Hiring: Senior Automation Engineer Company: Clear Labs Location: San Carlos, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-10 10:24:02 Employment Type: Hybrid About the job Experience: •8+ years of hands-on experience programming and developing methods on Hamilton STAR/STAR2 (or directly equivalent) liquid handling platforms, including VENUS software, deck layout design, and liquid class development Required Skills: •Contribute hands-on reliability engineering, method development, and troubleshooting expertise for our Hamilton STAR/STAR2 liquid-handling automation fleet running NGS library preparation workflows •Help design and execute formal automated-vs-manual equivalence and validation studies for NGS sample prep, in support of regulatory requirements •Support root-cause investigation for automation performance issues affecting NGS library quality and sequencing output, working through mechanical, calibration, and liquid-class variables systematically, and flagging labware-related findings to Systems Integration for formal qualification •Partner with Regulatory and Quality on validation protocols and documentation for a regulated, FDA-cleared diagnostics workflow •Collaborate on vendor and equipment relationships as needed to support fleet performance Qualifications: •Hands-on troubleshooting of Hamilton hardware and peripherals, e.g., pipetting channels, iSWAP/gripper mechanisms, heater-shakers, plate sealers, and third-party integrated modules •Demonstrated capacity to independently script and modify automated methods in a regulated environment, with full change-control documentation •Statistical fluency sufficient to independently evaluate automated performance against validation acceptance criteria •A genuine preference for hands-on bench and deck work—this is not a delegate-only role •Solid functional working knowledge of NGS library preparation workflows (e.g., hybrid capture and/or amplicon-based enrichment) as executed on automated liquid handling •Understanding of how automation method parameters (liquid class, tip type, mixing, incubation) affect NGS library yield, uniformity, and sequencing QC metrics •Prior oncology diagnostics experience (NGS-based companion diagnostics or comprehensive genomic profiling workflows) Compensation: •$120,523 - $151,751 / year •Medical, dental, and vision insurance Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!