Senior Automation Engineer
Clear Labs
Summary
We're hiring a Senior Automation Engineer to strengthen the performance, reliability, and validation of the laboratory automation supporting our FDA-cleared NGS diagnostics platform. This is a hands-on, senior role, you'll be at the deck daily, developing methods, troubleshooting hardware, and contributing to formal validation studies alongside our existing automation team.
Job description
Position Summary
We're hiring a Senior Automation Engineer to strengthen the performance, reliability, and validation of the laboratory automation supporting our FDA-cleared NGS diagnostics platform. This is a hands-on, senior role, you'll be at the deck daily, developing methods, troubleshooting hardware, and contributing to formal validation studies alongside our existing automation team.
Primary Responsibilities
- Contribute hands-on reliability engineering, method development, and troubleshooting expertise for our Hamilton STAR/STAR2 liquid-handling automation fleet running NGS library preparation workflows.
- Help design and execute formal automated-vs-manual equivalence and validation studies for NGS sample prep, in support of regulatory requirements.
- Support root-cause investigation for automation performance issues affecting NGS library quality and sequencing output, working through mechanical, calibration, and liquid-class variables systematically, and flagging labware-related findings to Systems Integration for formal qualification.
- Partner with Regulatory and Quality on validation protocols and documentation for a regulated, FDA-cleared diagnostics workflow.
- Collaborate on vendor and equipment relationships as needed to support fleet performance.
Nice to Have
- Working knowledge of NGS library preparation workflows (e.g., hybrid capture and/or amplicon-based enrichment) as executed on automated liquid handling.
- Understanding of how automation method parameters (liquid class, tip type, mixing, incubation) affect NGS library yield, uniformity, and sequencing QC metrics.
- Experience troubleshooting automation-driven failures that manifest downstream in sequencing data (e.g., low on-target rate, coverage dropout, well-position-specific effects).
- Prior oncology diagnostics experience (NGS-based companion diagnostics or comprehensive genomic profiling workflows).
Requirements
- 8+ years of hands-on experience programming and developing methods on Hamilton STAR/STAR2 (or directly equivalent) liquid handling platforms, including VENUS software, deck layout design, and liquid class development.
- Hands-on troubleshooting of Hamilton hardware and peripherals, e.g., pipetting channels, iSWAP/gripper mechanisms, heater-shakers, plate sealers, and third-party integrated modules.
- Experience maintaining and validating a multi-unit automation fleet, including qualifying individual instruments rather than relying on representative sampling.
- Ability to independently script and modify automated methods in a regulated environment, with full change-control documentation.
- Statistical fluency sufficient to independently evaluate automated performance against validation acceptance criteria.
- A genuine preference for hands-on bench and deck work—this is not a delegate-only role.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Basic Life/AD&D
- Long Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Discretionary Time Off
- Stock Option Plan
- Lunch Stipend
Company overview
Clear Labs is a biotechnology company specializing in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and artificial intelligence-powered solutions for food safety and quality testing. Founded with the mission to revolutionize food safety through advanced molecular diagnostics, the company has developed a comprehensive platform that combines automated sample preparation, high-throughput sequencing, and sophisticated bioinformatics analytics. Clear Labs' innovative approach enables rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, allergens, GMOs, and other contaminants in food products, providing food manufacturers, retailers, and regulatory agencies with unprecedented insights into their supply chains. The company's technology platform represents a significant advancement over traditional testing methods, offering faster turnaround times, higher sensitivity, and the ability to detect multiple targets simultaneously. By leveraging cutting-edge genomics and data science, Clear Labs is positioned at the forefront of the food safety industry, helping to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure consumer protection through science-driven solutions.