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Laboratory Automation Engineer Jobs in California

Moderna Therapeutics

Success in this role requires strong expertise in GMP laboratory automation, digital systems ... Education: BS, MS, or PHD in Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, Life Sciences, or a related ...

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Laboratory Automation Engineer information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$105.7K

$160.9K

How much do laboratory automation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for laboratory automation engineer in California is $105,723.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,400.00 and $121,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a laboratory automation engineer do?

A Laboratory Automation Engineer designs, develops, and maintains automated systems used in laboratories to streamline repetitive tasks and improve accuracy. They work with robotics, software, and instrumentation to automate processes such as sample handling, data collection, and analysis. Their role often involves troubleshooting equipment, optimizing workflows, and collaborating with scientists to understand laboratory needs. By automating routine procedures, they help increase throughput and ensure consistent results, allowing researchers to focus on more complex tasks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a laboratory automation engineer?

To thrive as a Laboratory Automation Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering, biology or chemistry, with expertise in automation technologies and laboratory processes, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), programming languages like Python or C#, and automation platforms such as Tecan or Hamilton is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities help drive innovation and collaboration. These competencies are crucial to ensure efficient, reliable, and scalable laboratory operations that support scientific discovery and regulatory compliance.

What is the difference between Laboratory Automation Engineer vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLaboratory Automation EngineerLaboratory Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, automation, or related fieldAssociate's degree or certification in laboratory procedures
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and maintain automation systems in labsPerform routine lab tests and sample processing
Industry UsageUsed in biotech, pharmaceutical, and research labs for automationCommon in clinical, medical, and research labs for sample handling

The main difference is that Laboratory Automation Engineers focus on designing and maintaining automation systems, requiring engineering skills and certifications. Laboratory Technicians perform routine lab tasks and sample processing, with a focus on laboratory procedures. Both roles are essential in lab operations but differ in technical scope and responsibilities.

How does a laboratory automation engineer typically collaborate with scientists and IT specialists?

Laboratory Automation Engineers regularly work alongside scientists to understand experimental workflows and identify opportunities for automation. They also collaborate with IT specialists to ensure that lab instruments and software integrate seamlessly with data management systems. Effective communication is key, as the engineer must translate scientific requirements into technical solutions while ensuring data integrity and system reliability. This cross-functional teamwork helps optimize lab efficiency and supports scientific discovery.
What are popular job titles related to Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs in California? For Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Laboratory Automation Engineer job openings:
Laboratory Automation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Laboratory Automation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Nights. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $105,723 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Automation Service Engineer II

Guardant Health

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Guardant Health rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 120 rated laboratories

Job description

Company Description
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant® is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Automation Service Engineer
Department: Automation Service Engineering
Job Description
The Automation Service Engineer II role provides laboratory service and support to the Operations and Development labs across Guardant Health's multiple locations. In this role, the candidate will perform equipment installations, qualifications, maintenance, and troubleshooting of complex laboratory automation systems, including liquid handlers and other instrumentation used within a sequencing workflow. If selected, the candidate will utilize their technical skills to provide world-class customer service, while complying with quality and regulatory requirements. As an Automation Service Engineer II, the candidate will help train other team members, both within Automation Service Engineering as well as other operators from cross-functional departments. The selected candidate shall utilize past experiences to help foster a continuous improvement culture by proposing ideas and helping to drive them to fruition. In this position, he/she will contribute to ensuring instrument reliability, equipment capacity, and streamlined workflows.
Responsibilities
  • Perform installation and operational qualifications (IQOQ), monthly/semi-annual/annual preventative maintenances (PM), troubleshooting and repair
  • Ensure instrument uptime by resolving service requests in a timely manner and escalating complex issues as needed
  • Perform routine troubleshooting of automation systems and laboratory instrumentation
  • Identify repeat issues and performing root cause analysis to mitigate recurrence
  • Maintain accurate service documentation in compliance with quality systems
  • Monitor instrument performance metrics and help drive improvements
  • Author and revise SOPs, checklists, and service documentation
  • Ensure accuracy of maintenance and calibration within the asset management system
  • Provide tier 1 support to laboratory end-users for issues related to equipment, communication/connectivity, methods, etc.
  • Assist in temperature monitoring of cold storages, laboratories, warehouses, etc via a temperature monitoring system
  • Collaborate with team members to drive continuous improvement projects as they relate to service processes to help streamline day-to-day workflows
  • Provide training and guidance to more junior Automation Service Engineers and other cross-functional departments
  • Partner with cross-functional departments within project core-teams to implement lab deployments, relocations, and operational scale-up
  • Collaborate with internal partners and external vendors, as needed
  • Participate in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours support

Qualifications
  • BS degree in engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent
  • 3-5+ years of relevant service/support experience
  • Minimum of 3 years of laboratory equipment support experience
  • Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
  • Experience supporting Hamilton liquid handlers, Qiagen QiaSymphony, Agilent TapeStation, Illumina sequencers, and other laboratory equipment used within a sequencing workflow
  • Experience authoring and executing PM, IQ, OQ, PQ, and repair documentation
  • Experience driving root cause analysis
  • Experience implementing continuous improvements
  • High-throughput automation/workcell experience preferred
  • Experience working in a regulated environment (CLIA, CAP, GMP, FDA)
  • Strong documentation practices (GDP)
  • Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies preferred
  • Ability to travel up to 20%

AI & Digital Fluency
  • Demonstrate curiosity, sound judgment, and the ability to critically evaluate and responsibly leverage AI-enabled tools in accordance with company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of work.

Hybrid Work Model:This section is applicable to onsite employees who are eligible for hybrid work location as specified by management and related policies. Guardant has defined days for in-person/onsite collaboration and work-from-home days for individual-focused time. All U.S. employees who live within 50 miles of a Guardant facility will be required to be onsite on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We have found aligning our scheduled in-office days allows our teams to do the best work and creates the focused thinking time our innovative work requires. At Guardant, our work model has created flexibility for better work-life balance while keeping teams connected to advance our science for our patients.
The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. This range does not include benefits or, if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity. Each candidate's compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, education, job-related skills, job duties, and business need.Primary Location: Palo Alto, CAPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $108,000 - $148,500Other US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $91,800 - $126,225If the role is performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is: $97,200 - $133,650
Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk/office environment; however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
Guardant Health is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our hiring processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you need support, please reach out to Peopleteam@guardanthealth.com
A background screening including criminal history is required for this role. GH will consider qualified applicants with criminal arrest or conviction histories in a manner consistent with applicable law including but not limited to the LA County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Guardant Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
To learn more about the information collected when you apply for a position at Guardant Health, Inc. and how it is used, please review our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants.
Please visit our career page at: http://www.guardanthealth.com/jobs/

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