Staff Lab Automation Scientist

Staff Lab Automation Scientist at thrively Staff Lab Automation Scientist at thrively in Menlo Park, California Posted in 4 days ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

Staff Lab Automation Scientist About the Opportunity Thrively is partnering with a cutting-edge biotechnology company building next-generation platforms at the intersection of synthetic biology, automation, and high-throughput experimentation. This team has successfully brought its first products to market and is now focused on scaling and improving core workflows, increasing product complexity, reducing turnaround time, and driving cost efficiencies through advanced automation. They are hiring a Staff Lab Automation Scientist to play a critical role in translating early-stage scientific ideas into robust, automated workflows. What Makes This Role Different This is not a pure automation engineering role. We're looking for someone who: Thinks like a scientist Works like an automation expert Thrives in experimental, R D-driven environments You'll sit at the intersection of molecular biology and automation, partnering closely with scientists to design, execute, and scale complex workflows. Key Responsibilities Translate bench-scale experiments into automated workflows across integrated workcells and liquid handling platforms Partner with R D teams to develop, run, and analyze experiments using automation systems Design and implement workflow improvements to enhance: throughput turnaround time robustness and reproducibility Contribute to the build and validation of next-generation automation platforms Troubleshoot workflows, perform root cause analysis, and optimize performance Support the transfer of new processes from R D into more scalable environments Document workflows and train internal teams on system operation Mentor junior team members and contribute to building a strong technical culture Core Requirements 8+ years of experience in lab automation within an R D or assay development environment Strong hands-on experience programming and operating liquid handlers (e.g. Tecan, Hamilton, Echo, Bravo) Proven ability to design and execute experiments using automation, analyze and interpret experimental data, and communicate results to cross-functional teams Experience working in high-throughput screening, genomics, synthetic biology, or similar domains Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, C#, or similar) Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools and automation scheduling systems Ideal Profile Background as a scientist who has transitioned into automation Comfortable working alongside molecular biology or assay development teams Experience contributing to early-stage or fast-moving R D programs Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on experimentation and iteration Able to operate independently while collaborating across disciplines This Will Not Be a Fit If Your experience is primarily in mechanical design, hardware engineering, or instrument development without hands-on lab automation You've worked exclusively in production/manufacturing environments with limited experimental ownership Your automation experience is minimal or secondary to bench work