Automation Field Application Scientist (FAS)

Position Summary

Watchmaker Genomics (WMG) is inviting applications for the full-time position of Automation Field Application Scientist (FAS).

This position reports to the Automation Program Manager and will be mainly responsible for developing, optimizing, implementing and supporting the automation of WMG’s NGS product portfolio on a variety of Automated Liquid Handling platforms. This position will also be responsible for providing pre- and post-sales technical and scientific support assisting customers as needed with product training, design of experiments, data analysis and troubleshooting. Pre-sales activities will include presenting technical content to new or current customers, co-travel with sales team members, attending and/or presenting at conferences and assisting with various marketing activities. This position is field based with travel requirements of up to 75% within the US (potentially globally).

Prior experience with developing automated workflows for NGS or other molecular biology assays is required. Experience across a variety of automated liquid handling platforms is desirable. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, proactive, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment contributing directly to our company culture and success.

This position will provide an opportunity to grow and develop, helping to define what it means to deliver exceptional customer technical support. This position is expected to maintain knowledge of current and new automated liquid handling instruments, competitor products and automation support offerings, and identify and escalate changes in the market dynamics. This position is also accountable for providing customer feedback on WMG products, in addition to identifying unmet customer needs that will enable the development of new and innovative products.

Responsibilities

-Develop, optimize and implement automated workflows for WMG’s products on popular third party Automated Liquid Handling platforms including but not limited to:
-Agilent: Bravo A, Bravo B
-Beckman Coulter: Biomek i7, Biomek i5, Biomek FXp
-Hamilton: STAR, STARlet, VANTAGE
-PerkinElmer: Sciclone NGSx, Zephyr, Janus
-Tecan: Fluent, EVO
-Eppendorf: epMotion 5075t, epMotion 5073
-Provide automation-related technical expertise to customers, vendor partners, sales, and internal cross-functional teams
-Stay knowledgeable on current and new automated liquid handling instruments
-Build and maintain relationships with key automation vendors, communicating relevant customer information, collaborating on designing new automation solutions for -WMG workflows and creating marketing collateral to promote our partnerships
-Provide expert understanding and strong technical competency in discussing WMG’s capabilities and product offering with customers, distributors and sales
-Provide scientific support for pre- and post-sales activities in the form of emails, teleconferences, phone calls, and travel to customer sites
-Extensive national and international travel (<75% time) to co-travel with sales team members, attend meetings with key customers, develop/implement automated solutions, provide training and troubleshooting, and participate in trade shows/conferences
-Identify, nurture, and manage customer collaborations to network, provide leads for the sales team and generate marketing collateral
-Support sales in technical discussions, presentations, and meetings with customers
-Liaise between the customer, Sales, Product Management, and other internal teams including R&D and Production
-Network with customers and provide feedback to Product Management on customer requirements for new applications or products
-Keep informed of competitive market information at industry seminars, trade shows, and conferences and report on trends to Sales and Product Management
-Additional duties as required within the remit and responsibilities of the role

Required Qualifications and Experience

Educated to MSc / PhD (Hons) Degree in the field of life science subjects (Genetics, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology) or a related discipline, with at least five years of relevant experience developing automated solutions for next-generation sequencing (NGS) experiments and/or other advanced genomics applications. Relevant experience includes working in high-throughput sequencing labs developing, optimizing and implementing automated workflows on liquid handling robotics or working for an automation vendor focused on automating molecular biology or sequencing based assays. Experience across multiple liquid handling platforms is a plus.

Qualified candidates will have a proactive approach with a can-do attitude, and be great communicators with a high level of self-motivation. Candidates will also have a strong desire to continually improve, learn and collaborate to help WMG stay at the forefront of exciting new applications spaces. Candidates will be able to demonstrate a high standard experience to our customer base, excel in the art of troubleshooting, and take ownership and pride in their work.
Candidates will have the courage to initiate discussions with customers to challenge the current "status quo" and have the confidence to drive change and adoption of new concepts. Full product training will be provided.

Education and Experience:

The following skills and experience are requirements for the position:
-MSc/PhD in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related field
-2 - 3 years experience working with NGS
-5+ years experience developing methods for Automated Liquid Handling platforms. Preferred platforms include:
-Agilent: Bravo A, Bravo B
-Beckman Coulter: Biomek i7, Biomek i5, Biomek FXp, Echo
-Hamilton: STAR, STARlet, VANTAGE
-Additional experience across other Automated Liquid Handling platforms is a plus, including but not limited to:
-PerkinElmer: Sciclone NGSx, Zephyr, Janus
-Tecan: Fluent, EVO, D300e
-Eppendorf: epMotion 5075t, epMotion 5073
-SPT Labtech: mosquito, firefly, dragonfly
-Opentrons: OT-2, Flex
-Proficiency in computer programming languages such as HTML, Python, C/C++, etc. is a plus
-Advanced knowledge of and practical experience with experimental design, applications/assay development, NGS library preparation, PCR, qPCR, good lab practices, and troubleshooting
-High self-motivation and must have demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team environment
-Excellent verbal and written communication skills, multiple languages is a plus
-Excellent organizational, prioritization and time management skills
-Outstanding attention to detail
-Familiarity with basic bioinformatic design and analysis algorithms is a plus

Compensation

The base compensation for the Automation Field Application Scientist (FAS) role starts at $80,000 - 130,000 + bonus + equity; actual pay will be adjusted based on skills and experience. Employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off, Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life/AD&D, Short Term Disability, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

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WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if currently eligible to work in the United States of America; and if now or in the future will require visa sponsorship to continue working in the United States.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Application Procedure

To apply for the position, please submit the following in a PDF format on watchmakergenomics.com: https://watchmakergenomics.com/job/automation-fie…

Letter of motivation
Resume or Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Local candidates preferred.

If selected to participate in the interview process, the names and contact information of three professional references who are able to assess your suitability for the position in terms of the specified requirements will be requested.

Watchmaker Genomics (WMG) is a life science company based in Boulder, Colorado and has an R&D facility in Cape Town, South Africa. Our team is passionate about innovation and values collaboration, creativity, and scientific rigor. We believe the intersection of biology, engineering, and computer science presents exciting opportunities for developing novel technologies that promote research and improve human health. Watchmaker specializes in the design, development, and production of DNA- and RNA-modifying enzymes that enable high-growth applications in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and personalized medicine.