Automation Service Engineer

Our Mission:

Dash accelerates drug development. By fusing advanced automation-native lab workflows and integrated software into a unified platform, we provide the biopharma industry with the high-velocity, high-quality, data-driven development solutions required to get life-saving therapies to patients faster. Dash seeks to continuously improve industry KPIs and materially reduce the time and cost to bring a drug to market. 

Company Summary:

We are building the infrastructure for modern drug development. We are moving beyond the manual, fragmented processes of traditional service providers by taking a technology-first approach to bioanalysis. Our platform is tech-enabled, automated, and GLP-compliant with the goal to industrialize the scientific workflows that act as bottlenecks in the industry. We deliver next-generation preclinical and clinical bioanalysis results with unprecedented speed and precision.

We are a team of builders operating at the intersection of biology, hardware, and code. This is an environment for scientists and engineers who are tired of the status quo and are ready to apply their skills to solve hard problems at scale. We don't just run assays, we architect the systems that will define the future of drug development.

We are a place where employees are stretched to do the best work of their career. We are looking for engineers, scientists, and biotechnicians who want to make an impact on the world and leverage their skills in an innovative way.

Position Overview

We are seeking a well-versed, highly motivated and detail-oriented Automation Service Engineer to join our team to provide hardware automation expertise and provide the first line of defense to production and engineering teams.  In this role, you will be responsible for all instrumentation operating at the highest level of quality and complying with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). 

The successful candidate will be the subject matter expert on all laboratory automation hardware platforms we are building out at Dash. This candidate will be the first line of defense in providing support and troubleshooting together with production automation lead, scientists and technicians as well as the engineering team.  You will champion instrument qualifications (plan, execute and document) to ensure all laboratory equipment is best fit-for-purpose and is operating at the highest level required for GxP compliance. This individual will develop and run monthly QCs to ensure instrument’s in-spec performance and to the IQ/OQ standards. You will work with vendors and the quality team to oversee instrument reliability, up time and high operational quality. During periods of increased sample demand, production coverage might be requested.

General Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary "first line of defense" for real-time automation hardware troubleshooting, error recovery, and system maintenance across production runs.
• Partner with Production Automation Lead, scientists, technicians and engineers to diagnose hardware-software integration issues and minimize operational downtime.
• Coordinate vendor-executed preventive maintenance on all equipment.  Collaborate with facilities to ensure up-to-date service contract coverage.
• Author and update automation equipment Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions.
• Champion instrument qualifications (draft, execute, and document IQ/OQ/PQ protocols) within a GLP-compliant laboratory. 
• Develop the methodology and routinely perform QC on liquid handling platforms to ensure proper instrument performance
• Provide occasional production run coverage and operational support during high-demand processing periods.
  
  

Qualifications & Skills

• Automation Platform Expertise: Hands-on technical proficiency with common liquid handling platforms (specifically Hamilton STAR/Vantage instrumentation), alongside Agilent/BioTek devices (i.e.EL406 washer, Synergy NEO) and Thermo Fisher peripherals (i.e. KingfisherFlex and others).
• Biological Workflow Fluency: Familiarity with common laboratory applications and assay preparation, including but not limited to ligand binding assays (ELISA/MSD), genomics (NGS/qPCR/ddPCR), and LCMS.
• Technical Aptitude & Troubleshooting: Strong intuitive grasp of hardware-software integration, logic-based liquid handler tasks, and physical error recovery protocols on active production lines.
• Process & Quality Mindset: Exceptionally structured, detail-oriented, and process-driven. You thrive in regulated (GLP/GxP) environments where data integrity and system uptime are paramount.
• Adaptability & Communication: Clear written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to prioritize tasks, adapt to shifting priorities, and collaborate effectively across cross-functional science, automation, and software teams.
• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biology, or a related field with 5 years of hands-on industry experience combined with proven experience managing, configuring, or troubleshooting lab automation in a fast-paced production or clinical setting.
  
  

In accordance with Massachusetts pay transparency requirements, the base salary range for this role is $100,000 – $174,000. Actual compensation will vary based on experience, skills, scope, responsibilities, and internal equity.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work at the forefront of bioanalytical innovation.
• Collaborative and inclusive company culture.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Direct access to industry veterans and a supportive environment for professional growth.