Senior Scientist, Engineering (I/II) – Automation Full-time

Senior Automation Engineer

The Senior Automation Engineer will play a key role in AbbVie's laboratory automation development and deployment as we continue developing AbbVie's Labs of the Future. Throughout the development lifecycle, lab automation, data analysis and data management play a significant role in gaining organizational efficiency and generating scientific insights. The vision of the automation team is to transform the culture and the way we do research to enhance safety, access new enabling capabilities, and gain efficiency in development of life-changing medicines with high-quality data through a deliberate and sustainable automation competency. The tools generated by this role will be instrumental in developing end-to-end automated solutions and data analytics to laboratory scientists, allowing them to reduce risk and make faster decisions that directly impact drug substance and drug product pipeline development.

We are seeking a talented Automation Scientist to develop robotics and automated solutions. In order to do so, the ideal candidate will integrate a combination of off-the-shelf and custom-built components to provide innovative platforms for AbbVie researchers to execute experiments. This role requires fluid communication in cross-functional teams to understand the essence of user needs while deploying powerful automated equipment to improve R&D productivity. The candidate will also facilitate collection, reporting, and analysis of performance data via online analytical tools and sensor data in an actionable form. As such, the candidate will integrate knowledge driven and first principles regression into the deliveries as well as applying data driven and AI/ML tools (Bayesian optimization, NN, NODE, DOE, etc.) in order to facilitate rapid optimization. As such, the candidate will not only build automated lab equipment but work towards fully autonomous solutions. Ideal candidates should possess a BS/MS/PhD degree in a discipline with a strong background on hardware integration, analytical tools, and data handling with experience in chemical process development.

Responsibilities:

• Lead delivery of custom and off-the-shelf automated laboratory systems to chemistry, engineering, and analytical team members.
• Proactively develop innovative automation and data handling solutions.
• Partner with technical staff to understand business challenges and effectively guide toward sustainable solutions.
• Partner with Development Sciences Digital Transformation team to develop and deploy scalable and maintainable performance reporting.
• Build robust, automated and autonomous end-to-end solutions for various workflows, e.g., from instrument measurement to a data warehouse.
• Apply an operational excellence mindset to help identify, devise, and recommend new opportunities to optimize current processes.
• Integrate modeling approaches with experimental tools to help scientists develop processes with increased efficiency.

Qualifications:

• BS, MS, or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or equivalent.
• BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical/Bio Engineering or a related field and 12+ (BS), 10+ (MS), or 4+ (PhD) years of relevant industrial experience. The final determination on the title and grade level will be based on the experience of the candidate.
• Experience coordinating technical projects through to delivery.
• Proven experience bringing new automation equipment and processes on-line, from initial startup to reaching targeted metrics such as rate, yield, deployment time, etc.
• Delivered projects into environments such as R&D labs, manufacturing, etc.
• Experience with various programming languages, such as Python, Visual Basic, C, C#, C++, etc and experience with automation ecosystems, such as Ignition.
• Proficiency using business/project management software like MS Excel, MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, etc.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills and ability to succinctly summarize key findings.

Key Competencies:

• Partners with R&D scientific & technical staff to understand business challenges and effectively guide toward sustainable solutions.
• Develop group vision and objectives in collaboration with key stakeholders to support team strategies and goals.
• Act as a strong team player in a cross functional collaborative environment thriving for world class excellence.
• Learns fast, grasps the “essence” and can change course quickly where indicated.
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Ability to manage people and lead projects to deliver a common set of objectives.
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and specifically:
• Illustrate strong oral and written technical communications
• Seamlessly present automation solutions to multifunctional teams
• Educate and train colleagues on various tools and techniques