Laboratory Automation Lead

About Pivot Bio:  

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of microbiology, genomics, crop nutrition and agriculture, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in fertilizer technology. Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes, modern gene editing and application technologies to provide nitrogen to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new solutions for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour.

The Discovery and Translational Research team (DTR) at Pivot Bio is looking for a Laboratory Automation Lead engineer who is excited about the challenges of working with novel soil microbes in a high-impact, fast-moving, and supportive team​ environment​. This position will advance Pivot Bio’s product development pipeline by planning, engineering, and supporting our laboratory operations robotic systems. The role will be key in the continual expansion of our laboratory assay capabilities and be a lead in working with scientists to drive efficiency and accuracy in agricultural product discovery. This individual will coordinate across teams, drive projects forward, and develop cutting-edge tools to expand our capabilities within the lab.  If you have experience and passion in providing researchers scale, reliability, and impact using the power of laboratory automation, we want to hear from you.  

This role is onsite in St. Louis, MO.

Responsibilities:   

• Cooperate with Facilities, Lab Operations, and EH&S with a safety-first mindset. 
• Design and implement robotic methods to automate new and existing workflows in Pivot Bio’s areas of scientific research.    
• Work with fellow automation engineers and researchers to prioritize and deliver solutions as described above. Applies learned techniques and contributes to analysis and investigation to solve problems.  
• Design, implement, and execute plans for maintenance and system performance for robotic lab equipment such as liquid handlers, robotic arms, and integrated devices. 
• Become proficient at Pivot Bio specific automated workflows and error recovery within these workflows; use this knowledge to ensure successful operation. 
• Stand up new automation platforms and be willing to train others on their safe operation. 
• Managing service visits with third party vendors to support our high-throughput equipment.   
• Assisting with space planning and logistics of automation in service of meeting the needs of end users and the automation team. 
• Write and train operators on SOPs to deliver consistent, high-quality results. 
• Provide a friendly and attentive demeanor for the Pivot Bio scientific community to interact and collaborate with.   

Qualifications and Experience   

• BA/BS or higher, in an engineering or scientific discipline with 5+ years of assay automation on robotic liquid handling workstations.  Biological disciplines are preferred but not required.   
• Proven aptitude in the design, implementation, and validation of handling processes on robotic workstations including liquid handlers and colony pickers using control software such as Beckman Coulter Biomek software or Hamilton VENUS.  
• Experience with integrated work-cells and/or robotic sample storage systems using scheduling software such as Agilent VWorks or Biosero Green Button Go preferred. 
• Programming experience required, particularly with common lab automation languages such as C#, VBScript, and JavaScript and/or general-purpose languages such as Python, Ruby, or Perl.   
• Experience with rapid prototyping tools such as CAD, CNC-milling, and 3D-printing is preferred. 
• Experience in leading other junior engineers is preferred.  
• Can work self-directed and as part of a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team. 
• Excellent oral and verbal communication skills with experience in collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. 
• Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills.   
• ​​​Must be flexible and responsive to changing priorities.  
• Proactive and passionate about robotics, biology, and most importantly: our scientific users.  

Must Be Authorized to Work in the United States  

What We Offer: 

• Competitive package in a disruptive startup 
• Stock options 
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance with employer-paid premiums 
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies 
• Employee Assistance Program with free referrals and discounts 
• 401(k) plan, 3% Match 
• Annual Training & Development support 
• Flexible vacation policy with a generous holiday schedule 
• Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team