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Axle

Translational research informatics and data science

Laboratory Automation Engineer - Robotics and Digital Twins

Full-TimePosted on 10/24/2026
$120k - $160k
Mid
Bethesda, MD, USA
In Person
AI & Machine LearningRobotics & Autonomous Systems

About the job

Requirements
  • Several years of hands-on experience with laboratory robotics or comparable automation, including installing, programming, calibrating, and troubleshooting robotic arms, liquid handlers, plate handlers, or workcells.
  • Experience with software that drives laboratory robots, including vendor application programming interfaces and software development kits, device drivers, and orchestration or scheduling software.
  • Some experience with robotics in a biological laboratory, such as cell culture, molecular biology, or assay automation, and comfort working around biological materials under biosafety practices.
  • Strong Python skills, including asynchronous or service-style code, REST APIs, and work with hardware or network protocols such as serial, TCP/IP, or OPC UA.
  • Experience with Git, testing, code review, and Docker for deploying software next to hardware.
  • Ability to read a biological protocol, understand its requirements, and convert it into a reliable automated workflow.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to train laboratory staff.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain NIH/HHS security clearance and meet federal contractor suitability requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Program, calibrate, and maintain the BAB400 and other laboratory robots, including arms, liquid handlers, plate movers, and incubator and imaging interfaces.
  • Deploy MADSci modules, nodes, and workcell definitions so robots and instruments can be commanded, monitored, and scheduled through a common interface, and contribute fixes and modules to the framework where appropriate.
  • Translate biological protocols, including cell culture, iPSC maintenance, passaging, media exchange, imaging, and sampling, into automated workflows with sequencing, timing, resource tracking, and failure recovery.
  • Connect robot and instrument outputs to data pipelines, LIMS, and metadata systems maintained by IDSS so runs are logged, traceable, and reusable.
  • Develop acceptance tests, error handling, logging, and monitoring; troubleshoot hardware and software faults; and document root causes and fixes.
  • Implement interlocks and safe-state behavior, and follow laboratory, biosafety, and NIH/HHS security requirements.
  • Evaluate robots, drivers, simulators, and frameworks, and prepare technical assessments for IDSS leadership.
  • Train laboratory staff to operate and recover the system, and write standard operating procedures and technical documentation.
Desired Qualifications
  • Direct experience with MADSci or similar laboratory orchestration frameworks, such as PyLabRobot, Opentrons tooling, or ROS-based systems.
  • Experience with simulation platforms such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Gazebo, or MoveIt, or similar robot simulators.
  • Experience with stem cell, iPSC, organoid, or tissue engineering laboratories.
  • Experience with self-driving or autonomous laboratories, including closed-loop experiments driven by machine learning or optimization.
  • Familiarity with ROS 2, robot kinematics, and computer vision for labware or sample detection.
  • Experience with Kubernetes, CI/CD, and message-based architectures such as MQTT or Redis.
  • Familiarity with LIMS, ELN, metadata standards, and FAIR data principles.
  • Experience with imaging instruments and plate-based assays.
  • Experience building or using simulation or digital-twin models of robotic systems, or a clear record of learning a new simulator quickly.

About the company

Axle Informatics provides specialized informatics solutions for translational research, health informatics, and data science to biomedical research centers and healthcare organizations. Its offerings are customized software and data management platforms that help researchers collect, integrate, analyze, and visualize large research datasets, with end-to-end tools that automate data aggregation and deliver analytics, dashboards, and decision-support features. The company differentiates itself with an integrated, scientifically informed approach that bridges data science with application development, specifically focused on translational research and clinical data work rather than generic software. Axle’s goal is to advance public health by moving biomedical discoveries from the lab to bedside, improving healthcare outcomes.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Rockville, Maryland

Founded

2002

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Axle secured a $21 million NCATS support contract starting February 2025.
  • Axle won a 2026 NHLBI systems biology task for single-cell genomics work.
  • Axle’s May 2026 NIH and SK pharmteco partnership expands credibility in rare-disease gene therapy.

What critics are saying

  • NIH concentration makes Axle vulnerable if NCATS and NHLBI rebid work in 2026.
  • Axle filed and lost GAO protests in August 2026, signaling procurement pressure.
  • Federal budget lapses instantly freeze specialized scientific services; Axle’s core contracts depend on appropriated NIH funding.

What makes Axle unique

  • Axle Informatics won NIH NCATS and NHLBI work in 2025-2026.
  • Axle combines biomedical staff scientists, cloud engineering, and translational research program management.
  • Axle’s NIH foothold includes rare-disease gene therapy collaboration with SK pharmteco, May 2026.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Educational Benefits for Career Growth
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Flexible Spending Accounts

Company News

TheGWW.com
Jul 25th, 2023
“Octo awarded $64.7M IT Infrastructure Call Order to support NCI’s Cancer research”

Octo, in partnership with Unissant, Axle Informatics, and TRex, has been awarded an IT Infrastructure and Operations Call Order to support the NCI’s OCIO.

GlobeNewswire
Jan 12th, 2023
Digital Pathology Market Worth $1.86 Billion by 2030 -

For instance, in May 2020, Indica Labs (U.S.), a provider of digital pathology solutions, collaborated with information technology consulting companies, Octo (U.S.) and Axle Informatics (U.S.) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (U.S.), to develop an online collection of high-resolution histopathology images of tissues from COVID-19 patients using Indica’s HALO Link platform.