Lab Automation Engineer (Contractor)

Xairatherapeutics; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 88,166 - 101,942; Full time

Job summary

Xaira Therapeutics in South San Francisco, CA is seeking a Lab Automation Engineer Contractor to program, operate, and maintain liquid handling platforms and integrated workcells supporting protein production, analytical, and NGS workflows.

This hands-on role ensures automated systems run reliably, translates protocols into automated methods, troubleshoots equipment, performs routine maintenance, and coordinates service with manufacturers—empowering scientists and operators across the biotech

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, biotech, or related field.
• 1+ year experience with automated liquid handling systems in biotech/pharma/life sciences.
• Experience programming or troubleshooting automated liquid handlers.
• Basic programming or scripting in Python, C#, or similar for lab automation.
• Experience maintaining laboratory instruments and coordinating with manufacturers.
• Knowledge of molecular biology techniques (PCR, gel, plate-reader, HPLC).
• Strong troubleshooting across hardware, software, labware, reagents, and procedures.
• Ability to document issues and maintenance clearly and consistently.
• Attention to detail, organization, and safe/lab-compliant operations.
• Effective communication across scientific, engineering, operational, and vendor teams.

Responsibilities

• Program, modify, test, and operate liquid handling methods including preparing labware, reagents, and monitoring runs.
• Maintain automation systems with preventive maintenance, calibration checks, and light repairs; coordinate with manufacturers.
• Operate integrated automation systems and maintain SOPs, troubleshooting guides, and maintenance records; support data transfer to LIMS/ELN and training of staff.

Skills

Lab automation

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Hamilton liquid handlers

Cellario

Green Button Go

Momentum

Job description

About Xaira Therapeutics

Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.

About the Role

We are seeking a Lab Automation Engineer Contractor to program, operate, and maintain liquid handling platforms and integrated workcells supporting protein production, analytical, and next-generation sequencing workflows.

This hands-on role is responsible for keeping laboratory automation systems running reliably. You will support daily operations, translate established protocols into automated methods, troubleshoot equipment and workflows, perform routine instrument maintenance, and coordinate service with manufacturers.

We are looking for a dependable, hands-on team member who takes ownership of laboratory automation operations. The ideal candidate combines practical liquid-handling experience with strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

You will program, modify, test, and operate liquid handling methods. This includes preparing labware and reagents, monitoring automated runs, documenting deviations, and supporting recovery from workflow interruptions.

You will help keep laboratory instruments and integrated workcells operational through routine and preventive maintenance, calibration checks, light repairs, and structured troubleshooting. You will also coordinate service and repair with manufacturers when needed.

You will operate integrated automation systems, including liquid handlers, plate storage and transport systems, analytical instruments, and scheduling software. You will maintain SOPs, troubleshooting guides, maintenance records, and operating instructions.

You will also support sample tracking, run documentation, and data transfer to LIMS, ELN, and downstream systems, while training and supporting scientists and operators who use the automation equipment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• At least 1 year of industry experience working with automated liquid handling systems in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or life sciences.
• Demonstrated experience programming and troubleshooting automated liquid handlers.
• Basic programming or scripting experience in Python, C#, or another language used for laboratory automation and instrument integration.
• Experience maintaining or servicing laboratory instruments, including preventive maintenance, basic calibration, light repair, and coordination with equipment manufacturers.
• Working knowledge of molecular biology and analytical laboratory techniques, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, plate-reader assays, or HPLC.
• Strongtroubleshooting skills across laboratory hardware, software, labware, reagents, and operating procedures.
• Ability to document technical issues, maintenance activities, and workflow deviations clearly and consistently.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and commitment to safe and reliable laboratory operations.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills across scientific, engineering, operational, and vendor teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Hamilton liquid handlers, including method development, liquid classes, deck configuration, error recovery, and routine maintenance.
• Experience operating integrated automation workcells and orchestration platforms such as Cellario, Green Button Go, Momentum, or similar schedulers.
• Familiarity with laboratory informatics systems such as LIMS and ELN, including sample tracking, metadata capture, result transfer, and workflow traceability.
• Experience connecting laboratory instruments or automation systems through device drivers, APIs, middleware, serial or network communication, or IoT integration frameworks.
• Experience supporting protein production, purification, analytical, or NGS workflows in a research or production environment.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and fabrication tools, including CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting, for developing instrument fixtures, labware adapters, brackets, and other custom automation components.
• Experience writing SOPs, maintenance procedures, troubleshooting guides, and training materials.

What We Offer

You will work with cutting-edge laboratory automation systems and collaborate with leading scientists and engineers on high-impact protein production, analytical, and NGS workflows. The role offers broad hands-on experience across method development, instrument service, workcell operations, and system integration, with the opportunity to improve the reliability and scale of critical research workflows.

Compensation

Employment Type: Contract

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $64-$74 hourly; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.

Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.