Staff Engineer, Advanced Automation & Systems Integration

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Laboratory Setting, Office

Job Description

LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at our Pleasanton, CA site. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided. Priority will be given to LOCAL candidates currently residing in the Bay Area.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen.

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

About the Role

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Genetic Sciences Division is developing automated, connected and AI-enabled workflows for the next generation of genetic-analysis platforms.

We are seeking a Staff Engineer in Advanced Automation & Systems Integration to develop and demonstrate new laboratory automation capabilities. This individual will integrate GSD instruments and consumables with robots, liquid handlers, workflow software and data systems, turning advanced concepts into reusable platform capabilities.

The successful candidate will combine hands-on automation experience with strong systems thinking and an understanding of genomic workflows in biopharma. This person will build working systems, test complete workflows and collaborate with customers and automation partners to shape future sample-to-answer and Lab-of-the-Future solutions.

What You’ll Do

Develop Advanced Automation Concepts

• Develop automation concepts integrating instruments, consumables, assays, robotics, software and data.
• Translate customer needs and emerging scientific workflows into requirements and system concepts.
• Build prototypes and proof-of-concept systems that address the most important technical uncertainties.
• Lead trade studies involving throughput, flexibility, walk-away time, usability, reliability and cost.
• Evaluate concepts based on customer value, technical feasibility, scalability and product potential.
• Align automation concepts with GSD system architecture and reusable platform foundations.

Integrate Instruments with Robotics

• Integrate GSD instruments and consumables with robots, liquid handlers, conveyors and other laboratory equipment.
• Define physical, mechanical, electrical, communications, software and safety interfaces.
• Develop instrument-control APIs, device drivers, protocols and workflow abstractions.
• Create solutions for scheduling, synchronization, sample handling, traceability and error recovery.
• Troubleshoot issues spanning robotics, instruments, firmware, software, networks and scientific workflows.
• Design reusable integration patterns that can scale across products, customers and automation platforms.

Test and Demonstrate Genomic Workflows

• Build and execute automated workflows representing biopharma and genomic applications.
• Develop test strategies covering normal operation, edge cases, recovery and extended unattended use.
• Evaluate throughput, reliability, sample integrity, contamination control and data traceability.
• Demonstrate working systems to customers, partners and internal stakeholders.
• Support customer evaluations, co-development activities and early technology pilots.
• Translate testing and user feedback into technical requirements and product recommendations.

Advance Lab-of-the-Future and AI

• Develop sample-to-answer and multi-instrument workflow capabilities.
• Build Lab-in-the-Loop concepts using experimental data and real-time feedback to adapt or optimize workflows.
• Apply AI to experimental planning, scheduling, anomaly detection, recovery and workflow optimization.
• Use AI-assisted engineering to accelerate interface development, test generation, failure analysis and documentation.
• Define the data, compute and integration needs of intelligent automation capabilities.
• Ensure AI-enabled concepts include appropriate validation, traceability, cybersecurity and human oversight.

Build Strategic Partner Ecosystems

• Develop technical relationships with robotics, liquid-handling, automation-software and integration companies.
• Maintain knowledge of leading automation vendors, platforms and interface standards.
• Understand partner architectures, development constraints, commercial needs and support models.
• Evaluate partners based on compatibility, scalability, reliability and strategic value.
• Lead joint architecture, integration, testing and technical problem-solving.
• Identify opportunities for co-development or productized partner solutions.

Transition Concepts into Product Capabilities

• Partner with Advanced Technology, System Architecture and product teams to mature successful concepts.
• Identify productization needs involving reliability, cost, manufacturability, serviceability and quality.
• Develop reusable interface standards, simulators, test tools and integration documentation.
• Package prototypes, data, requirements and technical learning for transfer to product teams.
• Support early product integration and resolve critical transition risks.
• Mentor engineers in automation architecture and cross-disciplinary integration.

What You Bring

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s + 7-8 years or Master's + 5-6 years in systems, electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, robotics, software or biomedical engineering, or a related discipline/industry experience.
• Substantial experience integrating instruments with robotics, liquid handlers or laboratory automation.
• Demonstrated success building, testing and demonstrating automated scientific workflows.
• Experience working with automation vendors, technology partners and external customers.
• Experience developing concepts from feasibility through verification or product transition.
• Experience providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

Technical and Industry Depth

• Strong knowledge of robotics, laboratory automation, liquid handling and instrument integration.
• Experience with mechanical and electrical interfaces, device-control APIs, communications and workflow orchestration.
• Experience with scheduling, error recovery, safety, sample handling and traceability.
• Proficiency with Python, C++, C#, Java or comparable languages.
• Experience with automated testing, simulation, system diagnostics and root-cause analysis.
• Understanding of genomic workflows used in biopharma, including sample preparation and nucleic-acid analysis.
• Familiarity with leading automation vendors and partner ecosystems.
• Practical understanding of AI/ML applications in automation, experimentation and intelligent control.

Leadership and Behaviors

• Hands-on innovator who turns ambiguous workflow needs into working systems.
• Understands customer science as well as automation technology.
• Thinks in reusable platforms rather than one-off demonstrations.
• Builds strong relationships with customers, partners and internal teams.
• Tests assumptions quickly and communicates risks early.
• Influences without direct authority and mentors other engineers.
• Balances experimentation and speed with reliability and product viability.

Why This Role Matters

Future genetic-analysis platforms will operate within increasingly automated and intelligent laboratory environments. This role will transform advanced automation, robotics and AI concepts into validated capabilities that can strengthen GSD products, customer workflows and future Lab-of-the-Future solutions.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $135,900.00–$170,000.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards