degree, technical certification, military technical training, or equivalent hands‑on experience in electronics, mechatronics, automation, mechanical systems, biomedical equipment, or a related technical field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline is welcomed but not required.
• Hands‑on experience through employment, internships, apprenticeships, military service, laboratory work, technical coursework, or personal projects involving automation systems, robotics, electronics, instrumentation, or mechanical equipment.

Travel & Legal Requirements

• Willingness to travel 40–60% to customer sites, internal meetings, and training sessions
• Ability to travel internationally for onboarding and technical training, including approximately one month in Suzhou, China
• Valid passport and eligibility for required travel visas
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Galatek is not able to provide employment visa sponsorship for this position at this time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience servicing, assembling, installing, or maintaining automation equipment, laboratory instruments, robotics, manufacturing equipment, or related systems.
• Exposure to life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical, or research laboratory environments.
• Familiarity with regulated environments such as GLP, GxP, clinical, or manufacturing settings.

Why Galatek

Galatek is building next‑generation laboratory automation platforms designed for scale, reliability, and AI‑enabled workflows. As a Field Service Engineer (FSE I), you will receive world‑class training, hands‑on mentorship, and the opportunity to play a critical role in protecting customer trust and supporting Galatek’s rapid growth in North America.

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Professional training and development opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer

Galatek is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Galatek is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the hiring process and employment. Applicants who require accommodation are encouraged to contact Human Resources.