Staff Automation Engineer

Guardant Health, Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardant Health, Inc. is seeking a Staff Lab Automation Engineer to design, build, and deploy integrated laboratory work cells for NGS sample and reagent processing in Palo Alto, CA.

You will architect multi-instrument systems, including liquid handlers and robotic arms, to meet assay performance while improving reliability, throughput, and cost. You will mentor engineers and collaborate with assay, operations, quality, and regulatory teams.

Qualifications

• BS in engineering or science with 8+ years of related experience, MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years.
• Track record delivering integrated, multi-instrument work cells from concept through deployment.
• Hands-on experience with liquid handlers (e.g., Hamilton STAR, Agilent Bravo, Lynx), and robotic arms (e.g., Brooks PreciseFlex).
• Experience developing interfaces between lab automation and Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) databases.
• Proficiency in C#, VB.NET, or Python; familiarity with XML and JSON.
• Experience with validation and documentation in regulated environments (IVD, LDT, etc.).
• Experience with NGS assays and throughput modeling or simulation preferred.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team with diverse scientific, engineering, operational, and regulatory disciplines.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Program, test, troubleshoot, and optimize workcells end to end, from requirements through validation and deployment.
• Integrate and program liquid handlers (e.g., Hamilton STAR, Agilent Bravo, Lynx), robotic arms using Guidance Development Environment (e.g., Brooks PreciseFlex), and peripherals into work cells.
• Model throughput to find bottlenecks and guide layout; own technical risk and FMEAs.
• Evaluate new automation technologies and vendors.
• Engineer solutions that meet assay performance requirements for precision, timing, temperature, and contamination control.
• Lead validation strategy (IQ/OQ/PQ) and set team documentation standards in a regulated environment.
• Transfer validated work cells into production, including SOPs and training.
• Partner with assay scientists to translate assay requirements into automated workflows.
• Set technical direction; coordinate engineers and external integrators. Mentor engineers up to Senior level.
• Lead design reviews and report milestones and risks to leadership.

Skills

C#

Python

VB.NET

XML

JSON

LIMS interfaces

Automation programming

Robotics

Problem solving

Education

BS in engineering or science

MS in engineering or science

PhD in engineering or science

Tools

Hamilton STAR

Agilent Bravo

Lynx

Brooks PreciseFlex

Job description

Position Summary

As a Staff Lab Automation Engineer, you will participate in the design, build, and deployment of integrated laboratory work cells for NGS sample and reagent processing. You will architect multi-instrument systems, including liquid handlers, robotic arms and peripherals from concept through validation. You will engineer solutions that meet assay performance requirements while improving reliability, throughput, and cost, and you will mentor engineers and partner with assay, operations, quality, and regulatory teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work Cell Design, Integration and Automation Programming: Program, test, troubleshoot, and optimize workcells end to end, from requirements through validation and deployment.
• Integrate and program liquid handlers (e.g., Hamilton STAR, Agilent Bravo, Lynx), robotic arms using Guidance Development Environment (e.g., Brooks PreciseFlex), and peripherals into work cells.
• Model throughput to find bottlenecks and guide layout; own technical risk and FMEAs.
• Evaluate new automation technologies and vendors.
• Engineer solutions that meet assay performance requirements for precision, timing, temperature, and contamination control.
• Lead validation strategy (IQ/OQ/PQ) and set team documentation standards in a regulated environment.
• Transfer validated work cells into production, including SOPs and training.

Collaboration and Communication

Partner with assay scientists to translate assay requirements into automated workflows. Set technical direction; coordinate engineers and external integrators. Mentor engineers up to Senior level. Lead design reviews and report milestones and risks to leadership.

Qualifications

• BS in engineering or science with 8+ years of related experience, MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years.
• Track record delivering integrated, multi-instrument work cells from concept through deployment.
• Hands‑on experience with liquid handlers (e.g., Hamilton STAR, Agilent Bravo, Lynx), and robotic arms (e.g., Brooks PreciseFlex).
• Experience developing interfaces between lab automation and Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) databases.
• Proficiency in C#, VB.NET, or Python; familiarity with XML and JSON.
• Experience with validation and documentation in regulated environments (IVD, LDT, etc.).
• Experience with NGS assays and throughput modeling or simulation preferred.
• Excellent problem‑solving and debugging skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team with diverse scientific, engineering, operational, and regulatory disciplines.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and cross‑functional leadership skills.

AI & Digital Fluency

Demonstrate curiosity, sound judgment, and the ability to critically evaluate and responsibly leverage AI‑enabled tools in accordance with company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of work.

Hybrid Work Model

This section is applicable to onsite employees who are eligible for hybrid work location as specified by management and related policies. Guardant has defined days for in‑person/onsite collaboration and work‑from‑home days for individual‑focused time. All U.S. employees who live within 50 miles of a Guardant facility will be required to be onsite on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We have found aligning our scheduled in‑office days allows our teams to do the best work and creates the focused thinking time our innovative work requires. At Guardant, our work model has created flexibility for better work‑life balance while keeping teams connected to advance our science for our patients.

Compensation and Benefits

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. This range does not include benefits or, if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, education, job‑related skills, job duties, and business need.

Primary Location: Palo Alto, CA Primary Location Base Pay Range: $160,500 - $220,700

Other US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $136,400 - $187,600

If the role is performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is: $144,500 - $198,600

Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk/office environment; however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

Guardant Health is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our hiring processes for candidates with disabilities, long‑term conditions, mental health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you need support, please reach out to [e-mail]

A background screening including criminal history is required for this role. GH will consider qualified applicants with criminal arrest or conviction histories in a manner consistent with applicable law including but not limited to the LA County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Guardant Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Please review our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants. To learn more about the information collected when you apply for a position at Guardant Health, Inc. and how it is used, please review our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over‑achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us! Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self‑disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in the area.