Senior Scientist Laboratory Automation Engineer

Use Your Power for Purpose
At Pfizer, our purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Central to this mission is our Research and Development team, which strives to translate advanced science and innovative technologies into impactful therapies and vaccines. Whether you are involved in discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy, or supporting clinical trials, your role is crucial. You will leverage cutting-edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate the delivery of best-in-class medicines to patients globally.
What You Will Achieve
A Senior Laboratory Automation Engineer within the Analytical Technologies and Compound Management (ATCM) Liquid Store team plays an important role in the stewardship of the Pfizer liquid compound collection by specializing in the design, implementation, and maintenance of leading-edge automated platforms that support Compound Management workflows. These workflows facilitate order fulfillment operations resulting in the delivery of compounds in our corporate collection to research screening initiatives at Pfizer. The successful candidate will leverage engineering principles to develop robust automation solutions that increase throughput, efficiency, reproducibility, and data integrity within our laboratory operations. This hands-on role requires expertise across many disciplines including engineering, laboratory automation, robotics, project management, instrument protocol & method development, hardware & software troubleshooting, liquid handling, instrument quality control and workflow development & validation. The candidate will also collaborate with Discovery Biology and Pharmacology (DBP), hit follow-up, lead optimization, External Research Solutions, and Medicinal Chemistry stakeholders to ensure timely, high-quality access to the Pfizer compound collection. Partnerships with facility engineering & logistics teams, Digital, Contract Research Organizations, and external software & hardware vendors are also a key aspect of the role. As a senior member of the ATCM team, the successful candidate will have significant input in defining plans and strategies to support future demands on compound management.
How You Will Achieve It

• Provide expert level knowledge and hands on experience in the operation, troubleshooting, and resolving issues encountered with laboratory automation hardware and associated vendor software to support daily production and screening campaigns providing near and assay ready plates.
• Provide daily technical subject-matter-expertise, writing instrument protocols, troubleshooting assistance and guidance supporting the compound management workflows, automation infrastructure, and applications.
• Collaborate with team members and partners to design and continuously improve workflows to increase capacity and throughput to ensure on-time delivery of requests.
• Collaborate with the Pfizer Digital and ATCM Data support team to develop enterprise level solutions that address processed orders data analysis, storage, and curation, including the ability to mine data for insights that support decision making.
• Contribute to the strategic direction by identifying and championing new ideas and technological strategies that will enable innovation, continuous improvement, and capability enhancements in workflows and operations within Compound Management.
• The candidate should possess strong collaborative and written/verbal communication skills, and have an enthusiastic, optimistic attitude.
• Interact and coordinate efforts with external vendors to drive workflows and support project delivery.
• Lead & participate in project teams as a key contributor by providing insight & expertise on laboratory automation & material logistics to solve issues of significant complexity and improve the efficiency of operations in Compound Management.
• Design and implement quality control experiments to evaluate hardware and software systems along with consumables and compound deliverables to drive innovation and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of deliverables to support screening campaigns.
• Produce high-quality and detailed documentation for implemented solutions, including workflow & data diagrams, description of requirements, use cases, design, tests, users guides & standard operating procedures (SoP).
• Present technological advancements & solutions internally to Compound Management stakeholders and externally to industry peers.
• Mentor junior team members by modeling courage & excellence in your work and contributing to an environment of equity and joy that promotes active engagement & learning.

Qualifications

• MSc/BSc degree in Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Computer Science, or equivalent with 6-8 years relevant laboratory experience, or PhD degree with 1-3 years' experience.
• Prior experience working in areas of compound management, or pharmaceutical laboratory automation. Hands-on experience working with automated tube & plate handling instrumentation, robotics, custom workflow design and/or protocol development and implementation.
• Demonstrated expertise in the use of Beckman, Hamilton, Azenta Storage, and HighRes automation systems including strong familiarity with Cellario scheduling software and Acoustic technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to apply novel and innovative approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative and creative solutions for complex issues that apply lean principles to solve daily production issues which streamline workflows and minimize risks for errors.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with stakeholders and external hardware & software vendors.
• Demonstration of excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of primary pharmacology assay development and compound screening is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong collaborative relationships within and outside Pfizer and across multiple cultures: academic, industrial, and CROs.
• Experience in working with multi-functional, cross line teams is preferred.
• Proficiency with personal computers, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and relevant scientific software.
• A commitment to timely delivery and quality of the work product.
• Well organized with ability to multi-task and adjust to changing priorities.
• Demonstration of ability to present in the form of internal and external posters, papers and presentations.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data analysis platforms and architecture is preferred.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Position will require working in the lab, operating automated equipment, lifting, sitting, standing, walking, bending and the ability to solve complex technical problems.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Candidate may be asked to travel to other Pfizer sites to meet project team members.
• Candidate must comply with laboratory safety practices and wear personal protection as required.

Relocation assistance may be available
Work Location Assignment: On Premise
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $90,900.00 to $151,500.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer's Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life's moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site - U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
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