Laboratory Automation Specialist

BEPC Inc. - Business Excellence Professional Consulting; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 76,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

BEPC Inc. seeks a Laboratory Automation Specialist to join our CiS Technologies team at the South San Francisco, CA site. You will help automate CIVM cultures, integrate LIMS data, and collaborate with scientists, data engineers, and vendors to scale complex cell culture workflows.

The role involves designing automated protocols, maintaining equipment, and documenting processes while coordinating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment. Onsite work with potential weekend support.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in biomedical engineering or related field with relevant experience.
• Experience automating cell culture processes at pharma/biotech or CROs.
• Experience programming and integrating automation instrumentation and LIMS data.
• Ability to translate manual workflows into scalable automated protocols.

Responsibilities

• Pioneer automation of CIVM cultures including organoids and iPSC models.
• Translate manual processes into automated workflows with testing and validation.
• Design, develop, operate, and maintain automated cell culture and assay systems.
• Qualify automated CIVM cultures and perform QC on automation platforms.

Skills

Python

C#

Automation

LIMS integration

Cell culture automation

Education

PhD or Master’s in biomedical/related field

Tools

Hamilton

Biomek

Opentron

BioTek washers

Job description

BEPC is actively looking for Laboratory Automation Specialist in the South San Francisco, CA area!

W2 Contract – Approximately 12 months with possible extensions!

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

Pay Rate: $ 52.17 – $ 55.17 /hour - Determined based on experience (Paid Weekly)

Work Model: Onsite – Laboratory-Based - Flexible schedule; specific working hours not available. May require occasional weekend or holiday work as needed.

Note: This is a W2 only role — C2C, C2H will not be considered

Summary of the Role:

BEPC is seeking a highly motivated Laboratory Automation Specialist to join our client’s site in South San Francisco, CA. This role will support the Complex in vitro Systems (CiS) Laboratory, where complex in vitro models (CIVMs) are designed, developed, and characterized to support Development Sciences, Research, and Translational Medicine departments.

The individual will work within a cross-functional team dedicated to providing technical expertise in automating the scaling, processing, and assays of CIVMs. Current models include 3D multicellular systems consisting of organoids and spheroids, with aspirations to automate microfluidic organ-on-chip technologies. These assays support discovery and preclinical development portfolios across multiple applications, including safety, disposition, biomarker development, and pharmacodynamic responses.

As part of the CiS Technologies team, the Automation Specialist will help establish, qualify, execute, and maintain innovative technologies and platforms while driving process and data integration and advancing the operational capabilities of automation and liquid handling systems.

The ideal candidate will design, develop, operate, and maintain automated protocols and systems for complex cell culture and assay process scale-up. This includes collaborating with automation specialists, biologists, external vendors, data engineers, and software developers to implement automation best practices, maintain instrumentation, perform quality control, and integrate process metadata tracking with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work in a dynamic and innovative team to pioneer the automation of CIVM cultures, including organoids, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models, and associated assays.
• Collaborate with scientists to translate manual cell culture and assay experimental processes into automated workflows, including programming, testing, qualification, and execution.
• Design, develop, operate, and maintain automated protocols and systems for complex cell culture and assay process scale-up.
• Qualify and execute automated CIVM cultures and assays using integrated liquid handling systems.
• Perform regular maintenance tasks, dry tests, and quality control procedures to ensure the readiness, sterility, and reliability of automation platforms and equipment.
• Drive the integration of data management, analysis pipelines, and data automation by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external vendors, data engineers, and software developers to implement automation best practices and proper process metadata tracking with LIMS integration.
• Train and support team members in formalizing Python development practices, including version control, collaborative workflows, and AI tool integration, with a focus on biological applications.
• Troubleshoot automation systems and workflows while prioritizing activities in a multi-user and multi-application environment.
• Coordinate with external vendors and service providers regarding hardware and software modifications, driver requests, and system maintenance.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation for automation systems, procedures, troubleshooting guides, and relevant processes using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure knowledge transfer and system maintainability.
• Document, report, and share automation capabilities with colleagues within and outside the group through presentations, open-door sessions, and laboratory tours.
• Work in a laboratory environment that may require extended periods of sitting or standing, repetitive tasks such as cell culture, pipetting, and labeling tubes, and techniques requiring a high degree of manual dexterity and physical activity.
• Maintain flexibility regarding work schedules, including potential variations in working hours and occasional weekend or holiday work as needed.
• Work with potentially hazardous materials, including chemotherapeutics, biological hazards, and human primary cells.

Qualifications:

• PhD with 0–3 years of experience or Master's degree with 4–6 years of experience in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomaterials, immunology, pharmacology, cellular or molecular biology, toxicology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field.
• Experience automating cell culture processes in academia, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, or contract research organizations.
• Demonstrated track record of translating hands-on cell culture experiments developed by individual scientists into automation-ready protocols that can run repeatedly at scale.
• Experience operating, programming, and integrating automation instrumentation and peripherals, including liquid handling platforms (e.g., Hamilton, Biomek, Opentron, BioTek washers), automated incubators, centrifuges, analyzers, and imagers.
• Experience working with Python and/or C#, with the ability to systematically solve challenges using analytical and technical skills.
• Experience integrating instrument and process quality control (QC) data with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Experience troubleshooting automation systems and workflows and prioritizing tasks in a multi-user and multi-application environment.
• Experience coordinating with external vendors and service providers regarding hardware/software modifications, driver requests, and system maintenance.
• Ability to maintain comprehensive technical documentation for automation systems, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Strong communication skills and ability to interact efficiently with scientists from different backgrounds and with varying levels of automation experience.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to interact professionally and present data to all levels of staff and external partners.
• Passion for collaborating within cross-functional teams in a multicultural environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with automation and/or implementation of complex in vitro models (CIVMs).
• Experience with automation scheduling software, such as GreenButtonGo, Thermo Momentum, or HiRes Cellario (highly preferred).
• Hands‑on experience with several cellular assays, including cell viability, flow cytometry, gene expression analysis, high‑content screening, 3D imaging analysis, biomarker quantification, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER).
• Hands‑on experience with primary cell cultures in 3D, including organoids, layered cultures, or spheroid models.

About BEPC

BEPC Inc., founded in 2007, is a 100% employee‑owned company providing top‑tier consulting and staffing solutions across industries like technology, engineering, manufacturing, and project management. At BEPC, we are driven by innovation and a commitment to excellence. We take pride in fostering a collaborative and innovative environment where our team members thrive. With competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, BEPC is dedicated to supporting our employees' personal and professional growth.