Senior Lab Automation Engineer – Diagnostics & NGS

Natera; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 96,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits (medical

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Generous PTO and holidays

Wellness and work-life benefits

Employee referral program

Job summary

Natera’s Foresight Diagnostics is seeking a Lab Automation Engineer in Boulder, CO to advance automation within a CLIA lab and support tech transfer as we scale manufacturing. The role requires collaboration across lab, operations, and finance to align automation needs with volume forecasts and regulatory standards.

You’ll implement SOPs, drive continuous improvement, maintain systems, and deliver end-to-end projects with autonomy.

Qualifications

• 5+ years engineering experience in laboratory environments.
• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS); advanced degree preferred.
• Knowledge of molecular biology and genomics a plus.
• Experience with liquid handling platforms (Hamilton STAR, Agilent Bravo) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver actionable results on complex problems.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to scale and plan capacity.
• Advanced analytical and operational skills; data-driven decision making.
• Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and fast-paced settings.
• Ability to deliver end-to-end projects with autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Deliver projects on time and on budget with adherence to quality/regulatory requirements.
• Iterate processes to drive continuous improvement using KPI results.
• Collaborate with lab leads to define automation requirements and workflows.
• Perform preventative maintenance on automated systems for reliability.
• Coordinate repairs with vendors for complex issues.
• Develop SOPs and training for tech transfer to production labs.
• Forecast automation needs to meet volume demand and plan upgrades.
• Ensure capacity never impacts on-time delivery of results.
• Optimize resource utilization across cross-functional teams.
• Implement processes compliant with GxP, ISO, CFR, CAP/CLIA, NYSDOH.
• Guide CAPAs and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Lab automation

Analytical thinking

Project management

Autonomy

Communication

Education

BA/BS in relevant field

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

Hamilton STAR

Agilent Bravo

Job description

Natera’s Foresight Diagnostics is seeking a Lab Automation Engineer in Boulder, CO to advance automation within a CLIA lab and support tech transfer as we scale manufacturing. The role requires collaboration across lab, operations, and finance to align automation needs with volume forecasts and regulatory standards.

You’ll implement SOPs, drive continuous improvement, maintain systems, and deliver end-to-end projects with autonomy.