Senior Automation Engineer

Sr. Automation Engineer

A growing company in the food and agriculture technology space is hiring! They develop systems that provide real-time insights, help catch problems sooner, support healthier livestock, and improve operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Reliable sample-to-data automation: Deliver production-ready systems integrating liquid handling, robotic centrifugation, collaborative robotics, plate sealing/reading, incubators, and computer vision, meeting uptime and throughput targets.
• Ruggedization for non-standard samples: Engineer fixtures, sensors, and software to handle complex/agricultural samples (viscous, particulate, variable volume).
• System development & error handling: Build sequencing and error-handling logic; design end-effectors, nests, conveyors/transfer mechanisms; implement camera-based detection and closed-loop adjustments.
• Production transfer: Transition prototypes to production and collaborate with application experts to onboard additional lab protocols.
• Scale & repeatability: Develop electromechanical designs, BOMs, and test procedures for replication across multiple sites.
• Safety & compliance: Design to meet lab and plant safety standards, including lockout/tagout, cobot risk assessments, interlocks, and biosafety practices.
• Cross-functional integration: Work with software/DevOps teams on controls, data acquisition, and LIMS/REST/OPC UA integrations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• 5 years of experience delivering production-deployed automation/robotics.
• Proven success with collaborative robots, custom motion systems, fixturing, and end effector design/selection.
• Hands-on experience integrating instruments such as liquid handlers, centrifuges, incubators, sealers, readers, and cameras.
• Familiarity with RTOS, communication protocols (RS-232, USB, Ethernet, I²C, SPI), Python, PLCs/industrial controls, sensors, and machine vision.
• Mechanical/industrial engineering expertise: CAD (Solidworks preferred), time studies/capacity analysis, FMEA, pneumatics, controls, Design for Manufacturing, metals, and composites.
• Experience prototyping hardware internally and via external shops.
• Collaborative cross-disciplinary communication – able to work with scientists, software engineers, and field operators.
• Experience with laboratory automation, ISO 17025/BSL-2 practices, LIMS, OPC UA, and REST APIs.
• Working knowledge of laboratory diagnostic instrumentation and consumables.
• Experience in regulated industries such as medical devices, pharma, food processing, or complex manufacturing.
• Vendor and partner management – evaluating and coordinating automation vendors, suppliers, and integrators to ensure performance, reliability, and cost targets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in volume production or fast-paced startup environments.
• Familiarity with end-to-end laboratory workflows and diagnostics.

Location & Travel

• On-site position with primary work at the laboratory facility.
• Occasional travel (up to 5%) to manufacturer or client sites.