Lab Automation Engineer — Robotics & Digital Twins

Axle; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

401K match up to 5%

Educational Benefits for Career Growth

Employee Referral Bonus

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

Axle is seeking a Laboratory Automation Engineer to program and maintain autonomous laboratory robots in Bethesda, building software layers and digital twins to turn hardware into orchestrated workflows. You will work with IDSS data engineers and biologists to plan, test, and validate protocols before running on hardware.

Experience in lab robotics, Python, and ROS 2 is valued. The role requires collaboration, safety compliance, and the ability to obtain NIH/HHS clearance if needed.

Qualifications

• A degree in engineering, computer science, robotics, or related science; equivalent practical experience accepted.
• Several years of hands-on automation in lab robotics or similar.
• Experience with software that drives lab robots: APIs, SDKs, drivers.
• Experience with biology lab robotics and biosafety practices.
• Strong Python skills, including asynchronous code and REST APIs.
• Experience with Git, testing, and code review; Docker for deploying software.
• Ability to read a protocol and translate to automated workflow.
• Strong communication; ability to train staff.
• NIH/HHS security clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Robot programming and control for BAB400 and other robots.
• Deploy MADSci modules and workcells.
• Translate protocols into automated workflows with timing and resources.
• Connect robot outputs to data pipelines and LIMS.
• Develop tests, logging, and monitoring; troubleshoot faults.
• Implement interlocks and safe-state behavior.
• Evaluate robots and frameworks; prepare assessments.
• Train staff and write SOPs.

Skills

Python

REST APIs

Docker

Git

ROS 2

Kubernetes

ML basics

Lab robotics

Protocol translation

Education

Engineering degree

Robotics/CS

Tools

MADSci

PyLabRobot

Opentrons

NVIDIA Isaac Sim

Gazebo

MoveIt

Job description

Axle is seeking a Laboratory Automation Engineer to program and maintain autonomous laboratory robots in Bethesda, building software layers and digital twins to turn hardware into orchestrated workflows. You will work with IDSS data engineers and biologists to plan, test, and validate protocols before running on hardware.

Experience in lab robotics, Python, and ROS 2 is valued. The role requires collaboration, safety compliance, and the ability to obtain NIH/HHS clearance if needed.