Xaira Therapeutics

Senior Automation Engineer

South San Francisco, California, United States · Senior

Sponsorship not specified$152k-$190kDetected 47 days ago

PythonDistributed SystemsSQLAWSCloud PlatformsComputer VisionLLMsRoboticsMolecular BiologyResearchMentoring

About the role

This role sits at the intersection of biology, automation, robotics, software, and data systems.

You will design, program, deploy, and support automated laboratory workflows using liquid handlers and integrated workcells, including platforms such as Hamilton liquid handlers and HighRes systems.
You will build and improve the software, data, and control interfaces that connect laboratory instruments, automation platforms, and informatics systems such as LIMS and ELN.
You will help develop tools that make lab automation more observable, adaptive, and AI-ready.
This may include creating interfaces that allow software or AI-enabled systems to understand workflow state, interpret instrument outputs, detect errors, recommend corrective actions, or support more intelligent workflow execution under appropriate controls.
You will document protocols, system architecture, troubleshooting procedures, and best practices, while helping establish scalable automation standards for the organization.
You will partner closely with scientists, software engineers, data teams, robotics engineers, IT partners, and external collaborators to identify automation opportunities and productionize workflows.
Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.
Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Bioengineering or an automation related technical field.
5+ years of lab automation and 2+ years of hands-on experience with liquid handling platforms such as Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman, or similar systems.
Experience designing, programming, deploying, and troubleshooting automated laboratory workflows in a research or production environment.
Experience with laboratory data systems, including SQL, data modeling, metadata capture, and/or pipeline orchestration.
Experience integrating automation systems with LIMS, ELN, or other laboratory informatics platforms.
Ability to work effectively with scientists, engineers, software teams, data teams, vendors, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

Experience with automation orchestration software such as Cellario, Momentum, Green Button Go, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with molecular biology, cell biology, chemistry, or other wet-lab workflows.
Experience with Benchling, AWS, cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, or modern data infrastructure.
Experience mentoring junior engineers or helping establish automation best practices.
The ideal candidate has a builder mindset, strong ownership, and the ability to operate in a fast-moving, interdisciplinary environment.
This person should be excited by both hands-on lab automation and technology development.

About Xaira Therapeutics
Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development.
Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development.
Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.
Strong programming skills, preferably in Python and/or C#.
Experience connecting instruments or automation systems through APIs, middleware, IoT frameworks, or similar integration approaches.
Strong troubleshooting skills and a systems-thinking mindset across hardware, software, data, and biological workflows.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers.
We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity.
The base pay range for this position is expected to be $152,000.00 - $190,000.00 annually
however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.

Where relevant, this may include supporting robotic systems, material handling, computer vision, labware detection, quality control, and system monitoring within integrated laboratory workcells.
A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants.

This listing is sourced directly from Xaira Therapeutics's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.