Laboratory Automation Scientist
Job description
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.
As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.
Job Function:
R&D Product Development
Job Sub Function:
R&D Electrical/Mechatronic Engineering
Job Category:
Scientific/Technology
All Job Posting Locations:
Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Job Description:
About Innovative Medicine
Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.
Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.
Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine
We are searching for the best talent for a Laboratory Automation Scientist to be located in Spring House, PA.
Purpose:
The Laboratory Automation Scientist is the practical bridge between scientists and the automated workcell. The role translates assay steps, sample formats, reagent needs, instrument sequences, timing constraints, and data outputs into executable automated methods and worklists.
The Scientist will design, configure, troubleshoot, and improve automated laboratory workflows that convert manual discovery and analytical methods into robust, reproducible, data-rich automated processes. They will own method behavior, worklist logic, sample/consumable state, user instructions, scientific readiness, and data context for assigned workflows.
This role complements the Experienced Automation and Robotics Engineer. The scientist owns scientific workflow translation and method execution logic; the engineer owns physical feasibility, robot motion, controls handshakes, safety behavior, serviceability, and machine-side troubleshooting.
You will be responsible for:
Design and Deploy
Translating manual protein discovery, analytical, molecular, NGS, screening, biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based workflows into automated methods and workcell configurations.
Configuring and optimizing methods on liquid handlers and integrated workcells including sealers, peelers, washers, centrifuges, incubators, readers, labelers, barcode scanners, storage systems, and analytical devices.
Contributing to deck layouts, method logic, sample maps, reagent maps, consumable maps, plate/tube movements, worklist structures, user prompts, run controls, and run readiness checklists.
Authoring or contributing to method descriptions, UAT protocols, SOPs, work instructions, training materials, data handoff notes, and troubleshooting guides.
Request Driven Execution and Orchestration
Supporting translation of scientific requests into automation worklists, sample preparation steps, instrument sequences, data output expectations, and acceptance checks.
Participating in defining run states, sample states, consumable states, operator prompts, allowable pauses, manual intervention points, and critical issue thresholds.
Working with IT/data teams and scientists to understand ELN, LIMS, GDB, data lake, request tracking, barcode, file transfer, and reporting requirements.
Supporting practical adoption by training users, capturing feedback, and improving usability without weakening scientific rigor or traceability.
Improve and Sustain
Troubleshooting liquid handling performance, assay transfer issues, device integration, sample routing, scheduling, barcode scanning, data capture gaps, and run exceptions.
Analyzing run records, failure modes, cycle times, hands-on time, sample losses, and user feedback to improve reliability, throughput, reproducibility, and data quality.
Supporting investigations and corrective actions for automation-related deviations, failed runs, interrupted workflows, and inconsistent scientific outputs.
Collaborating with automation engineers and vendors to distinguish method, assay, consumable, device, and physical integration root causes.
Additional Responsibilities
Support technology evaluations, proof-of-concept studies, workflow readiness assessments, user demonstrations, and vendor evaluations for future automation capabilities.
Contribute to laboratory automation standards, workflow templates, data handoff expectations, training materials, and playbooks.
Support audit, inspection, or quality documentation requests where automated scientific workflows intersect with regulated or quality-driven environments.
Participate in lessons learned and continuous improvement activities to improve future automation delivery and adoption.
Qualifications/Requirements
Education:
A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Analytical Sciences, Laboratory Automation, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field is required. An advanced degree is acceptable with relevant automation experience.
Experience and Skills:
Required:
Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years, Master’s degree with 2+ years, or a PhD with 1+ years of relevant laboratory automation, assay automation, analytical automation, or scientific workflow experience.
Demonstrated understanding of laboratory workflows, sample handling, plate/tube formats, assay execution, consumable preparation, run documentation, and data capture.
Hands-on or practical experience with automated liquid handlers or integrated laboratory automation equipment appropriate to the level of the role.
Ability to translate scientific workflows into executable automated methods, worklists, run states, exception pathways, and user-facing procedures.
Working knowledge of sample identity, labware identity, reagent identity, consumable state, barcode traceability, metadata capture, and downstream data requirements.
Ability to collaborate with scientists, automation engineers, IT, data science, AI, EHS, facilities, vendors, and laboratory operations.
Experience configuring, operating, troubleshooting, or improving automated laboratory systems.
Preferred:
Experience with Biosero Green Button Go, Cellario, Momentum, Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman, HighRes, Thermo Fisher, Azenta, Agilent, Waters, Python, SQL, APIs, ELN, LIMS, GDB, data lakes, request tracking, or automated sample storage.
Experience with assay development, high-throughput screening, cell culture analytics, protein analytics, NGS library prep, SPR/BLI, SEC-MALS, ELISA, or cell-based assays.
Experience with method scripting such as VENUS, EVOware, Python/Java-based APIs, or similar vendor software.
Other:
Travel may be required for vendor assessments, FAT/SAT activities, site visits, system builds, workshops, training, technology scouting, or cross-site deployment support. Percentage to be finalized with business leadership.
Why Join Us
This role supports the transition from isolated automation projects to integrated, reliable, AI-native, and ultimately self-driving discovery laboratory systems. The work helps connect scientific intent with robust physical execution, reproducible data, model feedback, and scalable operational capability.
Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers, internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.
If you are under 18 years of age, you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check.
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