Title: Lab Automation Engineer
Location: Ghent-BE
Work Arrangements: Hybrid (3 days on site, 2 days home office)
About Sanofi:
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
Join Sanofi R&D, the engine of Sanofi’s mission — where deep immunoscience meets bold, AI-powered research.
About The Job
Join Sanofi R&D in Ghent as Lab Automation Engineer/Scientist to strengthen and expand our automation team within the early CMC department working on fermentation, purification, formulation and analytical development. In this role, you will develop high-throughput end-to-end automated workflows integrating state-of-the-art high-throughput and automated equipment. You will directly contribute to the acceleration of R&D projects by using your expertise in automation in the screening/characterization and automated developability assessment of NANOBODY® lead candidates. These activities will support the pre-clinical development of NANOBODY® molecules in different therapeutic areas (e.g. immuno-oncology, immunology, rare and neuro disease, etc.). About Our Team Sanofi Ghent is a biopharmaceutical site dedicated to creating new antibody-based therapeutics called NANOBODY® molecules which are making a real difference to society. The Ghent site currently has around 400 people working on the discovery and pharmaceutical development of NANOBODY® molecules for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.
You will become a member of an enthusiastic, international and collaborative department that values knowledge-sharing and celebrates wins together. Main Responsibilities
- Programming of laboratory automation equipment (liquid handlers, robotics) for the development of fully automated high-throughput processes
- Independently designing and executing automated experiments
- Keeping up with latest developments in the field of lab automation
- Maintaining integrated automation instruments
- Developing methods and scripts to automate analysis and reporting of large data sets.
- Assisting technical staff in automated experiments for multiple projects starting from the lab up to data analysis and reporting
- Provide training and guidance to personnel regarding automation protocol development and execution.
- Collaborate and share technical expertise within the Sanofi network and with external engineering companies.
- Maintain a broad knowledge of automation concepts, practices, and procedures and critically evaluate relevant literature with respect to applicable projects
- Be at the heart of building out the Automation HUB, collaborating closely across the broader early CMC department.
- Leverage digital tools, including AI, to solve problems.
- Ensure data integrity and data compliance with Sanofi Digital systems
- About You
- Degree of B.Sc. with 5 years of relevant experience or M.Sc. with 0–3 years relevant experience (degree should be in engineering, bioengineering, computer science or applied science field)
- Proficiency with digital tools for everyday collaborative work
- Demonstrate proficiency in digital laboratory tools including Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs), benchling, and data analysis software
- Programming expertise with one or more programming language such as Python, R, is required
- Experience in transforming laboratory protocols into automated high-throughput protocols is required
- Experience with laboratory automation equipment (Tecan, Hamilton, Agilent based systems or equivalent ) is required
- Experience in integration of high-throughput equipment into full automated systems, including equipment data connectivity solutions to enable automated data transfer between instruments and Laboratory Information Management Systems (eg Benchling) and advanced robotic handling is required
- Solid analytical and problem-solving skills
- A pro-active approach and high sense for safety, quality, accuracy, and detail
- A team-oriented attitude, flexibility, enthusiasm, and ability to work independently
- Verbal and written fluency in English with ability to report and discuss experimental design and data
- Programming expertise with one or more commercial liquid handlers is highly desired, such as TECAN EvoWare, TECAN Fluent Control, Synthace, Hamilton Venus or equivalent
- Familiarity with AI/ML applications in pharmaceutical research and digital collaboration platforms is advantageous
- Experience in data processing and visualization using Spotfire / Power BI is preferred
- Experience in preparative chromatography and process development; knowledge of Unicorn is preferred
- Experience with scheduler software for automated platforms is a plus
- Experience with HSE-related requirements related to high-throughput equipment and end-to-end integrated automation workflows
Why choose us?
- Help improve the lives of millions of people globally by making drug development quicker and more effective.
- Join a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core, with Employee Resource Groups and leadership programs that celebrate every voice.
- Shape the future of the NANOBODY® and Microbial Platforms by helping to develop new drugs and by continuous platform improvement.
Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.
Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
The CV should be in English and should include a separate paragraph specifying your technical expertise. If you possess the necessary skills to fulfil this unique role, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
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