Sr Automation Engineer (Laboratory Automation)

Location: Onsite in South San Francisco, California, USA

Salary: $140,000–$169,000 USD annually, plus bonus, equity, and benefits.

Company

hirify.global develops silicon-based DNA synthesis technology for genomics, healthcare, agriculture, industrial chemicals, and data storage.

What you will do

• Develop, validate, and maintain automated liquid handling methods for high-throughput synthetic biology and genomics workflows.
• Provide hands-on support for Hamilton liquid handlers, bulk dispensers, analytical instruments, sequencers, integrated automation systems, and custom robotics.
• Lead validation projects, write technical documentation, and maintain production automation systems.
• Collaborate with Operations, R&D, and Quality to optimize processes and gather requirements.
• Integrate laboratory hardware with LIMS and evaluate or develop instrument software and automation solutions.
• Ensure automated workflows comply with regulatory and ISO 13485 quality standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field, with 7+ years of relevant laboratory automation experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience operating and programming robotic liquid handlers, with demonstrated expertise in Hamilton Robotics.
• Experience translating manual assays into standalone workstations or fully integrated automation platforms.
• Experience with sample tracking software, software requirements, and LIMS interfaces.
• Strong scientific computation, data analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work onsite in South San Francisco, California.

Nice to have

• Proficiency in Python, C#, or VBScript for custom data handling and workflow extensions.
• Experience automating next-generation sequencing assays.
• Experience with ISO 13485 or other quality management systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Operations, R&D, and Quality.
• Fast-paced environment focused on releasing robust automated workflows.
• Eligibility for bonus, equity, and a benefits package.