Laboratory Automation Scientist (2nd Shift)

Eurofins PSS Insourcing Solutions; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Eurofins Professional Scientific Services (PSS) is seeking an Automation Scientist to drive overnight, automated liquid-handling operations at a San Diego client site. The role expands lab capacity by running systems beyond first shift, boosting throughput for time-sensitive requests.

The candidate will load, monitor, and maintain automated platforms overnight, ensuring quality control and seamless handoffs for the next workflow step in a high-throughput environment.

Qualifications

• BS in life sciences, chemistry, engineering or related field with 2–5 years of lab experience.
• Hands-on experience with automated liquid-handling systems (Biomek i7 or similar).
• Ability to work a dedicated second-shift schedule with minimal supervision.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and mechanical aptitude for robotic systems.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail and records accuracy.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Operate automated liquid-handling platforms to run overnight overflow requests and increase capacity.
• Execute scheduled overnight runs to deliver faster results and higher throughput.
• Load, setup and start additional robotic runs; perform system setup and cleanup.
• Perform QC on liquid handlers overnight using Artel across many instruments.
• Transport sample plates between destinations and initiate next runs as needed.
• Monitor robotic systems overnight and troubleshoot to minimize downtime.

Skills

Overnight shift readiness

Troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Record-keeping

Education

BS in life sciences or related field

Tools

Beckman Coulter Biomek i7

Job description

Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, Eurofins works with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic and labelling is accurate.

Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in agroscience Contract Research Organization services. Eurofins is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations.

In over just 30 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 55,000 staff across a decentralized and entrepreneurial network of 900 laboratories in over 50 countries. Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products.

Job Description

Eurofins Professional Scientific Services (PSS) is seeking an Automation Scientist to support high-throughput, automated liquid‑handling operations on a dedicated second‑shift schedule at our client site in San Diego. This role is designed to significantly expand laboratory capacity by running automated systems outside of standard first‑shift hours, enabling faster turnaround and roughly doubling throughput for a growing volume of complex requests.

The person in this role will independently operate, load, monitor, and maintain automated liquid‑handling platforms overnight, ensuring that overflow and time‑sensitive requests are processed, quality‑controlled, and staged for the next step in the workflow. This is a hands‑on, detail‑oriented position central to keeping a large, automation‑driven laboratory running around the clock.

Responsibilities

• Operate automated liquid‑handling platforms (e.g., Beckman Coulter Biomek i7) to run overnight “overflow” requests that cannot be accommodated during first shift, increasing capacity for these critical activities by at least 2x.
• Support the growing number and complexity of liquid‑handling requests by executing scheduled overnight runs to deliver results faster and expand daily throughput.
• Load, set up, and start additional robotic system runs as needed, and perform system set‑up and cleanup activities to reduce prep time and maximize productivity during first shift.
• Perform liquid‑handler quality control overnight using Artel across a large fleet of instruments (25+ including offline and online systems) to avoid delaying first‑shift processes, and carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance identified in the QC reports.
• Transport sample plates to their next destination — storage, another robotic system, or a downstream instrument process — and initiate those runs when needed.
• Monitor robotic systems running through the night and provide hands‑on intervention as required to troubleshoot and resolve issues, minimizing downtime and protecting sample integrity.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in a life sciences, chemistry, engineering, or related scientific/technical field with 2–5 years of relevant laboratory experience.
• Hands‑on experience operating automated liquid‑handling systems (Beckman Coulter Biomek i7 or comparable platforms).
• Ability to work a dedicated second‑shift schedule, independently and with limited on‑site supervision.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and mechanical aptitude for resolving robotic system issues as they arise.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accurate record‑keeping.
• Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience performing liquid‑handler QC with Artel or similar volume‑verification systems.
• Familiarity with routine maintenance and minor repair of automated laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience in a high‑throughput, automation‑driven laboratory environment.
• Working knowledge of laboratory information/scheduling systems used to manage automated workflows.

Additional Information

• This is a full‑time, second‑shift position; specific hours and days will be defined based on business needs.
• Weekend, overtime, and holiday work may be required based on business needs.
• Comprehensive full‑time benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid vacation and company holidays.
• Compensation Range: $57,000-$67,000/yr

Eurofins USA PSS Insourcing Solutions is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.