Lead Robotics Engineer, High-Throughput Research Automation

RXinsider LTD.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive healthcare

Well-being resources

Paid time off

Bonus and equity potential

Job summary

Moderna is seeking a senior robotics and automation leader to accelerate research workflows at our Cambridge, MA site. You will architect and integrate automated systems, mentor engineers, and partner with cross-functional scientists to translate complex lab needs into scalable platform solutions.

In this role, you will drive safety, reliability, and throughput of high‑throughput workflows, while shaping platform roadmaps and applying best practices in robotics, controls, and software for

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher with 2+ years or more of relevant experience in robotics, automation, systems, controls, software engineering, or a related discipline.
• Deep experience designing, integrating, and validating robotic systems, electronic controls, scientific instrumentation, and automation software.
• Strong programming skills in Python, C#, or similar languages for automation, instrument control, robotics integration, workflow orchestration, or data-driven platform development.
• Ability to translate complex laboratory and scientific workflows into scalable automated research systems with clear requirements, risk assessments, verification plans, and support models.
• Proven ability to solve complex technical problems using advanced analytical judgment, cross-functional influence, and technical leadership.
• This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical leadership for robotics and automation projects supporting research discovery, experimental enablement, and high-throughput scientific workflows.
• Contribute to system architecture across robotics, motion control, instrument control, scheduling, data flow, safety, and orchestration layers.
• Translate scientific and operational needs into system specifications, requirements, integration plans, risk assessments, and verification strategies.
• Design and develop automation software, electronic controls, and workflows that integrate robotics, instruments, sensors, and data systems.
• Lead or co-lead integration of robotic platforms, new instruments, technologies, and automation modules into extensible platform architectures.
• Identify and help manage technical risks, dependencies, and complexity while improving throughput, flexibility, reliability, reproducibility, and process efficiency.
• Serve as a technical expert and advisor for robotics, automation, controls, and systems integration within Research and partner scientific teams.
• Partner with Research, Delivery Science, Digital, Engineering, and scientific stakeholders to align platform capabilities with experimental goals, data needs, and evolving research priorities.
• Apply automation best practices, external technology awareness, and emerging robotics capabilities to improve experimental workflows, research productivity, and the platform roadmap.
• Communicate advanced technical concepts clearly, build consensus, and influence stakeholders to adopt effective technical approaches.
• Mentor engineers and scientists and contribute to standards and best practices in robotics engineering, automation software, controls, verification, and validation.

Skills

Robotics

Automation

Systems engineering

Python

C#

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Python

C#

Job description

Moderna is seeking a senior robotics and automation leader to accelerate research workflows at our Cambridge, MA site. You will architect and integrate automated systems, mentor engineers, and partner with cross-functional scientists to translate complex lab needs into scalable platform solutions.

In this role, you will drive safety, reliability, and throughput of high‑throughput workflows, while shaping platform roadmaps and applying best practices in robotics, controls, and software for