The Manager, Robotics will lead a team to deploy and maintain complex automated work cells, and fleets of automated liquid handlers, to support the processing of samples in a clinical diagnostics laboratory environment. This role will assume responsibility for liquid handling equipment and will need to collaborate heavily with the scientific and engineering development teams as well as their laboratory operations customers. In addition to the constant deployment of new instrumentation and a focus on improving equipment uptime, this role will be responsible for partnering broadly to identify, implement, and support continuous improvement efforts to our automated and non-automated workflows to increase the efficiency of our laboratory processes.  This is a “hand’s on” role that requires experience in programming liquid handlers.  Must be available for on-call evenings and weekends.

Primary Responsibilities

Deploy and maintain fully automated robotic work cells and liquid handling robots

• Build, motivate, and develop a team of robotic specialists with specializations in liquid handling and equipment support/maintenance in support of a high-throughput laboratory operation.
• Act as the primary responsible individual while leading a team and coordinating with outside vendors in the troubleshooting all instrumentation, equipment, and control software related issues.
• Oversee the deployment, testing, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), and user training of all liquid handling systems
• Develop testing and re-validation procedures to rapidly troubleshoot issues and release reliable instruments back to production teams.
• Develop and improve KPI tracking, and performance related to uptime, team performance, equipment maintenance, SLA adherence, and utilization while collaborating with colleagues maintain consistency in processes and procedures
• Collaborate with various teams to develop and maintain documentation including SOPs, IQ/OQ/PQ, work instructions, calibration/PM, and training for instrumentation and equipment in a regulated clinical laboratory environment.
• Ensure workflows are in compliance with FDA, CAP, CLIA and NY State regulations while supporting and acting as the Equipment representative in quality/partner audits
• Identify, evaluate ROI, develop, and deploy continuous improvements to liquid handling and integrated work cell robots and associated systems with a focus on improving uptime and efficiency
• Other duties may be assigned

Qualifications

• BS degree in a Life/Physical Science or Engineering discipline, with 8+ years of related industry experience
• 6+ years of experience working with laboratory automation and integrated laboratory equipment in a service and support role
• 1+ years managing a team in a service and support function
• Experience deploying hardware into a production environment with robust verification/validation requirements (cGMP, CLIA, CAP, ISO 13485/9001) and stringent IQ/OQ/PQ

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Expert in providing service and support across a variety of complex instrumentation including: Hamilton, Tecan, Bravo and integrated robotics platforms
• Ability to write scripts for liquid handling robots and to train others
• Ability to program and troubleshoot complex robotic scheduling software (Cellario, Overlord, Green Button Go, etc.)
• Strong mechanical, electrical, and software troubleshooting abilities
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with scientific, engineering, operations, and regulatory teams as well as external parties
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing equipment management and support ticketing systems
• Strong analytical skills to build/develop/improve KPI monitoring and report data to management
• Ability to roll up your sleeves and help your team with hands-on troubleshooting

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Duties may require working outside normal working hours at times (onsite and remotely) to keep our facility running and coordinate with your team
• This position requires the ability to use a computer keyboard, communicate over the telephone and read printed material.