Automation Specialist - Biotherapeutics Discovery Research

Description

Are you passionate about integrated laboratory automation and orchestration platforms that transform the discovery and development of novel biotherapeutics? Do you want to work in a highly collaborative environment at the intersection of digital and physical automation systems?

Boehringer Ingelheim is seeking an Automation Integration Specialist with deep expertise in orchestration and liquid handler scripting platforms to drive next-generation laboratory automation within Biotherapeutics Discovery.

In this role, you will design, implement, and maintain end-to-end automated workflows spanning robotic scheduling, liquid handling, and data integration. You will work closely with laboratory scientists, automation engineers, and IT teams to translate scientific workflows into scalable, digital-first automation solutions. This includes orchestrating multi-instrument systems and developing robust scripting across leading liquid handling platforms.

You will play a critical role in advancing how Boehringer Ingelheim connects robotics, software, and data systems, contributing directly to reproducible science.

As an employee of Boehringer Ingelheim, you will actively contribute to the discovery, development, and delivery of our products to our patients and customers. Our global presence provides opportunities for all employees to collaborate internationally, offering visibility and opportunities to directly contribute to the company's success. We realize that our strength and competitive advantage lie with our people. We support our employees in numerous ways to foster a healthy working environment, meaningful work, mobility, networking, and work-life balance. Our competitive compensation and benefit programs reflect Boehringer Ingelheim's high regard for our employees.

Duties & Responsibilities

Automation & Orchestration (Cellario Focus)

•    Design, implement, and maintain orchestration workflows for integrated automation platforms.
•    Develop and optimize scheduler-driven workflows coordinating robotic systems, liquid handlers, incubators, analytical instruments, and data systems.
•    Lead system integration efforts across hardware and software layers, ensuring robust and scalable orchestration architectures.
•    Collaborate with internal and external teams to deploy and enhance automation capabilities.

Liquid Handler Scripting & Method Development

•    Develop, maintain, and optimize scripts across major liquid handling platforms, including but not limited to:
              o    Hamilton
              o    Tecan
              o    Beckman Coulter
              o    Opentrons
              o    Other vendor-specific scripting environments as applicable
•    Translate experimental protocols into robust, reusable automation methods.
•    Ensure method standardization, error handling, and data traceability across platforms.

Digital Integration & Data Connectivity

•    Design and implement digital interfaces connecting automation systems with data infrastructure (e.g., ELN, LIMS, data lakes, APIs).
•    Enable end-to-end data flow, including acquisition, transformation, and storage of experimental data.
•    Develop automation solutions for data-driven workflows, integrating scripting with data processing pipelines.

System Reliability & Troubleshooting

•    Troubleshoot complex, multi-system automation environments, minimizing downtime.
•    Diagnose issues across software, scripting, hardware communication, and scheduling layers.
•    Implement monitoring, logging, and recovery strategies for automated systems.

Collaboration & Scientific Enablement

•    Partner with scientists to understand research goals and translate them into automated workflows.
•    Provide technical leadership in automation strategy and system design for discovery programs.
•    Train laboratory staff on automation systems, scripting tools, and best practices.

Innovation & Technology Advancement

•    Stay current with automation technologies, including orchestration platforms, liquid handling systems, and digital lab integration.
•    Evaluate and implement new tools, scripting frameworks, and automation paradigms.
•    Contribute to the evolution of digital-physical convergence in laboratory automation.

Requirements

•    Bachelor’s degree with ~10 years or Master’s degree with ~6 years of experience in Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
•    Strong experience with laboratory automation orchestration, preferably Cellario or equivalent platforms.
•    Hands-on expertise in liquid handler programming and scripting, spanning multiple major platforms (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman, Opentrons).
•    Proficiency in modern programming/scripting languages, including:
            o    Python (strongly preferred)
            o    Additional languages such as Java, JavaScript, or similar
•    Experience with system integration, APIs, and data interfaces in laboratory environments.
•    Understanding of drug discovery workflows and laboratory processes.
•    Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities in complex automation systems.
•    Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.

Eligibility Requirements:

o    Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.
o    Must be willing to take a drug test and post-offer physical (if required).
o    Must be 18 years of age or older.

Compensation Data

This position offers a base salary typically between $140,000 and $222,000.  The position may be eligible for a role specific variable or performance-based bonus and or other compensation elements.  For an overview of our benefits please click here.