Lead Research Engineer – Laboratory Automation

About the Department                                                                                                                                             

Would you like to pioneer new laboratory automation platforms and robots to help generate the biologics of the future? Then join the team in the Department of Automation and Process Optimization! In this position, you will be the first mover for lab automation at our Greater Boston sites. As Novo Nordisk expands in this area, we need to accelerate lab automation to a central role in processes and workflows. 
You will be working in an area called Digital Science & Innovation which is supporting the digital journey across all our global therapy areas in R&ED. We work in multidisciplinary teams, have strong collaboration with all areas across R&ED to leverage scientific knowledge, to ensure access to the most advanced technology platforms and tools. We participate in drug development projects across the value chain, from early discovery to pre-clinical development. We engage on external collaborations to ensure access to the latest research and technology enablers, we automate our labs and processes, and we focus on developing and retaining top talent.

The Position

You will be responsible for analysing business processes across Research & Early Development (R&ED) in Greater Boston, to determine suitability for automation. Moreover, you will be responsible to aid scientists in our drug discovery research areas with automating high value workflows and helping them to develop and apply automation to generate the maximum value. 

Relationships

Reports to a Director in the VP-area. Internal collaborations include close interactions with scientists and experts within multiple teams across the EVP area. Additional internal partners include data scientists, data engineers, ML specialists, software developers and others across the US, UK, and Denmark. External relationships include commercial and academic collaboration partners.

Essential Functions

• Analyses process steps and interdependencies in existing business applications that are typically done by a human user.
• Identifies business operations processes that are feasible for automation.
• Assesses and document technical and functional requirements. Implements and supports automation process solutions.
• Play an essential role in build-up and implementation of semi- and fully automated platforms. 
• Help deliver hands-on practical implementation and optimization of automation solutions.
• Enables the integration of the hardware with the databases etc. to generate the data sets that AI requires.
• Collaborate and coordinate with NN global experts on automation and digital solutions to ensure standard practice.
• May manage projects as needed.

Physical Requirements

up to 10% international travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Degree in field chemistry, biology, biomedical research or similar preferred.
• 8+ years’ relevant experience required with a Bachelor’s degree. 5+ years’ relevant experience required with advanced degree
  • Experience applying automation to accelerate workflows in a life science setting.
  • Knowledge of general laboratory procedures and experimentation for life science applications.
• Hands-on experience on Biomek and Tecan liquid handling platforms in aspects of their use and software, including scripting and GUIs.
• Familiar with other liquid handling platforms and integrated systems (and scheduling software such as green button go, momentum, genera etc)
• Familiar with programming languages such as python, C# etc.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to present to diverse audience.
• Detail oriented with strong documentation skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and within teams across various domains. Your practical, hands-on approach is evident.

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.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.

If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.