Laboratory Automation Engineer

About the role

LanzaTech, a world-leading gas fermentation company based in Skokie, IL, is seeking capable and highly motivated Laboratory Automation Engineers to join our R&D team. We have built unique automated systems for high-throughput engineering and screening of non-model organisms and are looking to expand these capabilities by developing new instruments and new methodologies. You will be joining an interdisciplinary team of researchers working to address some of the world's most serious challenges relating to sustainable resource use and the climate crisis, working at the boundary of synthetic biology, chemistry, and engineering. In addition to developing new technologies, you will work with LanzaTech researchers to build and onboard new methods in automated microbiology, and with collaborators and customers to deploy them.

Key duties

• Design, build, and modify lab automation instruments and systems for increased capability
• Develop methods for lab automation instruments
• Train scientists and technicians on instrument operation and support users to develop methods
• Plan, coordinate and monitor work with outside vendors to build and maintain automation instruments and systems
• Establish and maintain customer and vendor relationships
• Assess existing workflows and capabilities and recommend options for improvement
• Conduct and document root cause failure analysis and develop solutions for product malfunctions or issues
• Conduct research and attend workshops to remain abreast of industry developments.
• Coordinate between lab operations, EHS, and scientific computing/controls groups on key equipment within areas of responsibility
• Maintain awareness of Health & Safety issues and report as appropriate

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or bioengineering or related field
• 3+ years of post-degree experience developing hardware and/or methods for laboratory automation
• Experience with laboratory robotics
• Experience working with and around hazardous materials (e.g. compressed gases, flammable materials, chemical or biological hazards)
• General purpose programming skills (e.g. Python, C#)
• Comfortable reading and writing schematics and other technical literature
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in parallel
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities at all levels in a multi-cultural, team-oriented environment.

Preferred/Valued Qualifications

• Experience with method development for automated liquid handlers (e.g. Hamilton STAR, Tecan Fluent, Dynamic Devices Lynx)
• Experience with automation scheduling software (e.g. Momentum, Green Button Go, Cellario)
• Hands-on experience with wet lab biotechnology techniques (molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, fermentation, etc)
• Prior experience training bench scientists to operate lab automation instrumentation
• Experience with control system (PLC/HMI/SCADA) design and programming
• Experience with compressed gas systems
• Experience with anaerobic laboratory techniques
• Training and experience with CAD or equivalent software
• Familiar with electronic record keeping software such as LIMS, ELN
• Experience interacting with outside partners and deploying systems at customer sites

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Prolonged periods of standing and moving in a lab environment
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times
• Frequent reaching, stooping, and fine motor manipulation at or below shoulder level

On site required, with occasional travel