Automation Engineer

The posting, as Natera wrote it

Position Summary

The Automation Engineer is an intermediate role focused on deployment, optimization, and support of automated systems and software tools, including workcells, liquid handlers, and analytical instruments. This engineer has more independence than an Associate and is expected to have a solid foundation in sustaining engineering (troubleshooting and development).

This individual should have a solid understanding of most complex automated liquid handling systems used in the lab, and can drive engineering projects of medium complexity independently and of high complexity with some guidance. They document work completely, follow SOPs, and contribute to Production Engineering documentation and team knowledge.

Work is organized across Production Automation Engineering's project portfolio categories—Stabilize, Standardize, and Optimize—and commonly includes liquid-handler capacity expansion, platform upgrades, assay/workflow verification, instrument troubleshooting, and go-live support for production systems.

Roles and Responsibilities

Complexity & Problem Solving

• Operate as a semi-autonomous individual contributor within Production Engineering.
• Deploy liquid handling robotics for capacity expansion. Use SOPs or work instructions when available and assist with drafting documentation for new deployments.
• Perform defined continuous improvement projects; take ownership of assigned work and report to the project leader and/or manager.
• Contribute to Stabilize / Standardize / Optimize projects from intake through execution, including providing status updates and supporting schedule and % complete tracking.
• Handle complex troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance. Provide 2nd-tier support to the Service Engineering team.
• Solve non-routine problems with some guidance.
• Perform assignments following SOPs.
• Support technical work independently on medium-complexity scope projects and with guidance on high-complexity scope.
• Assist with performance qualification (PQ) and verification activities for new or updated automated methods.
• Draft SOPs and work instructions. Contribute to the Production Engineering documentation library.
• Continuously learn and build technical knowledge across platforms and assays.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the use of some controlling, scheduling, and supporting software.
• Be well versed in some complex laboratory instruments and the assays run on these systems.
• Develop solutions of medium complexity; understand when to reach out for guidance.
• Learn to analyze and interpret test data for troubleshooting and development.
• Document activities completely and with appropriate detail. Adhere to Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and change-control practices as applicable.
• Adhere to lab safety protocols and regulatory requirements.

Collaboration, Interaction & Projects

• Collaborate cross-functionally on medium-scale projects with Production, R&D, Quality, and vendors as assig

[…]
s include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com .

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @ natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For more information

• BBB announcement on job scams
• FBI Cyber Crime resource page