Laboratory Automation Engineer

AbSci is a leading synthetic biology company that translates ideas into drugs with a platform technology that reinvents the biopharmaceutical drug discovery process.

We custom engineer E.

coli to create novel complex biologics in their full length format while simultaneously developing production cell lines.

We are deploying cutting edge deep learning artificial intelligence to inform our designs, and every day we succeed in achieving things others have dismissed as impossible.

With more than a dozen partnerships in place with top pharma and industry leaders, our collaborations include projects for drugs and drug candidates that range across multiple protein types and therapeutic functionality.

We are continually innovating, expanding the scope of what we can do and the impact we can have as we help get better drugs to patients…sooner.

We are based in Vancouver, Washington, ten minutes from Portland, Oregon and an hour from world class alpine terrain and rugged Pacific coastlines.

We seek candidates who will dive all in to participate in our creative company culture that’s collaborative, multidisciplinary, and committed to a big vision for positive impact.

We are defying conventions and innovating without boundaries.

We are disrupting an industry with bold ideas and passionate pursuit of new possibilities.

We are looking for original thinkers, creative scientists, and data-devoted gurus.

Successful candidates will be excited to work in a dynamic startup environment and contribute as a key member of a project team.

If this sounds good to you, we invite you to join us in our quest to redefine possible.

Job Description We are currently in a growth phase and are seeking a motivated engineer with a strong hands-on background in biotechnology to join our team.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for scientific innovation, exhibit adept technical skills, and be comfortable working in a dynamic startup environment where research targets and priorities can change from day to day.

The Laboratory Automation Engineer will be involved in supporting a variety of systems including Hamilton Stars and Nimbuses, Labcyte Echos, Labtech Mosquitos, plate readers, and more.

The position will be responsible for assisting lab users recover from errors, troubleshooting and diagnosing issues, performing minor repairs, and performing preventative maintenance.

In addition to this, the position will have applications development responsibilities that include requirements gathering, project scoping, proof of concept development, and working with end users for refinement and validation testing.

Successful candidates will have a background in the biological sciences, have excellent communication and organizational skills, exhibit meticulous attention to detail, an eagerness to learn new techniques, and be comfortable working in a highly dynamic and rapidly scaling company.

Responsibilities * Develop application protocols and provide support for instrumentation.* Act as SME for various pieces of automated equipment promoting best practices for operation, programming, and new application deployment.* Optimize liquid handling performance and perform troubleshooting of applications, protocols, and equipment.* Contribute to operational excellence initiatives through training content creation and presentation to laboratory staff.* Contribute to internal preventative maintenance initiatives, vendor support communications and maintenance scheduling.* Contribute to company knowledge base using provided software and tools (e.g.

project documentation, contribution to SOP generation, instrument demos and evaluations).

Qualifications * A background in the biotech industry
– lab based, experience as an engineer in this field, or a degree in the biological/life sciences and 3+ years of experience of experience in laboratory automation.* At least 1 year of application development experience translating scientific protocols from the lab bench to automated systems including requirements gathering and process documentation.* Familiarity with peripheral equipment (e.g.

plate readers, centrifuges, dispensers)* Demonstrated experience communicating to diverse audiences and working with cross-functional teams.* Top notch documentation and organizational skills* Experience with coding.

Looking especially for tool specific applications, with skills in languages such as C# or python as nice to haves.* Ability to work in a collaborative team environment* Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends as needed* Passion for building a gritty and creative company culture that is collaborative, multidisciplinary, and determined to make a transformative impact to our industry Huge plus (but not required): * Experience working with Labcyte Echos* Experience working with Sartorius AMBRs* Experience integrating hardware with LIMS systems (ie measurements from a plate reader)* Experience combining hardware from different manufactures into integrated platforms, or expanding base platforms with vendor specific add ons.* Project management experience We seek candidates with a passion for building a creative company culture that is collaborative, multidisciplinary, and committed to make a transformative impact on our industry.

To be successful in this role, we look for passion in technology innovation, adept technical skills, and excitement about working in a dynamic startup environment.

A demonstrable track record of success in functioning as part of a project team is essential.

AbSci offers highly competitive salaries and benefits, including medical and dental insurance, long term disability and voluntary life insurance plans, paid time off, 401(k) with a generous company match, and equity.

Legal authorization to work in the U.S.

is required.

We are not able to sponsor individuals for employment visas for this job.

This position is for our Vancouver, WA location (just outside of Portland, OR)
– AbSci may agree to offer relocation assistance for this role.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

AbSci offers a dog-friendly work environment
– bring your pup along for the ride.