Job Title: Automation Engineer
Location: Stevenage, Herts
Permanent: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays, Private Health, Life Assurance x 4, Up to 5% pension contribution, free parking and café on site

Job Summary
The successful candidate will join our clients Functional Genomics team to be the first point of contact for all software and technical issues for automated liquid handling, plate washers and bench-top automation platforms, enabling minimal equipment downtime and maximal system utilisation. This position will be embedded within the department, providing direct support to laboratory scientists in the programming and operation of automated platforms and in planning of experiments to incorporate automated solutions where appropriate.

The role would suit a Biology or Science graduate with extensive experience in troubleshooting, servicing and resolving breakdowns on a variety of Liquid Handling Platforms.

Job Responsibilities
* Lead Equipment breakdown troubleshooting activities to identify the underlying cause, with the objective of mitigating its reoccurrence
* Train equipment users on key concepts associated with the platforms within Functional Genomics to support best-practice and mitigate avoidable run failures, ensuring optimal routine operation
* Work closely with equipment users to develop & optimise assay protocols on their automation platforms, ensuring optimal efficiency & performance
* Work alongside gene editing and cell culture scientists to develop, optimise, validate and troubleshoot high throughput automated workflows
* Oversee & participate in equipment support activities within Functional Genomics
* Establish & maintain strong relationships with Vendor Application Specialists
* Maintain awareness of new developments in the field of Laboratory Automation
* Provide technical mediation in the event of long running equipment issues involving multiple vendors
* Leverage the expertise & experience of the network of Automation Application Scientists and the wider Applied Sciences team from across Scientific Services accounts
* Help develop best-practice and facilitate knowledge sharing between automation users
* Work flexibly depending on team priorities and support requirements

Essential Education/Experience/Qualifications
* HND or higher in a Scientific related subject
* Minimum 3 years industry experience in leading lab instrument technical support
* Experience of C#, Java, HTML & other advanced programming languages
* Extensive experience writing protocols in Momentum or VWorks software
* Pharmaceutical/Regulated industry working background
* Attention to detail and good organizational skills
* Good team-working behaviours, interpersonal and communication skills
* Experience of developing & optimising complex protocols on liquid handling automation
* Solid understanding of core competencies involved in operating liquid handling automation
* Experience writing protocols in Biomek, Evoware, Momentum or VWorks software
* Solid aptitude for expanding field of knowledge, perhaps outside of the core role

Desirable Education/Experience/Qualifications
* MSc/PhD in a Scientific related subject
* Background in biology, automating cell-based assays and/or molecular biological techniques
* 2-4 years' experience in applications support or service development
* Strong understanding of cell and molecular biology, cell culture techniques, gene editing methods, high throughput screening & sample preparation

If you are interested and feel you have the right skills then please apply to this role.

Gi Group Pharmaceuticals provides a tailored Account Managed Service and dedicated Pharmaceutical recruitment team and partners with many different Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology clients throughout the globe and the United Kingdom.

Gi Group Holdings Recruitment Limited group of companies includes Gi Recruitment Limited, Draefern Limited, Gi Group Recruitment Ltd, INTOO (UK) Limited, Marks Sattin (UK) Limited, TACK TMI UK Limited and Grafton Professional Staffing Limited. We are committed to protecting the privacy of all of our candidates and clients. Following some recent changes to data protection laws we have updated our Privacy Policy. To view a copy and to help you understand how we collect, use and process your personal data please visit the Privacy page on our Gi Group UK website.