Laboratory Automation Scientist — Precision Workflows & Data Handoff

Johnson & Johnson; Spring House (PA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson in Spring House, PA seeks an Associate Laboratory Automation Scientist to support automated discovery workflows and assay execution. You will prepare samples, labware, reagents, run logs, and enable reliable instrument operations, with emphasis on data handoff and traceability.

Collaborating with Automation and Robotics Engineer, you will contribute to equipment readiness, safety, and documentation while optimizing workflows and supporting continuous improvement in the lab.

Responsibilities

• Design and Deploy: Supporting configuration, testing, and routine execution of liquid handlers, plate readers, plate sealers and peelers, washers, centrifuges, incubators, storage systems, barcode readers, labelers, and workcell peripherals.
• Assisting with automated methods for protein discovery, analytical, molecular, NGS, screening, cell-based, biochemical, and biophysical workflows.
• Supporting setup of samples, reagents, labware, consumables, waste containers, barcode labels, storage locations, and run documentation before scheduled automation runs.
• Participating in user acceptance tests, workflow demonstrations, and handover activities by completing defined scientific run steps and capturing observations.
• Performing first-line troubleshooting of barcode failures, consumable depletion, liquid handling exceptions, plate handling errors, instrument alarms, missing data files, failed transfers, and interrupted workflows.
• Documenting exception events, manual interventions, sample rescue steps, plate quarantine actions, run status changes, and user observations accurately.
• Escalating assay, method, instrument, data, sample identity, or consumable issues through defined pathways.
• Supporting basic run readiness and post-run checks, including sample location confirmation, output file presence, instrument status, waste state, and consumable reconciliation.
• Supporting capture of sample identity, labware identity, reagent identity, method version, run context, instrument output, file transfer status, and user comments needed for downstream analysis.
• Following procedures for barcode scanning, label printing, ELN or LIMS entries, run log maintenance, and file transfer checks where applicable.
• Applying biosafety, contamination control, waste handling, laboratory safety, and data integrity expectations during automated workflow execution.
• Building practical understanding of upstream and downstream workcell dependencies so outputs from one platform are prepared correctly for the next.
• Support technology evaluations, proof-of-concept studies, workflow readiness assessments, user demonstrations, and vendor evaluations for future automation capabilities.
• Contribute to laboratory automation standards, workflow templates, data handoff expectations, training materials, and playbook

Job description

Johnson & Johnson in Spring House, PA seeks an Associate Laboratory Automation Scientist to support automated discovery workflows and assay execution. You will prepare samples, labware, reagents, run logs, and enable reliable instrument operations, with emphasis on data handoff and traceability.

Collaborating with Automation and Robotics Engineer, you will contribute to equipment readiness, safety, and documentation while optimizing workflows and supporting continuous improvement in the lab.