Senior Laboratory Automation Engineer

colossalbiosciences; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Colossal Biosciences is seeking a Senior Laboratory Automation Engineer to design, develop, test, and maintain automated systems for cell and molecular biology workflows. The role supports day-to-day operations, troubleshooting, and optimization of instrumentation and integrated automation, reporting to the Director of Lab Operations.

The position is full-time and in-person at Colossal HQ in Dallas, TX, with a flexible schedule including some early/late hours and weekend work as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, scientific discipline, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience with automated laboratory instruments and integrated automation systems.
• Experience troubleshooting and developing custom scripts for Hamilton STAR/VANTAGE, SPT Labtech Firefly+ and other liquid handling instruments.
• Experience troubleshooting and writing protocols for Hamilton Venus and HighRes Bio Cellario schedulers.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation and automation systems.
• Strong analytical, collaboration, documentation, and communication skills.
• Must be able to prioritize and work well under pressure.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as HSL, VBScript, JavaScript, Python, C++, or R.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automation methods using laboratory control platforms such as Hamilton Venus/VANTAGE and HighRes Cellario schedulers.
• Provide hands-on support, consumable ordering & restocking, troubleshooting, and maintenance for automated laboratory instrumentation and integrated automation systems to ensure reliable day-to-day operations.
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, software, and system integration issues to minimize equipment downtime and maintain operational continuity.
• Perform routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance activities, including equipment upgrades, modifications, and validation support.
• Execute installation, testing, and validation activities to verify equipment performance, accuracy, reliability, and laboratory stability.
• Coordinate issue triage with end users, vendors and external service providers while maintaining accurate equipment records, maintenance logs, and validation documentation.
• Train end users on laboratory automation systems and contribute to process improvements, operational initiatives, and innovations that enhance laboratory efficiency.

Skills

Automation platforms

Troubleshooting

Scripting

Python

JavaScript

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/science

Tools

Hamilton Venus/VANTAGE

SPT Labtech Firefly+

Cellario schedulers

Hamilton Venus scheduling

Job description

Colossal is seeking a Senior Laboratory Automation Engineer to join our laboratory operations team to design, develop, test, and maintain automated systems associated with cell and molecular biology workflows. The successful candidate will support the day-to-day operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of automated laboratory instrumentation and integrated automation systems. This individual will work closely with scientists and cross-functional teams to ensure reliable laboratory operations and support automation-driven workflows. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience with laboratory automation platforms, instrumentation support, software‑driven workflows, equipment validation, and troubleshooting of automated laboratory instruments, along with a strong interest in process improvement and operational efficiency.

This position contributes to a fast‑paced and dynamic program and reports to the Director of Lab Operations.

*This position is a full time role, in‑person at Colossal HQ in Dallas, TX. It requires a flexible schedule, including some early/late hours and weekend work depending on scientific team needs and required equipment troubleshooting.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automation methods using laboratory control platforms such as, Hamilton Venus/Revolution and HighRes Cellario schedulers.
• Provide hands‑on support, consumable ordering & restocking, troubleshooting, and maintenance for automated laboratory instrumentation and integrated automation systems to ensure reliable day‑to‑day operations.
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, software, and system integration issues to minimize equipment downtime and maintain operational continuity.
• Perform routine, preventive, and corrective maintenance activities, including equipment upgrades, modifications, and validation support.
• Execute installation, testing, and validation activities to verify equipment performance, accuracy, reliability, and laboratory stability.
• Coordinate issue triage with end users, vendors and external service providers while maintaining accurate equipment records, maintenance logs, and validation documentation.
• Train end users on laboratory automation systems and contribute to process improvements, operational initiatives, and innovations that enhance laboratory efficiency.

Required Skills, Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, scientific discipline, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience with automated laboratory instruments and integrated automation systems
• Experience troubleshooting and developing custom scripts for Hamilton STAR/VANTAGE, SPT Labtech firefly+ and other liquid handling instruments.
• Experience troubleshooting and writing protocols for Hamilton Venus and HighRes Bio Cellario schedulers.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation and automation systems.
• Strong analytical skills, collaboration, documentation, and communication skills.
• Must be able to prioritize and work well under pressure
• Proficiency in programming languages such as HSL, VBScript, JavaScript, Python, C++, or R.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of cell line development, FACS or NGS workflows including routine cell line maintenance and expansion, stem cell differentiation, genotyping and high‑throughput screening.
• Experience with Agilent VWorks, Beckman Coulter Tempo/Echo and Formulatrix Cellmatic/Stack schedulers is a plus.

What Colossal Offers Full‑Time Employees:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Excellent paid time off and company holidays so you can rest and recharge
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Company matched 401k retirement plan
• Paid parental leave at 100% salary for up to 12 weeks
• Education reimbursement
• An opportunity to help us return the Earth to a healthier state

The team at Colossal is committed, colorful, passionate, intelligent, collaborative, creative, experienced, scientific and world‑class. That sounds like a lot to fit into one building. That's why we are spread out in several locations that include laboratories, test facilities, academic institutions, libraries and offices.

Through it all, however, we maintain a culture of positivity, hope, happiness and belief that we're doing something big. Something Colossal.

Colossal is proud to be an equal employment opportunity workplace. We welcome people from all backgrounds as well as celebrate and support diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment so everyone can thrive.

EEO is the Law

Search Firm Representatives: Colossal does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms. No fees will be paid for a hired candidate where no pre‑existing agreement is in place. We handle most recruitment in-house.