Senior Automation Engineer, R&D

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening); San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer R&D to develop robust laboratory automation for Next-Generation Sequencing based assays, supporting high complexity laboratory developed tests in a regulated environment.

The role involves designing, deploying, and scaling automation platforms, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet product requirements, and mentoring junior engineers while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and company policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biological Sciences or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant product development experience.
• Legal authorization to work in the country of employment without current or future sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Develop automated laboratory solutions for existing or new assay workflows.
• Design and implement automated liquid handling methods for high throughput environments.
• Support automation software integration with external systems (LIMS, hardware).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure regulatory compliance and design transfer across sites.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers in automation projects.
• Maintain and troubleshoot automated systems and processes.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Laboratory automation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Biological Sciences

Tools

Hamilton Venus programming

HSL code programming

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Position Overview

The Senior Automation Engineer R&D is a key problem solving, individual contributor that uses in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge to achieve project goals. This position will leverage understanding of engineering principles, methods, data, and judgment to influence the course of product development activities. The Senior Automation Engineer R&D will develop and deploy robust laboratory automation solutions for Next-Generation Sequencing based assays in support of high complexity laboratory developed tests. This position will utilize technical skills, with oversight, to participate in conceiving, planning, and executing research and development activities to achieve project goals. The successful candidate has experience working in a collaborative, fast-paced team to build scalable, highly integrated automation platforms which enable users to reliably and efficiently deliver timely, high-quality results in a regulated environment.

Essential Duties

• Develop automated laboratory solutions to meet the requirements of existing or new assay workflows.
• Iteratively design, develop, and implement automated liquid handler methods for use in a high throughout environment, improve methods based on feedback from experimental data and user feedback.
• Support accurate and robust automation software integration with external systems (LIMS, integrated hardware, etc.).
• Support design transfer and deployment of automation solutions across multiple sites which meet product requirements and are fully integrated with clinical laboratory workflows.
• Support process development needs such as automated Operational Qualification procedures.
• Mentor junior level engineers.
• Assist and train laboratory personnel on the use of automated systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot automated systems and processes.
• Participate in new product design and design improvements to existing products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure all development activities are conducted in adherence to applicable national/international regulations, guidelines, company policies, SOPs, and industry standards.
• Lead Human Factors Engineering/Usability Engineering tasks and activities.
• Lead product risk management activities involving system Hazard Analysis (HA) Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Collaborate with Quality team to establish templates and processes for the documentation of systems engineering tasks and activities.
• Participate in the definition of key development deliverables, milestones, dependencies, risks, and mitigations as part of the Integrated Program Plan.
• Establish interfaces across other organizational groups.
• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company's Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization.
• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 90% of a typical working day.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds for approximately 5% of a typical working day
• Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements.
• May perform repetitious actions using lab tools.
• Ability to travel 10% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Biological Sciences or field as outlined in the essential duties.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in product development.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation.
• Legal authorization to work in the country of employment without current or future sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive Hamilton Venus programming experience
• HSL code programming experience
• Integration experience with workcells/end-to-end platforms

The base pay for this position is $78,000.00 - $156,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.