Senior R&D Engineer, Lab Automation Applications Engineer

The Team

Biohub is leading the new era of AI-powered biology to cure or prevent disease through its 501c3 medical research organization, with the support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Within Biohub, Bioengineering is a team of engineers with a diverse set of skills, including electronics, optics, imaging, automation, mechatronics, fluidics, software development, etc. We design and build custom instrumentation and automation systems to support the Biohub's scientific mission.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Lab Automation Applications Engineer to design, develop, and maintain automated protocols that support cell biology research programs. This role is ideal for an automation professional who can independently lead protocol development projects, optimize workflows, and serve as a technical resource for researchers. You will work closely with research scientists, hardware and software engineers, data scientists, laboratory staff, and facility managers to develop automation protocols that enhance throughput, reproducibility, and data quality. In this role, you will take ownership of end-to-end automation protocols, from initial method development through validation, production deployment, quality control and performance monitoring. You will also help drive continuous improvement of our automation capabilities.

What You'll Do

• Lead the design, development, testing, and validation of automated protocols for cell biology (including multi-day cell culture and passaging), cell imaging, and molecular biology.
• Independently program and optimize methods on Hamilton STAR/Vantage platforms using VENUS software, and other platforms, such as Opentrons and Agilent Bravos.
• Partner with research scientists and technology teams to scope automation protocols, define requirements, and deliver solutions that meet scientific and throughput goals.
• Develop and maintain robust quality control processes for automated workflows, including run validation, error handling, and performance monitoring.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation including method specifications, SOPs, validation reports, and training materials.
• Troubleshoot and resolve, in collaboration with hardware and software engineers and/or scientists, complex hardware, software, and method issues.
• Manage vendor relationships for maintenance and support.
• Mentor junior automation engineers and contribute to the team's technical growth and best practices.
• Identify and implement process improvements that increase throughput, reliability, and data quality across the automation platform.

What You'll Bring

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with laboratory automation in a biology research or industrial biotech environment.
• Demonstrated expertise programming and running automated liquid handling systems. Experience with Hamilton STAR and Vantage liquid handlers and the VENUS software are a big plus.
• Experience with robotic arms, robot programming, PLC systems, or motion control
• Experience integrating liquid handlers with peripheral lab instruments and scheduling systems.
• Proficiency in Python or another scripting language for automation support, data analysis, or custom tooling.
• Strong understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology laboratory techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects from concept through deployment.
• Demonstrated experience with proper documentation of protocols and operating procedures, performance/quality control metrics, etc.
• Commitment to reproducible research practices and rigorous documentation
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and work independently.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new technological challenges and troubleshoot complex technical problems.
• Eager to learn new methods, protocols and technologies.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly collaborative spirit and strong teamwork skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience with live cell imaging
• Experience with laboratory data management systems (e.g., LIMS, ELN)
• Knowledge of data analysis, statistical methods, and workflow management software

Compensation

The San Francisco, CA base pay range for a new hire in this role is $190,000.00 - $261,800.00. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process.

This position may be eligible to participate in Biohub's discretionary annual performance bonus program. Bonus eligibility and targets are determined in accordance with Biohub's total rewards philosophy and may vary by role.

Better Together

As we grow, we're excited to strengthen in-person connections and cultivate a collaborative, team-oriented environment. This role is a hybrid position requiring you to be onsite for at least 60% of the working month, approximately 3 days a week, with specific in-office days determined by the team's manager. The exact schedule will be at the hiring manager's discretion and communicated during the interview process.

Benefits for the Whole You

We're thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible.

• Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice.
• Funding for select family-forming benefits.
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you're interested in a role but your previous experience doesn't perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

#LI-Hybrid