{"id":197164,"url":"https://alion.io/job/natera-automation-engineer","title":"Automation Engineer","company":{"id":3078,"name":"Natera","domain":"natera.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/natera","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":81,"open_postings":34,"ghost_share":0.088,"stale_share":0.471,"repost_share":0.118,"time_to_fill_p50_days":42,"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Austin, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":106700,"max":133400,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":133400},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"21 CFR Part 11","optional":true},{"name":"LIMS","optional":true},{"name":"Next-Generation Sequencing","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-03T15:05:41Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-03","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T20:26:45Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":59,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":59},"description":"Position Summary\nThe Automation Engineer is an intermediate role focused on deployment, optimization, and support of automated systems and software tools, including workcells, liquid handlers, and analytical instruments. This engineer has more independence than an Associate and is expected to have a solid foundation in sustaining engineering (troubleshooting and development).\nThis individual should have a solid understanding of most complex automated liquid handling systems used in the lab, and can drive engineering projects of medium complexity independently and of high complexity with some guidance. They document work completely, follow SOPs, and contribute to Production Engineering documentation and team knowledge.\nWork is organized across Production Automation Engineering's project portfolio categories-Stabilize, Standardize, and Optimize-and commonly includes liquid-handler capacity expansion, platform upgrades, assay/workflow verification, instrument troubleshooting, and go-live support for production systems.\nRoles and Responsibilities\nComplexity & Problem Solving\nOperate as a semi-autonomous individual contributor within Production Engineering.\nDeploy liquid handling robotics for capacity expansion. Use SOPs or work instructions when available and assist with drafting documentation for new deployments.\nPerform defined continuous improvement projects; take ownership of assigned work and report to the project leader and/or manager.\nContribute to Stabilize / Standardize / Optimize projects from intake through execution, including providing status updates and supporting schedule and % complete tracking.\nHandle complex troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance. Provide 2nd-tier support to the Service Engineering team.\nSolve non-routine problems with some guidance.\nPerform assignments following SOPs.\nSupport technical work independently on medium-complexity scope projects and with guidance on high-complexity scope.\nAssist with performance qualification (PQ) and verification activities for new or updated automated methods.\nDraft SOPs and work instructions. Contribute to the Production Engineering documentation library.\nContinuously learn and build technical knowledge across platforms and assays.\nDemonstrate proficiency in the use of some controlling, scheduling, and supporting software.\nBe well versed in some complex laboratory instruments and the assays run on these systems.\nDevelop solutions of medium complexity; understand when to reach out for guidance.\nLearn to analyze and interpret test data for troubleshooting and development.\nDocument activities completely and with appropriate detail. Adhere to Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and change-control practices as applicable.\nAdhere to lab safety protocols and regulatory requirements.\nCollaboration, Interaction & Projects\nCollaborate cross-functionally on medium-scale projects with Production, R&D, Quality, and vendors as assigned.\nProvide primary floor support in workcell laboratories and secondary floor support in other labs.\nActively participate in sprint meetings and provide updates.\nActively contribute in group meetings.\nRaise issues that could lead to continuous improvement projects.\nLead initiatives, with guidance, to improve Production Engineering efficiency or ease of execution.\nShare progress through Production Automation Engineering project intake / PMO tracking as requested.\nManagement & Supervision\nNo direct management responsibilities.\nQualifications\nEducation & Experience\nBachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.\n2-5 years of experience in laboratory automation engineering, with hands-on experience in lab automation troubleshooting and development.\n\nRequired Knowledge & Skills\nUnderstanding of diagnostic laboratory workflows, instrumentation, and software.\nProficiency in lab automation controlling software and scheduling software; learning applicable supporting software tools (e.g., Python).\nStrong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols meticulously.\nStrong knowledge of GDP and regulatory requirements.\nExcellent organizational and communication skills for managing multiple projects.\nAbility to travel between local Austin sites (within ~1 mile) to support multiple labs.\nPreferred / Nice to Have\nBackground in NGS and/or clinical laboratories (e.g., extraction, library preparation, or sequencing workflows).\nHands-on experience programming and operating liquid handlers-especially Tecan, Hamilton, Biomek, and/or Cellario.\nExperience contributing to capacity-expansion deployments of liquid handlers in a production environment.\nFamiliarity with workcell controlling / scheduling software (e.g., Cellario, GBG).\nFamiliarity with sequencing / long-read platforms and related lab equipment.\nExperience supporting verification, validation, and PQ activities for automated methods.\nExperience working with LIMS systems.\nWorking knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11, FDA, and CLIA requirements.\nComfort working under change control (CCR) and documented equivalency studies.\nThe pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.\nAustin, TX\n$106,700—$133,400 USD\nOUR OPPORTUNITY\nNatera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.\nThe Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.\nWHAT WE OFFER\nCompetitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!\nFor more information, visit www.natera.com.\nNatera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.\nAll qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.\nIf you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. \nLink: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/\nPlease be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.\nFor more information:\n- BBB announcement on job scams \n- FBI Cyber Crime resource page","description_format":"text","description_chars":8259,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Diagnostic Tests & IVD","Genomics & Genetic Testing","Precision Medicine"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-03T15:07:07Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 74 · green card filings: 31","filings_12m":74,"filings_prev_12m":77,"green_card_filings_12m":31,"median_offered_wage_usd":134690,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":22}],"liveness":{"score":21,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.478,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":58,"expected_fill_days":42,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":133400,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/natera-automation-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/natera-automation-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T21:48:21Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":33238,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3078},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3078"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnatera-automation-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnatera-automation-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnatera-automation-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/natera-automation-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnatera-automation-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":197164}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"natera.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":197164},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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