The Target Discovery Engine (TDE) group is looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to help set up and maintain new laboratory automation platforms for live cell phenotypic screening at the Novo Nordisk Research Centre in Oxford (NNRCO). The Senior Automation Engineer will also work closely with the Automation and Process Optimization group that is supporting automation platforms at Novo Nordisk’s site in Denmark.

The position

As our new Senior Automation Engineer, you will work at the TDE labs in Oxford to aid delivering screening campaigns with a focus on the implementation, integration and data management relating to robotics and automation. You will support and train scientists in the TDE to use advanced automation and semi-automation more efficiently for assay development and screening.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Help optimise new automation solutions, converting existing manual processes to automated processes. Redesign and rebuild current automation platforms: Beckman and Hamilton-based systems.
• Maintain current and new automation systems by carrying out preventative maintenance testing and performance qualification testing. Help to install new automation systems, including site acceptance testing: HighRes Biosolutions modular automation platforms and Celltrio automated cell culture platform.
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with Safety, Health & Environment standards, and Novo Nordisk guidelines.
• Work with scientists to plan & schedule agreed workplans over agreed timelines
• Schedule and host field service engineers to fix instrument issues.

Qualifications

The role is placed in Oxford, UK, at NNRCO and trips to Denmark and other global TDE sites could be required. This is a very people facing role, so a positive outgoing nature is important. Excellent communication skills with the ability to connect with bench scientists is essential. Organisational skills are also key, with a competency to work on several projects in parallel.

To become our new Senior Automation Engineer, you should have following qualifications:

• Experience applying automation to accelerate workflows in a life science industry setting.
• Engineering degree or equivalent knowledge gained through hands-on experience.
• Expert knowledge of general laboratory procedures and experimentation for in vitro/life science screening applications
• Hand-on experience of Biomek and Tecan liquid handling platforms in all aspects of their use and software, including scripting and GUIs.  Being familiar with other liquid handling platforms and integrated systems (including scheduling software such as Cellario, Green Button Go, Momentum, Genera etc)
• Hands-on experience with commonly used lab automation robot arms e.g., Precise and UR
• Experience working with field service engineers to resolve mechanical, electrical, software, database, and instrument communication issues. 

About the department

The TDE at the NNRCO establishes and applies state-of-the-art human centric in vitro assays for functional genomics and unbiased large-scale phenotypic screening. Ultimately, our aim is to discover novel targets and characterise key biological pathways that can lead to development of new disruptive therapeutic treatments.

The TDE consists of specialists and staff scientists. We are a dedicated, collaborative team, working with a variety of in vitro cell types and phenotypic responses relevant across a spectrum of cardiometabolic diseases. Together we develop and miniaturize human centric in vitro assays for use in unbiased pooled genome wide or arrayed high-throughput screens. We capture the phenotypic responses and integrate the data with transcriptomics, proteomics, peptidomics, and use statistical modelling to create biological insight and to identify novel targets and pathways. Together, we share a passion for translational research and a desire to discover novel targets for development of innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of patients.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is its people. We know that life is anything but linear and balancing what is important at different stages of our career is never easy. That’s why we make room for diverse life situations, always putting people first. We value our employees for the unique skills they bring to the table, and we work continuously to bring out the best in them. Working at Novo Nordisk is working toward something bigger than ourselves, and it’s a collective effort. Together, we go further. Together, we’re life changing.

Contact

For further information please contact Fredrik Kryh Öberg on (frqb@novonordisk.com)

Deadline

Please apply before 2nd April 2024

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. 

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.