Liquid Handling Engineer II - Collins Consulting Inc

This is an onsite position.

The Genomic Technologies Automation Engineer is responsible for independently planning, coordinating, developing, and implementing automation projects in a high quality and timely manner to support automation-based workflows, along with providing insight for new system design or improvement across functional areas within the team. This includes wet lab testing for feasibility, verification and validation of lab automation, workflows and software. This role will also be responsible for performing user acceptance testing (UAT). This role will collaborate with end users to address needed improvements to current modules, design requirements for new test systems, validation, and implementation of the changes. Role is beginning to make significant contributions in the requirements gathering, development, testing and implementation of new technologies and/or automated platforms.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Independently plan, coordinate, develop activities for the implementation of new automation projects/processes or support of existing ones using internal teams and external providers.
• Investigate new technologies and identify measures to increase process/workflow efficiency or quality by use of automation. Proactively communicate corresponding proposals to leadership.
• Independently program or supervise the programming at the automation providers, test, and validate new methods/optimize existing scripts, and communicate with end-users/teams to understand their requirements and acceptance benchmarks.
• Independently support implemented automation solutions through technical or programming troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Conduct laboratory evaluations to identify process bottlenecks and new automation opportunities.
• Provide or maintain detailed documentation and key performance indicators using suitable IT tools. Build and maintain a strong network of automation Subject Matter Experts (SME s) from different client sites and establish bridges to system vendors.
• Train automation platform SME s and users (if not covered by platform SME s). Support junior automation engineers/scientists with troubleshooting and running methods.
• Collaborate and regularly communicate with team leads and group leader (e.g., function Leadership Team or its representative, system owner, and SME s) about structured project updates and activity progress against desired timelines and possible delays.
• Provide a comprehensive and independent communication of new projects to the team working groups by means of e.g., internal newsletters, SharePoint, and other communication channels.

Qualifications:

• M.S. (2+ years) or BS (5+ years) in engineering or related field with relevant industry experience (In total 4-5 y of in-field experience)
• Hands-on experience to include writing scripts and methods independently with one or more current laboratory liquid handling automation platforms (e.g. Beckman Tecan Hamilton)
• Familiar with various genomic workflows such as next-generation sequencing, microarrays, and nucleic acid isolation is highly preferred
• Relevant experience in pharmaceutical R&D is a plus
• Experience working in regulatory environment (CLIA,CAP,ISO) is a plus
• Knowledge of other programming languages such as Python or Visual Basic is a plus

What are the top 3-5 skills, experience or education required for this position:
1. Must have experience writing scripts for lab workflows on liquid handlers (Beckman, Tecan, Hamilton).
2. Can independently troubleshoot robotic equipment and work on integrations.
3. MS/BS in science or engineering +2/4 years of automation experience.
4. Work with scientists to identify unmet needs and new automation solutions to address them.