Associate Director Automation Engineering

Leveraging an automated production platform, JAX’s iPSC repository is projected to become the largest in the world by 2030 by expanding to several thousand lines and enabling next-generation applications in disease modeling and drug discovery. The new Cellular Models production facility will be housed at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine facility in Farmington, CT. The Associate Director, Automation Engineering, will oversee the automated systems and serve as the front-line manager for the technologists, ensuring workflow coordination and technical troubleshooting. The role guides the design, implementation, and maintenance of automated instruments, workcells, custom hardware, and robotics solutions that support complex workflows. It combines hands-on engineering (mechanical and electrical), method development, troubleshooting, and operational support with leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional planning. The role collaborates closely with partners across engineering, scientific, data, and project management functions to ensure the platform remains reliable, scalable, and technologically advanced. For this role, we are seeking candidates who can train for approximately one month at our New York City location and then work full time at our Farmington, CT office. Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions Lead, mentor, and develop the Cell Models team; provide technical direction, delegation, and ongoing coaching. Define best practices for method development, troubleshooting, maintenance, and system upgrades. Establish engineering standards for documentation, validation, safety, and change control. Coordinate team priorities and cross-functional communication with Software, Biology, and Platform Architecture teams. Oversee the design, development, and integration of automated instrumentation, robotic systems, and custom hardware across the Global Stem Cell Array. Work closely with biologists to translate manual workflows into automated processes with appropriate controls, liquid classes, calibrations, and failure modes. Develop and validate liquid-handling methods across diverse platforms (e.g., Hamilton STAR/VANTAGE, Agilent Bravo, Dynamic Devices Lynx, integrated workcells). Work with related teams to ensure seamless interoperability between automation hardware, instrument control software, LIMS, and data systems. Create custom software utilities (scripts, macros, dashboards, drivers) to support instrument control, monitoring, and workflow automation. Design and fabricate mechanical components, fixtures, adapters, and prototypes using CAD, 3D printing, CNC machining, or rapid prototyping methods. Integrate sensors, microcontrollers, actuators, or third-party devices into existing automation platforms. Conduct feasibility assessments, POCs, and platform evaluations for new technologies or robotic solutions. Maintain an engineering-first approach to reliability, ergonomics, and scalability. Serve as the highest-level resource for diagnosing and resolving complex system issues—mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, software, or workflow-related. Partner with Software Engineering to integrate instrument behavior with LIMS, orchestration layers, and monitoring pipelines. Collaborate with the Platform Architect to ensure alignment between hardware architecture, data structures, workflows, and interoperable subsystems. Communicate engineering insights and system performance trends to leadership and stakeholders. Develop and maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance and repair program for all automated systems. Ensure systems meet internal quality standards, safety regulations, and research/manufacturing expectations. Train operators and junior engineers on troubleshooting, maintenance, and method debugging. Evaluate emerging automation platforms, robotics frameworks, and advanced instrumentation for adoption into the Array ecosystem. Identify opportunities for throughput increases, process simplification, and reductions in human intervention. Help lead technology transfer across sites and support scaling strategies for future automation expansions. Maintain deep familiarity with state-of-the-art tools in lab automation, robotics, machine vision, and process engineering. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities BS Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred 5 years of hands-on experience developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting automated laboratory systems (liquid handlers, robotics, plate movers, incubators, imaging systems, etc.). Excellent troubleshooting ability across mechanical, electrical, and software layers. 3 years of supervisory experience Demonstrated experience leading automation engineering teams or technical projects. Clear communication skills across technical and scientific teams. Expertise with one or more automation platforms (Hamilton STAR/VANTAGE, Agilent Bravo, Dynamic Devices Lynx, or similar). Strong understanding of mechanical assemblies, robotics, motion control, pneumatics, and hardware integration. Proficiency with one or more programming languages used in automation (Python, C#, C/C , MATLAB, scripting languages). Experience with CAD, rapid prototyping (3D printing), or CNC machining. Experience integrating instrumentation via vendor APIs, serial communication, TCP/IP, SiLA2, or custom drivers. Familiarity with LIMS, SQL databases, data pipelines, and workflow metadata structures. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced R&D environment with evolving priorities. Highly organized, self-directed, and effective at managing multiple parallel projects. Pay Range for this opening is $113,718 - $190,388 based on total years of related experience About JAX: The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org. EEO Statement: The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws. Bar Harbor: The Jackson Laboratory's 43-acre scenic Bar Harbor campus is nestled between the Gulf of Maine and the mountains of Acadia National Park. Some of the best hiking and biking in the world (over 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, views, and dramatic coastline) is accessible from our campus. We are one mile from downtown Bar Harbor, which offers a vibrant downtown district with a plethora of restaurants, shops, museums, and galleries. Ellsworth: The Charles E. Hewett Center in Ellsworth, Maine, is a state-of-the-art facility that serves researchers world wide. The facility represents the culmination of nine decades of unmatched experience and leadership in breeding and caring for laboratory mice. Ellsworth, Maine, is one of Maine’s fastest growing cities. With a growth rate of nearly 20%, Ellsworth is a bustling year-round community and acts as a hub for surrounding towns. It is located nearby Acadia National Park and hosts numerous special events, concerts and festivals each year. Residents have access to fabulous shopping, recreation, museums, galleries, and dining at a variety of independent restaurants. Farmington: JAX Genomic Medicine is transforming medicine by improving patient care, lowering costs, and increasing life span and health span. JAX Genomic Medicine’s research focuses on the complex genetic causes of disease and on the development of genomic solutions tailored to each person's unique genetic makeup. JAX Genomic Medicine sits on a 17-acre site on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center. The 183,500-square-foot facility opened in the fall of 2014. Now, it houses over 300 biomedical researchers, technicians, and support staff in state-of-the-art computing facilities and laboratories. In Connecticut, JAX resides in the scenic town of Farmington, in the state’s capitol region. The Hartford region, which offers some of the best public schools in the country, is made up of both bigger cities and smaller, charming historic New England towns. JAX Genomic Medicine is also geographically located within 2 hours of Boston and New York and is close to multiple transportation systems, including bus lines, highways, railroads and international airports. Sacramento: The JAX® Mice, Clinical and Research Services facility is located in Sacramento, the state capital of California. Sacramento is less than a two-hour drive from San Francisco, Napa Valley, and scenic Lake Tahoe, and a short flight to both Los Angeles and Orange County. Sacramento is the birthplace of the nation’s Farm to Fork movement, and offers excellent restaurants, gastro-pubs, wineries, theaters, and museums. Outdoor activities are plentiful: Boating, white water rafting, and riding the scenic bicycle trails are popular. Housing and other costs of living are more affordable in Sacramento and its surrounding suburbs than in most other neighboring areas in the North Bay, making Sacramento one of the hottest housing markets in the country year after year. Augusta: JAX’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI) is located in Augusta, Maine, in the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC), at Maine General Hospital. It began operations in 2016 with three overarching goals: to provide cancer genomic testing for Maine cancer patients; to develop and deliver physician education about clinical genomic cancer diagnostics; and to build a network in Maine of oncology practices conducting studies in genomic medicine.

Salary : $113,718 - $190,388