Zero Acre Farms is seeking an experienced Lab Automation Engineer/Specialist to join our growing BioAnalytical Team. The successful candidate will be highly motivated with a strong background in lab automation equipment and the development and execution of high-throughput workflows. This position will work cross functionally to understand, miniaturize, and run automated assays to support the rapid development of new production cultures and processes, and will directly contribute to Zero Acre Farm’s mission to remove destructive vegetable oils from our food system.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of high-throughput automated assays, protocols, and workflows.
• Miniaturize and execute small scale fermentation screening and multi-step sample preparation for GC and LCMS analyses.
• Write scripts within existing commercial platform-specific software to drive operation of laboratory instruments and robotics for biological screening.
• Program, manage, and run laboratory automation instruments to support colony picking, liquid handling, plate management, and sample analysis, including Tecan Evo, Molecular Devices Qpix and Plate Readers, Agilent Bravo and Plate Sealer, Integra Viaflo, PAL Autosampler for GC and LCMS instruments.
• Organize and support validation and QC of automated screening protocols.
• Lead simplification and streamlining of HTP workflows with an eye for statistical precision, robustness, and time and material efficiencies.
• Lead assay troubleshooting efforts.
• Collaborate with LIMS team to ensure robust sample tracking and data capture.
• Identify equipment solutions to expand capabilities as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemistry, chemical engineering or equivalent with 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience programming and operating automated liquid handling systems, from conception through development and execution.
• Proven ability to develop screening assays and to optimize conditions to reduce variability.
• Strong data and statistics background applied to HTP screening.
• Direct experience with programming and management of a Tecan-Evo200.
• Experience with sterile techniques, HTP fermentation, solvent handling, and HTP preparation of samples for a diversity of biochemical, spectroscopic, and analytical assays.
• Familiarity with LIMS environments and statistical software packages, ability to script simple data analysis using R, Python, Matlab or similar are highly desirable
• Strong communication skills, and ability to work with diverse stakeholders to troubleshoot, innovate, and deliver on screening goals.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Thrive in a fluid, dynamic start-up environment building capabilities from the ground up.

Zero Acre believes titles are commensurate with experience, skill set, and responsibility, and welcomes more experienced candidates to apply.