Senior Automation Engineer (Lab Automation Platforms)

Job Description

We are seeking a senior handson Senior Automation Engineer to help define evolve and execute the technical vision for laboratory automation platforms. This role combines platform ownership and architectural leadership with deep practical involvement in instrument integration troubleshooting and live lab operations.

The ideal candidate has shaped automation platforms or workcell architectures that scale across instruments workflows and teams while remaining close to the lab and accountable for reliability in production. You translate longterm vision into pragmatic systems that scientists and operators trust. This is an onsite position in San Diego.

Primary Stack: .NET (C#) JavaScript Relational Databases

Key Responsibilities:

Automation Platform Vision & Ownership

• Help shape the technical vision architecture and standards for laboratory automation software and workcell integration.
• Translate automation goals (scalability reliability flexibility) into concrete platform patterns and implementations.
• Act as a technical steward balancing nearterm operational needs with longterm platform health.

HandsOn Integration & Operational Support

• Design implement and support instrument drivers control layers and orchestration logic across diverse lab equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex failures spanning software robotics instruments networking and data flows.
• Support commissioning validation and rollout of new automation capabilities.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex or systemic automation issues.

Reliability Usability & Operator Experience

• Architect robust communication error handling recovery and observability patterns.
• Design systems that fail safely and recover predictably under real lab conditions.
• Guide operatorfacing software to provide clear system state actionable errors and intuitive recovery workflows.
• Use operator and scientist feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Data & Informatics Integration

• Shape data models and workflows supporting traceability QC and analytics across automated runs.
• Influence relational database design and performance for workflows.
• Collaborate with informatics teams to align automation data with enterprise systems.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership during live operations and incident response.
• Mentor engineers and automation specialists.
• Influence roadmaps priorities and investments in reliability and platform health.

What Success Looks Like

• Automation systems are more reliable scalable and understandable.
• Operators trust the platform and can recover confidently from failures.
• Todays technical decisions clearly support the automation ecosystem 25 years out.

Education and Experience:

• PhD in software computer sciences or related field and 2-5 years experience in life sciences engineering or academia or
• Masters Degree in software computer sciences or related field and 5 years experience in life sciences engineering or academia or
• Bachelors Degree in software computer sciences or related field and 8 years experience in life sciences engineering or academia
• Significant experience with:
  • C# / .NET
  • JavaScript / TypeScript
  • Relational databases (advanced SQL schema design)

• Proven experience defining and delivering technical vision for complex automation or platform systems.
• Deep handson experience with laboratory or industrial automation.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across software and physical systems.
• Experience in drug discovery or highthroughput laboratory environments.

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this On-Site designated role you will work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertexs Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

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Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a persons race color sex gender identity or expression age religion national origin ancestry ethnicity disability veteran status genetic information sexual orientation marital status or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager or contact Talent Acquisition at