Senior Automation Engineer

BlackCube Labs; Billerica (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement contributions

Job summary

BlackCube Labs seeks an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to lead design, development, and operation of automated laboratory systems within Drug Discovery Automation. You will translate manual processes into scalable, data-rich workflows and integrate liquid handlers, robotic arms, instruments, and imaging technologies while driving reliability and throughput.

You will report to the Head of Automation and Lab Systems and collaborate with scientists, software and data teams, and external

Qualifications

• 7+ years in laboratory automation, analytical development, robotics, or related field.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and operating automated lab systems.
• Experience integrating lab instruments and imaging into automated workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement automated workcells with liquid handlers, robots, instruments, and imaging systems.
• Translate analytical methods into robust automated workflows to improve throughput and data quality.
• Collaborate with scientists to automate sample prep, assays, and data generation workflows.
• Develop and optimize workflows using instrument-control software and scheduling/orchestration tools.
• Lead automation projects from requirements through deployment and training.

Skills

Lab automation design

Low-level software development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering / Automation / Robotics / Bioengineering

Tools

Liquid handling systems

Robotic arms

Imaging systems

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Your Role

As our Senior Automation Engineer, you will be part of the Drug Discovery Automation group responsible for leading the design, development, integration, and operation of automated laboratory systems that accelerate analytical development, bioprocessing, and cell therapy workflows. The ideal candidate will have deep hands‑on expertise in laboratory automation: the ability to translate manual laboratory processes into robust, scalable, and data‑rich automated workflows; integrate liquid handlers, robotic arms, analytical instruments, and imaging technologies; and continuously improve system throughput, reliability, and user experience.

Reporting to the Head of Automation and Lab Systems, you will collaborate closely with scientists, analytical development teams, software and data specialists, and external technology partners to ensure automated workflows are reliable, efficient, well documented, and fit for purpose. You will serve as a technical subject matter expert for automation platforms and laboratory digitization initiatives, translating scientific and operational requirements into executable automation solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, integrate, test, and operate automated workcells incorporating liquid handlers, robotic arms, analytical instruments, microscope imaging systems, and other laboratory technologies.
• Translate analytical methods and laboratory workflows into robust, repeatable, and automation‑compatible protocols that improve throughput, efficiency, consistency, and data quality.
• Collaborate with scientists and analytical development teams to automate sample preparation, assay execution, cell monitoring, quality control, and results‑generation workflows.
• Develop and optimize automated workflows using scheduling, orchestration, and instrument‑control software; troubleshoot equipment, software, and process issues to maintain reliable day‑to‑day operation.
• Lead automation projects from requirements definition and workflow design through implementation, testing, deployment, user training, and ongoing improvement.
• Promote data integrity, traceability, and consistent documentation across automation, analytical, and laboratory information systems.
• Partner with scientists to evaluate existing workflows, identify root causes of underused or inefficient automation, and implement corrective and preventative improvements.
• Use structured experimentation and design‑of‑experiment approaches to optimize methods, improve throughput, and support successful technology transfer into routine results generation.
• Contribute to the evaluation and adoption of new automation technologies, software tools, and laboratory platforms that replace manual operations and improve process consistency.
• Author and maintain technical development procedures, standard operating procedures, user guides, validation and test documentation, and troubleshooting materials for automated workflows and platforms.
• Train and support scientists, laboratory users, and new automation team members in the operation of automation systems, software platforms, and associated laboratory processes.
• Establish documentation and knowledge‑transfer practices that improve team onboarding and ensure continuity of automation operations.

Who You Are: Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics, Bioengineering, Laboratory Science, or a closely related field; advanced education or equivalent practical experience is a plus.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in laboratory automation, analytical development, robotics, bioprocessing, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, or a related technical environment.
• Strong hands‑on experience designing, building, testing, commissioning, and operating automated laboratory systems.
• Experience integrating liquid handlers, robotic arms, analytical instruments, imaging systems, or other laboratory devices into coordinated workflows.
• Strong low‑level control software development (C#, Python, etc).
• Proficiency with laboratory automation, scheduling, orchestration, or instrument‑control software; experience with platforms such as Hamilton liquid handling software, Biosero Orchestrator, or comparable systems is highly relevant.
• Experience troubleshooting complex systems across hardware, software, instrumentation, laboratory methods, and user procedures.
• Experience developing technical procedures, SOPs, training materials, and other documentation required to support laboratory automation operations.
• Proven ability to work effectively in cross‑functional teams with scientists, laboratory operations, software or data specialists, and external technology providers.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience building integrated automated workcells from the ground up, including liquid handlers, robotic arms, analytical devices, and associated software platforms.
• Experience supporting automation in cell therapy, bioprocessing, analytical development, pharmaceutical development, or another regulated or quality‑sensitive laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with cloud‑based laboratory scheduling, modular workflow design, laboratory orchestration, electronic laboratory notebooks, inventory management, and laboratory information systems.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, Ansys, Microsoft Excel, or comparable engineering and productivity tools.
• Self‑driven, results‑oriented leader with proven collaborative working style.

Location: This is an onsite role based in our Billerica, MA facility requiring and onsite weekly presence.

Pay Range: $107,700-$131,600

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job‑related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance‑based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!