Automation Specialist

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs. With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job TitleAutomation Specialist
Location(s)GSK Stevenage (UK) – Customer Site

We are seeking a highly motivated Automation Specialist to deliver essential on-site support as a member of our PerkinElmer team at a customer site. This role is a key component of our technical services support team, tasked with supporting automated liquid handling and bench-top automation platforms, enabling minimal equipment downtime and maximal system utilisation. This position will be embedded within the department, providing direct support to laboratory scientists in the programming and operation of automated platforms and in planning of experiments to incorporate automated solutions where appropriate.

Job Responsibilities

• Work closely with equipment users to develop & optimise scientific protocols on their automation platforms, ensuring optimal efficiency & performance.
• Work alongside scientists to develop, optimise, validate, and troubleshoot high throughput automated workflows.
• Lead Equipment Breakdown Deep-Dive activities to identify the underlying cause, with the objective of mitigating its reoccurrence.
• Train equipment users on key concepts associated with the platforms to support best-practice and mitigate avoidable run failures, ensuring optimal routine operation.
• Oversee & participate in equipment support activities.
• Establish & maintain strong relationships with Vendor Application Specialists
• Maintain awareness of new developments in the field of Laboratory Automation.
• Provide technical mediation in the event of long running equipment issues involving multiple vendors.
• Leverage the expertise & experience of the network of Automation Application Scientists and the wider Applied Sciences team from across PE’s Scientific Services accounts.
• Help develop best-practice and facilitate knowledge sharing between automation users.
• Work flexibly depending on team priorities and support requirements.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time.

Critical Skills:

• Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve when training is limited.
• Technical writing
• Exceptional interpersonal and coaching skills
• Experience using Microsoft Suite (i.e. Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel)
• Effective communicator (ex. Audits, speaking with leadership)
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure to prioritize conflicting deadlines. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with international counterparts to achieve global objectives.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Technical, or Science with 3+ year(s) servicing laboratory equipment OR
• Higher National Diploma (HND) (or equivalent) in Engineering, Technical, or Science with 4+ year(s) of experience servicing laboratory equipment OR.
• A Level (or equivalent) in Engineering, Technical, or Science with 5+ year(s) of experience servicing laboratory equipment OR
• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) with 6+ years of experience serving laboratory equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Solid understanding of core competencies involved in operating liquid handling automation.

• Experience writing protocols using (Cellario, Evoware, Fluent Control, Momentum, VWorks or an equivalent software package).
• Experience working in a Pharmaceutical or regulated environment.
• Experience of developing & optimising complex protocols on liquid handling automation preferably on Tecan, SPT Labtech, Agilent and / or Analytik Jena instruments.
• Having leadership experience is advantageous for this role.

Working Environment:

• Must be able to work in a laboratory, controlled environments requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses, etc.) in laboratory. 
• Job pace may be fast and job completion demands may be high. 
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time 
• The person needs to occasionally move between labs, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite Frequently operate on instruments, objects, tools or controls, which will require regularly bending, squatting, stretching and reaching in order to perform in a service function.
• Occasionally move or lift up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds). 
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include without limitation, the ability to observe details at close range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus in order to perform the essential service functions of this position.
• Occasionally operates a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. 
• Employee may be required to handle hazardous waste according to local, state, or federal regulations. Duties may include identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing and labeling hazardous waste. 
• Potential risk to lab-based hazards including but not limited to extreme temperature, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• May be required to complete Medical Clearance, Respiratory Protection Training, and Fit Testing to wear a respirator as protection against hazards present in the laboratory environment.