Principal Automation Engineer

BCforward is seeking a highly motivated Senior Principal Automation Engineer, Platforms to support their pharmaceutical client in Boston, MA.

Expected Duration: 1 year with possibility to extend

Location: Boston, MA/onsite

Role Objective

A key objective of this role is to enable scalable experimental data generation by implementing automation platforms that produce consistent, high-quality datasets with structured metadata capture. These platforms support downstream analytics and AI/ML model development by ensuring data is traceable, reproducible, and generated within well-defined execution contexts.

Primary focus is platform delivery; standards, documentation, and knowledge transfer are continuous deliverables tied to each platform rather than a separate phase.

This position requires a highly experienced automation engineer capable of operating independently and delivering complex automation platforms with minimal onboarding. The successful candidate is expected to rapidly assess existing systems, identify gaps, and drive platforms to production with limited ramp time.

Engagement Details

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Seaport district)
• Travel: approximately 10–15%
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Independently own and deliver automation platforms from requirements definition through deployment, validation, and operational handoff
• Drive systems into stable, production-scale operation, ensuring reliability, scalability, and successful adoption by scientific teams
• Rapidly assess existing automation systems and drive them to production-ready state with minimal onboarding
• Operate as a senior individual contributor with full technical ownership of assigned platforms, making independent decisions required for successful delivery
• Partner with scientists, automation engineers, and data teams to translate biological workflows into robust, automated platforms
• Design and implement automation workflows that improve throughput, reduce variability, and ensure consistent metadata capture and traceability
• Develop and optimize liquid handling methods on Hamilton STAR platforms, including liquid class development, assay miniaturization, and workflow standardization
• Implement integrated automation workcells involving liquid handlers, robotics, and analytical instrumentation
• Implement barcoding, sample traceability, and workflow coordination across automation platforms
• Support integration of automation platforms with scheduling software and digital laboratory systems
• Identify and resolve technical risks to ensure successful delivery of complex automation systems
• Establish documentation, standards, and reusable patterns to support maintainability and scalability of automation platforms
• Enable knowledge transfer to internal team members to support long-term ownership and operation of deployed systems
• Collaborate with Lab Operations and IT to support system installation, infrastructure planning, and operational readiness
• Contribute to continuous improvement of automation platform reliability, efficiency, and scalability
  
  

Initial Focus Areas

• RNA extraction automation platforms (standardization and production deployment)
• NGS library preparation workcells (integration and scale-up)
• Barcoding and sample traceability integration across automation platforms
• Automation platform integration with scheduling and digital laboratory systems
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Industry experience in laboratory automation, with direct, hands-on responsibility for designing and delivering complex automation platforms and integrated workcells
• Demonstrated track record of independently delivering multiple production-scale automation systems end-to-end, including system design, method development, integration, validation, and operational deployment
• Extensive hands-on expertise with Hamilton STAR liquid handling platforms, including advanced method development in Venus, liquid class creation and optimization, and troubleshooting of complex liquid handling behavior in production environments
• Proven experience implementing integrated automation workcells involving liquid handlers, robotics, scheduling systems, and analytical instrumentation in coordinated, production environments
• Direct experience automating next generation sequencing (NGS) workflows at scale, including library preparation, bead-based cleanup, normalization, and indexing PCR
• Demonstrated experience standardizing automation platforms across multiple systems or sites, including development of reusable methods, materials standardization, and cross-site deployment strategies
• Experience integrating automation systems with scheduling software such as Green Button Go or equivalent orchestration platforms in production environments
• Strong understanding of RNA and molecular biology workflows, with experience translating these workflows into robust automated systems
• Experience operating in fast-paced R&D or clinical environments with aggressive delivery timelines and evolving requirements
• Experience integrating automation platforms with ELN/LIMS systems such as Benchling or equivalent
• Experience developing automation requirements, technical documentation, and SOPs
• Working proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages, applied within laboratory automation or instrument integration contexts
• Ability to work effectively across interdisciplinary teams and present platform status concisely to engineering, scientific, and leadership audiences
  
  

Success in This Role

Success In This Role Will Be Demonstrated By

• Deployment of stable, production-ready automation platforms supporting RNA workflows
• Measurable improvements in throughput, reproducibility, and operational efficiency
• Consistent generation of structured, traceable experimental datasets
• Successful adoption of automation platforms by scientific teams
• Clear documentation and knowledge transfer enabling long-term team ownership of systems