Hybrid Automation Service Engineer II – Workcell Assembly, Support

at Guardant Health

• Job title: Automation Service Engineer II – Workcell Assembly, Support
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: $108,000 - $148,500 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Palo Alto, United States

About the role

• Senior Automation & Instrumentation Technician supporting automated laboratory equipment at Guardant Health. Focus on troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization in a regulated laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day service, support, and troubleshooting of automated laboratory instrumentation and processes at Guardant Health’s facilities.
• Diagnose and resolve complex electromechanical issues to minimize equipment downtime and maintain operational continuity.
• Perform root cause analysis on instrument failures associated with Guardant’s DNA sequencing products and implement corrective actions.
• Triage equipment issues and coordinate with vendors and external service providers as needed.
• Assemble and install electromechanical components, subsystems, control panels, safety circuits, and automated machinery based on engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Author, update, and maintain all standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions (WKI), and technical documentation for new product assemblies, equipment operation, and maintenance.
• Perform Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Process Qualification (PQ) on new and existing equipment.
• Execute testing and validation activities to verify equipment performance, accuracy, and reliability.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues identified during installation and validation activities.
• Perform routine, corrective, and preventive maintenance on laboratory automation and instrumentation.
• Develop, execute, and improve preventive maintenance schedules to ensure optimal equipment performance.
• Support equipment upgrades and modifications as required to meet operational needs.
• Maintain accurate and organized equipment records, maintenance logs, and validation documentation.
• Partner with Quality to ensure all documentation meets regulatory and quality system requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, usability, and operational efficiency.
• Recommend practical process improvements and assist with execution of improvement initiatives.
• Represent the Automation Service Engineering department in cross-functional meetings, providing technical input from an equipment support perspective.
• Support special projects and operational initiatives, as assigned.
• Provide hands-on training and mentorship to junior technicians and operators.
• Follow established safety procedures and quality standards during all maintenance, testing, and installation activities.
• Proactively identify potential safety risks and support corrective actions.
• Work effectively within a team environment and build strong working relationships across departments.
• Participate in an on-call rotation supporting lab operations after-hours.

Requirements

• Technical degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics systems, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting automated laboratory equipment, instrumentation, or electromechanical systems and/or 5+ years assembling complex electromechanical instrumentation
• Demonstrated experience operating and troubleshooting high-throughput automated workcells, precise robotic arms, Hamilton Liquid Handlers, Illumina Sequencers, Dynamic Devices Lynx, Agilent Bravo, Microplate washers, Tecan Sparks, Kingfisher extraction systems, DNA quantification and sequencing-related instruments.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Experience with virtual machines used to control robotics, troubleshooting complex Excel macros, molecular biology laboratory techniques, PLC or HMI programming (a plus, not required).
• Working knowledge of electrical and mechanical components such as sensors, motors, actuators, PLCs, and control systems.
• Comfortable using tools and test equipment commonly found in automation and instrumentation environments.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills with minimal supervision.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a production or laboratory environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible work arrangements