Lab Automation Engineer

Lab Robotics Research Associate

Full-Time | On-site (5 days/week) SF Bay Area, CA $90,000 – $120,000 + Competitive Equity

Company Overview

We are a high‑growth genomics technology company revolutionizing DNA and RNA sequencing through a fully automated, overnight sequencing engine. Our proprietary platform—bootstrapped to $80M ARR—supports more than 70,000 scientists worldwide, including Nobel laureates and leaders across Fortune 100 pharmaceutical organizations. By combining robotics, automation, and advanced molecular biology workflows, we deliver rapid sequencing results at a fraction of traditional industry costs.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Lab Robotics Research Associate to help scale and optimize the world's largest high‑throughput automated liquid handling fleet. In this role, you will translate wet‑lab protocols into automated workflows, validate robotic performance, troubleshoot hardware issues, and prototype custom lab tools that enhance our automation capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Protocol Automation: Convert wet‑lab R&D protocols into automated, step‑by‑step liquid handler scripts using Python, AI‑assisted coding tools, and robotics frameworks.
• System Validation: Run manual vs. robotic experiments side‑by‑side to ensure automated workflows meet scientific quality benchmarks.
• Hardware Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve robotic failure modes, including low‑volume pickup, viscous liquid handling, and other mechanical issues.
• Custom Prototyping: Design and 3D‑print custom adapters, fixtures, and lab tools to expand the capabilities of our liquid handling fleet.

Technical Environment

• 200+ high‑throughput robotic workstations (Opentrons, Hamilton)
• Python for device control, automation, and data parsing
• AI‑assisted coding frameworks
• 3D printing & CAD (Fusion 360)
• Molecular biology assay instrumentation

Qualifications/Requirements

• 1–3 years of wet‑lab Research Associate experience (biotech or academic), ideally ~2 years
• Hands‑on experience with liquid handling robotics (Opentrons, Hamilton)
• BS degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, or related field (BS preferred over MS)
• Self‑taught or practical Python skills for automation and data parsing
• Strong problem‑solving skills and comfort working in a fast‑paced automation environment
• Work authorization: US Citizen or Green Card holder; no visa sponsorship
• Fully on‑site in the SF Bay Area (no relocation support)