Senior Automation Engineer

Do you have a passion for Science?

Would you like to apply your expertise to impact a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you! At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

About AstraZeneca in Waltham, MA:
Our Waltham, MA facility builds life-changing medicines for people around the world. The modern, vibrant scientific campus employs more than 800 experts in our field, and it is only a short drive from Boston, MA. It is filled with innovative technology. Our work areas were built to facilitate teamwork, interaction and cross functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. As AstraZeneca continues to put patients at the forefront of our mission, we are excited for our move to Kendall Square/Cambridge in 2026. Please be aware you will be required to move to our new location upon completion. Find out more information here: Kendall Square Press Release

The Waltham site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees stay happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.

Summary of the Group
Biologics Engineering (BE) is large global organization with teams in Gaithersburg, US and Cambridge, UK responsible for the discovery and optimization of next generation biologics to create biological drug candidates for all key therapeutic areas such as oncology, respiratory and inflammation, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. We are building a new Waltham team from the ground up to support both our global responsibilities as well as building an innovation center. We're constantly pushing the boundaries of science and creativity to deliver life-changing medicines to patients, with a passion for the development of in-house biologics discovery platforms and novel drug modalities to address unmet medical needs.

Main Duties & Responsibilities
We are seeking a skilled and highly motivated Senior Automation Engineer to enhance our High Throughput Production & Screening (HTPS) biologics capability. The successful candidate will play a critical role in a dynamic group responsible for developing integrated automation platforms to support high throughput expression & purification of antibody therapeutics on a microgram-to-milligram scale. The selected individual will be an on-site automation expert but part of a global automation team with support from both Gaithersburg, US and Cambridge, UK engineers. In this role, you will help build and expand our lab automation capabilities, guiding the development of complex workflows, automating key laboratory processes, and providing technical guidance for a talented global team of automation engineers. You will work closely with scientists, data engineers, and software developers to implement solutions that enhance laboratory throughput, precision, and scalability.

Education & Experience Requirements 
BS with 5+ years relevant experience or MS with 3+ years relevant experience or PhD relevant experience in a scientific (biochemistry, molecular biology, etc.), engineering (chemical, mechanical, etc.), or computational (computer science, etc.) discipline.   

Required Skills
•    Must possess a proven track record in creating, modifying and troubleshooting complex scientific standalone laboratory robotic automation scripts and integrated systems. 
•    Advanced knowledge of laboratory automation (i.e. Hamilton, TECAN, PerkinElmer etc.), high throughput analytics (i.e. plate readers, flow cytometers, etc.), enabling laboratory automation tools (i.e. plate seal/peel, automated barcode readers, etc.) and integration software (Green-Button-Go, Cellario, Momentum etc.).   
•    Proven track record of consistently developing new skills and knowledge while improving existing ones.
•    Demonstrated ability to work independently and identify opportunities to train self.
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

 Desired Skills
•    Experience contributing to a science driven team.   
•    Completed Venus certification training or more automation platforms (Lynx, Biomek  EVOware, WinPREP, etc), integration software (Green-Button-Go, Momentum, Cellario, etc), or coding language ( Python, C#).
•    Familiarity with bioprocess development and experience working as a bench scientist.   
•    Experience in line management.
•    Experience working in a global team.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $95,000 to $143,000. However, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles) or to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. 

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.