Automation Engineer

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA

Full-time

Cambridge, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Automation Engineer at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research (KI) within the High Throughput Sciences (HTS) team will play a crucial role in operating and enhancing automated instrumentation. This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about collaborating with leading scientists and engineers to develop and implement innovative automated solutions that will accelerate discoveries in the field of oncology. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and operating project-specific automated workflows and data solutions, ensuring the maintenance of integrated systems, and providing training to researchers on the use of automation and data management. In addition to these core responsibilities, the Automation Engineer will maintain vendor relationships and service contracts, coordinate HTS campaign scheduling, and evaluate new software and hardware options. The role also involves partnering with the IT department to ensure efficient data management practices are in place. The Automation Engineer will be expected to perform monitoring, troubleshooting, and other sustaining activities to ensure the smooth operation of automated systems. Participation in conferences to evaluate new trends in automation is also a key aspect of this position, along with handling other duties as requested by the team. The role may require exerting light-to-medium force to move objects weighing between 10-20 lbs, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work involved.

Responsibilities

• Design and operate project-specific automated workflows and data solutions.
• Maintain integrated systems and ensure their optimal performance.
• Train researchers in the use of automation and data management.
• Maintain vendor relationships and service contracts.
• Coordinate HTS campaign scheduling and logistics.
• Evaluate new software and hardware for automation processes.
• Partner with IT for efficient data management.
• Perform monitoring, troubleshooting, and sustaining activities for automated systems.
• Participate in conferences to evaluate new trends in automation.
• Handle other duties as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in bioengineering, computer science, chemistry, biology, or a related discipline.
• At least four years of lab automation, screening, or related experience (may include two years' experience gained as an undergraduate).
• Experience with automation software (e.g., Freedom EVOware).
• Experience integrating liquid handlers to analytical instrumentation via robotic arms and scheduler software.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Strong time management and documentation skills.
• Effective communication skills and discretion with confidential information.
• Ability to work as part of a team and teach others.
• Adaptability to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with high-content screening and compound or genetic library management.
• Experience with biological data analysis.
• Working knowledge of common programming and data science tools such as Python, JavaScript, C#, R, Azure/GCP/AWS, and/or Docker.