Senior Scientist Next-gen experimentation Full-time

Automation Engineer

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

We are seeking a highly motivated automation engineer to strengthen our lab automation and digitization capabilities at Johnson & Johnson's chemical process R&D department in Beerse, Belgium. You will be part of the Next-gen experimentation (NXT) team that designs, deploys, and maintains advanced lab automation solutions and self-driving labs for organic chemistry and biocatalysis.

We are looking for applications from early career PhD-level candidates, as well as experienced professionals with several years of industrial experience. We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all requirements. The selected candidate will have opportunities to develop and expand their expertise in other areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain automation platforms and workflows for process R&D (organic synthesis, work-up, and biocatalysis) in close partnership with chemists, microbiologists, engineers, system vendors, and commercial integrators.
• Lead URS definition, vendor selection, design reviews, and acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), support commissioning/qualification, and safety/CE compliance.
• Design, implement, and maintain a scalable software architecture for our next-gen labs in close partnerships with users, team members, and other departments.
• Configure, script, and operate automation platforms and scheduling/orchestration software (Python and vendor languages) to run robust, reproducible methods.
• Diagnose and resolve issues across hardware, software, and data interfaces; perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective/preventive actions.
• Train, coach, and support users; create documentation, quick-start guides, and best practices that enable safe, self-serve operation at scale.
• Identify new automation opportunities, pilot solutions with vendors/integrators, prepare business cases, and harden new technology for routine use.
• Act as main interface and sparring partner on automation and digitization for colleagues across multiple disciplines.

Qualification and skills:

• PhD in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or other relevant domain. Demonstrated experience in lab automation is considered an advantage.
• BSc or MSc in above mentioned fields with significant hands-on industrial experience will also be considered.
• Experience with equipment configuration, programming, operation, and troubleshooting for one or multiple unit operations: robots/cobots, solid handling, liquid handling, (online) analytics, colony picking.
• Experience with Python or other programming languages/frameworks (C#,.NET, MATLAB).
• Experience with rapid prototyping and CAD. Experience with CNC/CAM is considered an advantage.
• Ideally has experience with git and CI/CD.
• Ideally has hands-on experience with driver development using open standards (SiLA2, OPC UA LADS, ROS).
• Works as a generalist across multiple domains (scientific content, workflow development, hardware, software, safety, IT).

Our offer:

• Contributing to our mission to continue to bring transformational new medicines to patients.
• Being part of a motivated and experienced research team in an innovative working environment through mentoring programs, e-university and on the job training. We ensure your personal development in a global company.
• A competitive salary, on-site sport accommodations, health/energy programs, and other benefits for you and your family.
• Flexible working hours (40 h/week), no fixed holiday planning with many holidays, and the possibility to work at home for non-laboratory related tasks.

Required Skills: Mechanical Engineering, Robotics

Preferred Skills: Chemistry, Collaborating, Critical Thinking, Data Quality, Drug Discovery Development, Execution Focus, Innovation, Interdisciplinary Work, Scientific Research