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 assigned.
- Provide primary floor support in workcell laboratories and secondary floor support in other labs.
- Actively participate in sprint meetings and provide updates.
- Actively contribute in group meetings.
- Raise issues that could lead to continuous improvement projects.
- Lead initiatives, with guidance, to improve Production Engineering efficiency or ease of execution.
- Share progress through Production Automation Engineering project intake / PMO tracking as requested.
Management & Supervision
- No direct management responsibilities.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.
- 2–5 years of experience in laboratory automation engineering, with hands-on experience in lab automation troubleshooting and development.
-
Required Knowledge & Skills
- Understanding of diagnostic laboratory workflows, instrumentation, and software.
- Proficiency in lab automation controlling software and scheduling software; learning applicable supporting software tools (e.g., Python).
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols meticulously.
- Strong knowledge of GDP and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills for managing multiple projects.
- Ability to travel between local Austin sites (within ~1 mile) to support multiple labs.
Preferred / Nice to Have
- Background in NGS and/or clinical laboratories (e.g., extraction, library preparation, or sequencing workflows).
- Hands-on experience programming and operating liquid handlers—especially Tecan, Hamilton, Biomek, and/or Cellario.
- Experience contributing to capacity-expansion deployments of liquid handlers in a production environment.
- Familiarity with workcell controlling / scheduling software (e.g., Cellario, GBG).
- Familiarity with sequencing / long-read platforms and related lab equipment.
- Experience supporting verification, validation, and PQ activities for automated methods.
- Experience working with LIMS systems.
- Working knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11, FDA, and CLIA requirements.
- Comfort working under change control (CCR) and documented equivalency studies.
OUR OPPORTUNITY
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.
The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.
WHAT WE OFFER
Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits 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