Automation Engineer

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs. Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. 

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Learn more about our D&I initiatives here: https://www.syngenta.com/careers/working-syngenta/diversity-and-inclusion

The Genotyping lab is responsible for generating and analyzing a large volume of DNA marker data on all crops supported in the respective lab as well as effectively communicating data to scientists throughout the Syngenta organization. The purpose of this role is to support Syngenta genotyping activities through laboratory Automation support such as:

• Perform troubleshooting, routine preventive maintenance, and corrective maintenance of high-throughput lab equipment.
• Manage Automation activities by following Genotyping, Stewardship, Quality and HSE&S policies and procedures
• Partner with team members and external vendors; both locally and internationally to perform the above.
• Perform administrative duties such as updating internal service tickets and creating documentation for safe work procedures.
• Maintain good communication with lab users and manage users expectations.
• Provide training and advise lab users on proper use of equipment.
• Participate in local-led and global automation projects, which involves some night meetings.

Accountabilities

• Take charge of the support, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair laboratory automation equipment in a high throughput laboratory environment.
• Build good relationships with lab users and be accountable for keeping the lab operations running.
• Be responsible for the purchase of lab equipment. From the sourcing to ensuring smooth commissioning and implementing.
• Participate in HSE initiatives for ensuring workplace safety, such as risk assessments and inspections.
• Run validation tests to ensure throughput and quality of data, conduct experiments and tests to develop automation assisted laboratory processes and provide successful solutions to process bottlenecks.
• Develop and compose written process protocols to be used by the genotyping laboratory.
• Documentation and reporting of exploratory, validation, implementation, and integration results via oral or written updates to peers and supervisors.
• Provide maintenance and troubleshooting support for automation assisted laboratory processes in daily genotyping lab operations.
• Performing all tasks and behaving in a manner compliant with and in support of all safety related company policies and practices, including completing all required Company training courses and attending local safety meetings.

• B.S. in Electrical/Electronic/Mechanic Engineering or Biology, Biochemistry or Biotechnology or related scientific field 1-3 years of experience in lab automation.
• Knowledge of laboratory automation hardware and software platforms.
• A working knowledge of automation, robotics, and liquid handling troubleshooting and repair.
• Experience with servicing and troubleshooting high throughput lab equipment is preferred.
• Good understanding of LEAN systems, Poka-Yoke and quality in a production environment.
• Experience in managing lab operators’ expectations and needs.
• Experience in managing external vendors and schedule on-site activities
• Experience in programing Liquid Handlers, bulk liquid dispensers, PLCs, CoBots will be an advantage
• A good understanding of Health and Safety principles, such as electrical safety will be an advantage