Sr Automation Engineer - Group Leader

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research is seeking candidates for a challenging and exciting opportunity to lead the Technical Operations (automation) group supporting the Lead Discovery Center. The successful candidate will be exposed to state of the art laboratory automation equipment for the support of High Throughput Screening, Preclinical Profiling and Compound Management and will be charged with guiding and mentoring a team of dedicated automation engineers.

As leader of the Technical Operations Group, the successful candidate will be tasked with insuring current equipment availability to maintain daily operations, and to help define and commission new technologies to address the unmet automation needs of the Lead Discovery Group.

Key Functions:

Manage daily operations of Tech. Ops.

Act as a first line of support for automation and instrumentation within the Lead Discovery Center in Cambridge, MA

Guide, mentor and direct the activities of a group of automation engineers (4-6 associates).

Ability to represent Tech. Ops. both locally to senior management, and globally with peer-groups at other locations.

Monitor performance of equipment by implementing QC standard operating procedures for use by engineers/scientists.

Cooperative project management and commissioning of instrumentation for LDC.

Help streamline and support daily processes within LDC in High Throughput Screening, Compound Management, Preclinical Compound Profiling, Cell Culture and Protein Production.

Evaluate and recommend new technologies.

Organize training for engineers/scientists within LDC.

Help remove bottlenecks in sample processing to facilitate the swift generation of data for scientists to review.

Provide and or coordinate vendor training to new users of equipment.

Qualifications

2+ years in management with experience of at least 2 direct reports.

4+ years experience using and implementing automated systems including liquid handlers, microplate readers, automated cell culture and screening systems.

BS or BA in related science or engineering field.

Ability to diagnose and remedy advanced hardware and software problems quickly.

Knowledge of robotic mechanical and electrical components and design.

Good personal and communication skills. Ability to work well within a team. The individual must understand "customer focus" and be professional within workplace.

Proven track record in leadership.

Individual must be self motivated, well-organized, reliable, able to prioritize workload.

Working knowledge of MS Office


Desired Traits & Experience

Experience adapting a HTS to a fully-automated robotic system is a plus

Knowledge of some or all of the following instruments/systems are required:
Compound management Haystack systems (e.g. The Automation Partnership's SolAr); Thermo automated platforms (Dimension 4, CRS articulated robotic systems and Catalyst Express, POLARA software); TECAN Genesis liquid handlers; Beckman FX; Matrix PlateMate Plus; MDC FLIPR; PerkinElmer Flexdrop, Envision, ViewLux, Trilux; TECAN, Safire, Gemini Software; V11 Vprep; Kendro or LiCONiC automated incubators; GE LEADseeker; Software: Spotfire DecisionSite; IDBS ActivityBase


Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research is an equal opportunity employer committed to embracing and leveraging diverse backgrounds. M/F/D/V