Title: Lab Automation Engineer Specialist
Location: Ghent-BE
Work Arrangements: Hybrid (4 days on site, 1 day home office)
About Sanofi:
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
Join Sanofi R&D, the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research.
About The Job
Join Sanofi R&D in Ghent as Lab Automation Engineer/Scientist to strengthen and expand our Automation & Data workflow team within STREAM (Scientific Team for Research Excellence and Automation Management). In this role, you will contribute to the development of high-throughput end-to-end automated workflows integrating state-of-the-art equipment. You will directly support the acceleration of R&D projects by applying your expertise in automation to the screening and characterization workflows supporting NANOBODY® lead candidates across our Discovery and Pharmaceutical Research & Technology (PRT) departments. These activities will support the pre-clinical development of NANOBODY® molecules in different therapeutic areas (e.g. immuno-oncology, immunology, rare and neuro disease, etc.).
About Our Team
Sanofi Ghent is a biopharmaceutical site dedicated to creating new antibody-based therapeutics called NANOBODY® molecules which are making a real difference to society. The Ghent site currently has around 400 people working on the discovery and pharmaceutical development of NANOBODY® molecules for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.
You will become a member of the STREAM Automation & Data Workflow team — an enthusiastic, international and collaborative team that values knowledge-sharing and works closely with scientists across the Discovery and PRT departments.
Main Responsibilities
Automation Development & Support
Developing and maintaining automation scripts for liquid handling platforms (Hamilton Venus, Tecan Fluent/Evo)
Designing workflow orchestration of integrated equipment using Venus, PlateButler or other scheduling software
Setting up fully automated high-throughput processes across Discovery and PRT departments
Supporting robotic platform installations, commissioning, maintenance and validation activities in collaboration within the Sanofi network and with external engineering companies
Independently designing and executing automated experiments
Assisting in troubleshooting automation equipment and resolving technical issues
Contributing to automation run planning and coordination across departments
Process Improvement & Documentation
Supporting standardization efforts for automation workflows across the site
Maintaining comprehensive documentation for automation methods and procedures
Participating in knowledge transfer sessions and cross-departmental collaboration, building out the local-to-global automation hub
Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives for automation processes
Provide training and guidance to personnel regarding automation protocol development and execution.
Digital Integration & Innovation
Assist in connecting automation platforms to digital data systems (ELN, LIMS, databases)
Support end-to-end workflow development from sample preparation to data capture
Contribute to custom tooling development, including 3D modeling and printing projects
Keeping up with latest developments in the field of lab automation and evaluating implementation of new technologies.
Leveraging digital tools and AI to solve problems
About You
Degree of B.Sc. with ≥3 years of relevant experience or M.Sc. with ≥2 years relevant experience (degree should be in engineering, bioengineering, computer science or applied science field)
Programming expertise with one or more programming languages such as Python, R, is required
Programming expertise with one or more commercial liquid handlers is highly desired, such as TECAN EvoWare, TECAN Fluent Control, Synthace, Hamilton Venus or equivalent
Hands-on experience with robotic systems and laboratory instrumentation
Experience in transforming laboratory protocols into automated high-throughput protocols is preferred
Experience in integration of equipment into fully automated systems, including equipment data connectivity solutions to enable automated data transfer between instruments and Laboratory Information Management Systems (eg Benchling) and advanced robotic handling is preferred
Knowledge of 3D modeling software and additive manufacturing is a plus
Proficiency with digital tools for everyday collaborative work
Demonstrate proficiency in digital laboratory tools including Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) such as Benchling, Genedata Biologics and data analysis software
Solid analytical and problem-solving skills
A pro-active approach and high sense for quality, accuracy, and detail
A team-oriented attitude, flexibility, enthusiasm, and ability to work independently
Verbal and written fluency in English with ability to report and discuss experimental design and data
Knowledge of AI/ML applications in pharmaceutical research and digital collaboration platforms is advantageous
Experience in data processing and visualization using Spotfire / Power BI is preferred
Experience with scheduler software for automated platforms is preferred
Experience with safety requirements related to high-throughput equipment and end-to-end integrated automation workflows
Why choose us?
Help improve the lives of millions of people globally by making drug development quicker and more effective.
Join a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core, with Employee Resource Groups and leadership programs that celebrate every voice.
Shape the future of the NANOBODY® and Microbial Platforms by helping to develop new drugs and by continuous platform improvement.
Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.
Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
The CV should be in English and should include a separate paragraph specifying your technical expertise. If you possess the necessary skills to fulfil this unique role, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
#LI-EUR
#LI-HYBRID
Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.
Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!
The salary range for this position is :€63 102,95 - €84 137Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.
Skills Required
- B.Sc. in engineering, bioengineering, computer science, or applied science with at least 3 years of relevant experience
- M.Sc. in engineering, bioengineering, computer science, or applied science with at least 2 years of relevant experience
- Programming expertise in Python, R, or another programming language
- Experience with commercial liquid handlers such as Tecan EvoWare, Tecan Fluent Control, Synthace, Hamilton Venus, or equivalent
- Hands-on experience with robotic systems and laboratory instrumentation
- Experience transforming laboratory protocols into automated high-throughput protocols
- Experience integrating equipment into automated systems and enabling data transfer to LIMS such as Benchling
- Knowledge of 3D modeling software and additive manufacturing
- Proficiency with digital collaboration tools
- Proficiency with ELNs such as Benchling, Genedata Biologics, and data analysis software
- Solid analytical and problem-solving skills
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Knowledge of AI/ML applications in pharmaceutical research and digital collaboration platforms
- Experience with Spotfire or Power BI for data processing and visualization
- Experience with scheduler software for automated platforms
- Experience with safety requirements for high-throughput equipment and integrated automation workflows
Sanofi Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Sanofi and has not been reviewed or approved by Sanofi.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support stands out through a notably strong 401K matching structure (e.g., 150% match up to a 6% contribution), which materially boosts total rewards for long-tenured employees.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support is positioned as unusually robust, including a global gender-neutral paid parental leave standard (14 weeks) and added supports such as childcare assistance and adoption/surrogacy/infertility help.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation is made more accessible via an Employee Stock Purchase Plan that includes a meaningful purchase discount and matching/free-share mechanics, increasing perceived total compensation beyond base pay.
Sanofi Insights
What We Do
We are Sanofi, an innovative global healthcare company. We chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across some 100 countries, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. Interactions with this account must comply with the Terms: https://bit.ly/sanofi-terms
