US Field Service Engineer – Laboratory Automation

Labman; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Labman is seeking a US-based Field Service Engineer or Field Application Scientist to support our growing North American customer base. The role involves travel to customer sites to install, service and troubleshoot Labman automation systems.

You will be the face of Labman for US customers, performing diagnostics, providing remote and on-site support, training users and helping ensure system validation and acceptance testing. Some relocation to western Montgomery County, PA may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in a laboratory environment
• Ability to troubleshoot technical issues
• Willingness to travel across North America
• Comfort interfacing with customers

Responsibilities

• Install and commission Labman Automation systems
• Carry out preventative maintenance, repairs and upgrades
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and software-related issues
• Provide remote and onsite technical support
• Train customers after system installations
• Document service activities and feedback

Skills

Troubleshooting

Customer communication

Hands-on hardware

Lab environment experience

Education

Analytical or applied chemistry

Chemical engineering

Mechatronics/robotics/automation

Mechanical or electrical engineering

Scientific instrumentation

Tools

HPLC

GC

Spectroscopy

Job description

Location: Montgomery County, PA

Initially this role will be based at a customer site in western Montgomery County. Candidates must already live within a reasonable daily driving distance or be willing to relocate before starting. There will also be additional travel throughout the US to further support Labman customers.

Salary: $90,000 USD per annum

Employment Type: Full-time

About Labman

At Labman, we design and build bespoke automation systems that enable our customers to solve complex laboratory challenges.

Our technologies are used by customers across a range of industries, supporting everything from sample preparation and materials testing through to large-scale laboratory workflows. Every system we build is unique, combining automation, software, mechanical engineering and scientific expertise to deliver real-world solutions.

We're now looking for a US-based Field Service Engineer or Field Application Scientist to support our growing customer base across North America.

The Role

We're looking for somebody who enjoys understanding how complex systems work, diagnosing problems and finding practical solutions. You'll become the face of Labman for our US customers, providing technical support, troubleshooting issues and helping customers get the best from their automation systems.

You might currently be working with scientific instruments, analytical equipment, laboratory automation, robotics or other complex technical systems and be looking for a role that combines travel, problem-solving and customer interaction.

This is not a routine break-fix service position. Labman systems are bespoke, and a complete service manual or predefined troubleshooting procedure may not always be available. You will need to understand unfamiliar equipment quickly, develop and test hypotheses, interpret technical information, and work from first principles to identify the root cause of complex problems.

Success in this role comes from curiosity, practical thinking and a willingness to get hands‑on.

What You'll Do

• Install and commission Labman Automation systems
• Carry out preventative maintenance, repairs and upgrades
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and software‑related issues
• Diagnose and resolve complex faults where, in some cases, no predefined troubleshooting process exists, using engineering drawings, electrical schematics, software logs and technical expertise to identify and implement solutions.
• Provide remote and onsite technical support
• Train customers following system installations
• Support system validation and acceptance testing activities
• Investigate faults and identify long‑term corrective actions
• Work closely with Labman's UK engineering teams to resolve technical problems
• Document service activities and customer feedback
• Build strong relationships with customers and act as a trusted technical contact

Who We're Looking For

• You'll likely be successful in this role if you:
• Like helping customers and explaining technical concepts
• Enjoy working directly with equipment and technology
• Have experience in a laboratory environment
• Can confidently troubleshoot technical problems
• Are naturally curious and enjoy figuring out how things work
• Prefer practical application over purely academic research

Experience We'd Love to See

• Scientific instrumentation
• Analytical chemistry
• Laboratory automation
• Robotics
• Instrument support
• Technical customer support
• Applications scientist experience
• Laboratory‑based troubleshooting and investigation
• Experience with systems such as HPLC, GC, spectroscopy, sample preparation equipment, automated laboratory systems or similar instrumentation would be particularly beneficial.

Qualifications & Experience

• Analytical or applied chemistry
• Chemical engineering
• Mechatronics, robotics or automation
• Mechanical or electrical engineering
• Scientific instrumentation

Laboratory science with significant equipment ownership and troubleshooting responsibility

A Master's degree or PhD can be valuable, particularly when accompanied by practical experience, but is not required. This is an applied, hands‑on role rather than an academic research position.

We are looking for evidence that you have independently diagnosed complex equipment or process failures. Strong candidates may have around 3-5 years of relevant industry experience, although we will consider less conventional backgrounds where the required technical judgement is clearly demonstrated.

Experience supporting scientific instruments, automation platforms, robotics, HPLC, GC, spectroscopy, sample preparation equipment or comparable complex systems would be advantageous. Customer‑facing service, commissioning, validation or applications‑support experience is also desirable.

You should be comfortable diagnosing and resolving technical issues, interpreting engineering documentation and applying your scientific or engineering knowledge to solve problems in real‑world environments. Experience providing customer‑facing technical support, service or commissioning activities would be advantageous.