Senior Associate Scientist, Automation Specialist

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

The Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center at BMS is a fundamental Oncology research engine delivering oncology and hematology therapeutics to patients. The TRC has a major focus on exploiting BMS’ expertise in protein degradation to discover and develop therapies aimed at tumor intrinsic vulnerabilities and mechanisms of resistance to existing cancer therapeutics. This focus on protein degradation allows us to attack protein classes that were previously deemed undruggable.

Position Summary:

The Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center at BMS Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is actively seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Senior Associate Scientist, Automation Specialist to join our early drug discovery team in San Diego. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing, optimizing, validating, and implementing automated laboratory workflows that support next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular biology, cell-based assays, and patient-derived organoid culture models for early drug discovery.

This position requires hands-on expertise with liquid handling robotics and integrated laboratory automation platforms, along with the ability to translate manual benchtop protocols into robust, scalable, reproducible, and user-friendly automated workflows. The ideal candidate will bring a strong problem-solving mindset, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with scientists across disciplines to improve workflow efficiency, throughput, reproducibility, and data quality.

The candidate will support automation initiatives across Protein Homeostasis and Sequencing Research & Genomics (SRG) by serving as a key automation point person for NGS, cell and organoid culture, assay development, sample preparation, as well as drug- and genetic-screening workflows. In this role, the candidate will partner closely with scientific teams to build standardized and automation-enabled experimental platforms that increase throughput, strengthen operational reliability, and enable more efficient target identification and validation. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to innovative early drug discovery programs and help advance therapeutic discovery through high-quality, scalable automation solutions.

Position Responsibilities

In the role as a Senior Associate Scientist within the Sequencing Research & Genomics team, the ideal candidate will:

• Integrate Liquid Handling Robotics: Seamlessly incorporate liquid handling robotics (such as Beckman-Coulter Biomek i7 & Dynamic Devices Lynx) with supporting instrumentation to execute Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), molecular/cellular biology, and organoid culture workflows.

• Translate Benchtop Protocols into Automated Workflows: Partner with scientists to convert benchtop protocols into automated workflows by helping clarify assay requirements and critical process parameters, programming stepwise methods, and validating performance through dry/wet runs and fit-for-purpose testing.

• Automate Standardized Assays: Validate and deploy automated workflows for various standardized assays, including DNA/RNA purification, NGS library preparation, qPCR, cell and organoid passaging, media changes, cell-based viability assays, high-content cell imaging, sample normalization, and other assay readouts.

• Enable Scalable NGS and Screening Workflows: Improve throughput, reproducibility, sample tracking, process robustness, and data integrity across automated sample preparation and assay execution.

• Support User-Friendly Process Design: Support the development, optimization, and validation of automated processes on integrated platforms, contributing to user-friendly design and following established data-management practices.

• Troubleshoot and Improve Workflows Efficiency: Troubleshoot routine issues in automated workflows and instrumentation (liquid-handling performance, deck layouts, method scripts), escalating complex device-integration or assay-compatibility failures to senior staff.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with cross-functional team members to align automated workflows with project needs and communicate technical requirements and progress effectively.

• Support Laboratory Operations and Equipment Management: Support day-to-day laboratory organization by maintaining equipment organization, coordinating preventative maintenance, ensuring instrument readiness, tracking critical consumables, and coordinating with vendors or internal support teams to resolve operational or technical issues as needed.

• Provide End-User Support: Create clear user-facing documentation and quick-reference guides, and provide peer-level guidance on routine instrument operation and method execution.

• Meticulous Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and well-organized documentation of experimental records, automation methods, validation activities, troubleshooting outcomes, SOPs, and workflow handoff materials to support reproducibility, traceability, and seamless knowledge transfer.

• Contribute to Qualification and Standardization Efforts: Support Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, and Performance Qualification activities, as well as the development and maintenance of SOPs for laboratory automation systems.

• Stay Current with Advances in Laboratory Automation: Keep up-to-date with advancements in automation technology and emerging high-throughput methodologies applicable to liquid handling systems.

• Contribute to Workflow Development: Contribute to the development and optimization of automated workflows under the guidance of senior scientists, executing assigned workflow components with work reviewed for technical soundness, while managing priorities across concurrent tasks.

 

EXPERIENCE

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree

  • 4+ years of academic and / or industry experience

Or

• Master’s Degree

  • 2+ years of academic and / or industry experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 2+ years of academic and/or industry experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of academic and/or industry experience in bioengineering, or biology with hands-on experience with laboratory automation platforms, liquid handling robotics, or high-throughput experimental workflows in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, or not-for-profit research environment.

• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience programming, operating, optimizing, and troubleshooting automated liquid handling platforms for high-throughput screening, NGS workflows, molecular biology assays, and/or cell- or organoid-based workflows.

• Direct experience with automated liquid handling systems such as Beckman Coulter Biomek, Dynamic Devices Lynx, Analytik Jena CyBio FeliX, or comparable platforms.

• Experience integrating liquid handlers with supporting instrumentation, including plate readers, incubators, sealers, centrifuges, thermocyclers, magnetic separation devices, imaging systems, barcode scanners, and/or laboratory automation scheduling software.

• Demonstrated ability to translate manual benchtop protocols into robust, scalable, and reproducible automated workflows while maintaining assay performance, data quality, and operational reliability.

• Strong working knowledge of molecular biology and end-to-end NGS workflows, including DNA/RNA purification, sample quantification, normalization, library preparation, QC, qPCR, RNA-seq, DNA-seq, and related sequencing-based assays.

• Experience supporting cell-based and/or organoid-based workflows, including culture maintenance, passaging, compound treatment, assay setup, viability measurements, imaging workflows, patient-derived model systems, or functional screening.

• Hands-on expertise with high-throughput methods, automated liquid handling, assay miniaturization, workflow standardization, and automation-enabled process optimization.

• Ability to develop, optimize, validate, and troubleshoot automation methods, including method scripting, deck layout design, dry/wet runs, and fit-for-purpose testing, with guidance from senior staff on complex or novel cases.

• Experience creating, following, and maintaining high-quality documentation, including SOPs, method documentation, validation summaries, troubleshooting logs, and qualification documentation such as Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) protocols.

• Experience improving laboratory workflows through standardization, automation, process mapping, digital sample tracking, and/or enhanced workflow handoffs

• Functional knowledge of at least one high-level programming or scripting language, such as Python. Additional experience with R, Perl, C++, or automation-specific scripting environments is a plus.

• Proven ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary R&D teams to deliver automation-enabled solutions that support project goals and improve workflow efficiency.

• Ability to communicate technical automation concepts clearly to both automation specialists and non-specialist scientific users.

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks, and maintain accurate records in a fast-paced research environment.

• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.

• Demonstrated commitment to quality, reproducibility, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and scientific integrity.

• Strong attention to detail, scientific curiosity, and willingness to learn and implement emerging automation technologies.

#LI-Onsite

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

San Diego - CA - US: $100,480 - $121,756


The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
 

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.

• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

​Work-life benefits include:

Paid Time Off

• US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)

• Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.

All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.

*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.

R1604533 : Senior Associate Scientist, Automation Specialist