Robotic Automation Engineer II (West Coast)
HighRes Biosolutions· Oct 1, 2026 · 26d ago
Remote-US-CA - N/A, CA 00000
In office
Full-time
Mid
$115K–$166K est.
4+ years exp
Job description
POSITION OVERVIEW
HighRes is seeking a Robotic Automation Engineer II to join our Automation Engineering team, based on the West Coast. Reporting to a Lead Automation Engineer at our Beverly, Massachusetts headquarters, this role is built for a skilled automation professional who can independently own complex system deployments, serve as a technical resource for peers, and drive customer success across our life sciences customer base.
This is a field-based role focused on customers across the West Coast. You will independently commission complex systems, where the difficulty is scale: more robots, higher device counts, custom software, and more demanding application and test work than a standard build. You will also support multi-system deployments where several systems are orchestrated into a single continuous workflow with sample state tracked across system boundaries. Your work will be primarily concentrated in the territory, with assignments outside the region when the business calls for it and regular travel to Beverly for training, build support, and time with the wider team.
Because this role operates in the field and often as the most senior HighRes engineer on-site, it calls for someone who owns problems end to end and represents the company with confidence in front of technical and executive audiences alike.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Delivery
• Take full ownership of commissioning complex systems, integrating robots, laboratory instruments, and CellarioScheduler into a platform the customer's lab runs its science on, at a scale that brings more robots, higher device counts, custom software, and more demanding application and test work
• Modify and troubleshoot CellarioScheduler workflows across complex deployments, and extend system behaviour in C# where the integration requires it
• Partner with the Applications team on end-to-end workflow design, contributing the deployment and integration perspective
• Own the acceptance path, verifying that hardware, software, and integration deliverables meet the agreed criteria before handover
• Support multi-system deployments in which several systems are orchestrated into a single continuous workflow with sample state tracked across system boundaries
• Execute Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for complex systems with minimal external assistance
• Configure and troubleshoot automation hardware and integrated devices through firmware operations and device-level diagnostics
• Write and maintain automation software in C#, including CellarioScheduler scripts, device drivers, and integration hooks
• Configure relational databases supporting laboratory scheduling applications using SQL
• Configure and operate a range of robotic platforms, including SCARA and articulated robotic arms from manufacturers such as Kuka and Denso
• Participate in system design reviews and cross-functional technical meetings to identify risks and provide engineering feedback
• Create and maintain technical documentation for deployed systems, configurations, and resolved issues
Customer Success
• Deliver standard and complex system training to customer teams, covering both hardware operation and software application, with minimal guidance
• Proactively manage customer relationships by addressing concerns and ensuring satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle
• Manage stakeholder expectations and facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive project success
• Translate complex technical topics into clear, accessible communication for diverse customer audiences, from bench scientists to IT and facilities teams
• Mentor junior engineers on commissioning practice, troubleshooting methodology, and customer engagement
QUALIFICATIONS
You bring demonstrated technical depth and a track record of independently owning complex deployments in laboratory or industrial automation environments. Your success will be built on the following qualifications:
Required
• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field) and 4+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree and 3+ years; or Associate's degree and 6+ years
• Hands-on experience deploying, configuring, or supporting laboratory automation or industrial robotics systems in a customer-facing setting
• Experience with laboratory automation scheduling software such as CellarioScheduler, Green Button Go (Biosero), Momentum (Thermo Fisher), Overlord (PAA), or equivalent
• Proficiency in C# or another object-oriented programming language
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex technical deployments with minimal supervision
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting robotic systems at both the hardware and software level
• Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills across hardware, software, and network layers
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills across diverse audiences
• Ability to travel up to and sometimes exceeding 40% annually to customer locations domestically and internationally
• Current driver's license and valid passport
• Reliable personal transportation for regional travel
• Comfortable working in laboratory and technical environments
• Capable of lifting up to 25 pounds and standing for extended periods
Preferred
• Experience in highly complex or multi-system automation environments, including multi-system integration, autonomous mobile robots, stacked software layers, or order-level sample tracking
• Experience with scripting, driver development, or device integration for laboratory automation systems
• Hands-on integration experience with laboratory instrumentation from vendors such as Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman Coulter, Thermo Fisher, Agilent, Revvity, BMG Labtech, or Molecular Devices
• Hands-on experience with SCARA or articulated robotic arms from manufacturers such as Kuka, Denso, Universal Robots, or similar
• Experience with SQL and relational database configuration
• Experience with Python for automation, tooling, or data workflows
• Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP) and serial communications
• Experience with firmware-level device configuration and troubleshooting
• Experience contributing to or leading cross-functional technical meetings
• Mentorship or peer development experience
• Strong organizational and project management abilities
TRAVEL AND LOCATION
• Primary work location: remote, based on the West Coast
• Work is primarily concentrated within the territory, supporting customers across the region
• Assignments outside the territory are required when business needs call for it, including customer sites elsewhere in the United States and internationally
• Candidates must be based on the West Coast, with convenient access to a major airport
• Proximity to San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, or Portland is beneficial but not required
• Regular travel to our Beverly, Massachusetts headquarters for training, build support, and collaboration with the wider team
• Travel up to and sometimes exceeding 40% annually to customer sites domestically and internationally
WHAT SETS YOU APART
The ideal candidate combines technical depth with the ownership mindset of someone who sees a problem through to resolution. You have deployed complex automation systems in demanding environments, you know when to engage senior resources, and you actively look for ways to improve the processes and documentation that make your team better. You have developed the customer relationship skills to manage complex training engagements, navigate stakeholder expectations, and build trust on-site. You are beginning to mentor and guide peers, and you treat cross-functional collaboration as a way to drive results rather than coordinate activity. Above all, you take quality seriously in your work, your communication, and the experience you create for every customer you serve.
WHY HIGHRES?
This role puts you at the center of high-stakes automation deployments in some of the most advanced life science and pharmaceutical organizations in the world. You will work with cutting-edge robotic platforms, solve challenging technical problems, and build lasting relationships with customers whose science depends on what you deliver. If you are ready to do meaningful engineering work at the frontier of laboratory automation and grow alongside a team that takes excellence seriously, HighRes is the place to do it.
Salary Range: $92,500-$100,000k
Work Location: Remote - West Coast
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