Automation/Process Engineering Lead (Senior Manager/Director/Senior

About the Company and Role

Curve Biosciences™ (“Curve”) is pioneering the field of Chronic Epigenetics™ to bring precision to chronic disease care. Curve builds products targeting biological changes in tissues that occur in the development and progression of chronic diseases. Our Whole Body Tissue Atlas (WBTA) uniquely discovers such precise changes with data from over 250,000 tissues across more than 1,000 clinical studies. Curve’s initial focus is on chronic disease testing markets with a broader goal of unlocking our disease drivers for other clinical applications.

We’re looking for an Automation/Process Engineering Lead with formidable depth of knowledge and experience in wet biochemistry assay development and laboratory automation. This person will be directly responsible for the transition of prototype assays from a manual R&D setting to a production grade CLIA certified automated platform. The lead will work closely with production and R&D lab teams to strategically lead design, buildout, and maintenance of high throughput automated laboratory systems. The position’s level (Senior Manager, Director, Senior Director), responsibilities, and compensation will be based on the applicant’s experience. This role is expected to initially provide hands-on individual contribution but can evolve to have functional leadership for our automation and process engineering strategy, teams, and culture.

Job Responsibilities

The Automation/Process Engineering Lead will be working directly with the Chief Technology Officer in:

Mastering all aspects of manual assay wet chemistry processes developed by the R&D team.

Writing liquid handling methods to convert laboratory protocols to various automated liquid handling platforms.

Performing full stack automated vs manual comparability studies on assay protocols during product development.

Facilitating tech transfer from the R&D team to production team through carefully curated and well executed development processes.

Troubleshooting errors that occur in the laboratory on liquid handling systems, six axis robots, standalone laboratory equipment such as plate sealers, automated thermocyclers, liquid reagent dispensers, etc.

Working with the SWE team to develop and build upon LIMS that will continually provide extensive tracking of labware, reagent plates, etc in the laboratory.

Working with the SWE team to build a suite of laboratory metric reporting systems that will be used to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).

Working with the lab team to develop specifications for any new instrumentation needs as Curve grows.

Sourcing tangible methods and practical plans for COGs reduction across all assays and laboratory platforms without sacrificing quality.

Assisting with validation and verification of new assays or improvement assays within the Clinical Laboratory.

Assisting with running clinical studies as the needs arise.

Assisting with automating and scaling reagent manufacturing processes.

Promoting a culture of scientific integrity, growth, transparency, collaboration, mutual respect, and fun, while valuing achieving progress towards our goal of improving patient lives.

Baseline Job Skills and Qualifications

Master of Science or better in any of the following disciplines: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology.

Strong leadership and people management/soft skills.

Strong strategic planning and forecasting skills.

Deep experience with manually running assays that require nucleic acid manipulation (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, NGS library prep, Gel electrophoresis, NanoDrop etc).

Prior experience with writing and modifying liquid handling methods using liquid handling GUIs such as VENUS, VWorks, or EVOWare.

Moderate proficiency with the following programming languages: Python, Django JavaScript, C++.

Prior experience with troubleshooting, error recovery, and servicing automated liquid handling platforms (Hamilton, Velocity 11, Tecan, Beckman Biomek).

Preferred Job Skills and Qualifications

Deep prior experience with Hamilton automated liquid handling platforms.

Deep prior experience with high throughput NGS sequencing laboratory workflows.

Deep prior experience with manipulation of cell free DNA on a high throughput scale.

Deep prior experience with six axis robots such as STAUBLI, FANUC, etc.

Deep prior experience with magnetic bead based technology and methods.

Deep prior experience with high throughput laboratory automation workcells and pick & place robotics.

Deep prior experience working in a Molecular Diagnostics laboratory setting.

Training in statistical approaches for process development like Six Sigma Black Belt.

Employee Benefits

Curve Biosciences is dedicated to improving our patients’ lives and supporting our employees’ dreams. Some of our employee benefits include:

Base cash salary range: $165,000 to $205,000 (does not include yearly cash bonus; title and base salary dependent on experience level)

Early-stage equity with significant upside potential

Flexible PTO

Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, and vision

401(k) plan

Training and support from successful leadership (past companies’ total value: ~$22B)

Career development opportunities for gaining depth in their current role or breadth across other roles

Career development opportunities for honing individual contributor skills or gaining management skills

Beautiful top-story labspace in San Mateo with state-of-the-art equipment and people

Office space with daily lunches, snacks, and drinks

Curve Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity at our company and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.