Europe Arbeitnow ·
full-timeAutomation Lead
Orakl Oncology · Villejuif
Orakl Oncology is a fast‑growing startup that combines biology, artificial intelligence and automation to accelerate oncology drug development using patient‑derived tumor organoids. The Automation Lead will create and run the automation function for the company’s high‑throughput 3D cell‑culture platform. Daily work involves mapping end‑to‑end cell‑culture workflows, spotting automation opportunities, defining a roadmap, drafting user requirements, evaluating and negotiating with equipment vendors, commissioning robotic and PLC‑controlled lines, and monitoring machine performance. The role also includes hiring and mentoring automation technicians and engineers, establishing documentation, quality and safety standards, and collaborating closely with cell biologists and data scientists to translate laboratory protocols into automated processes. The position suits an engineer with a degree in robotics, industrial, mechanical or process engineering and at least eight years of experience in automation, supplier negotiation and PLC/robot programming, who is comfortable working on the lab floor and in interdisciplinary teams.
About us, and our mission At Orakl Oncology, we are accelerating the development of oncology treatments. Today, fewer than 5% of new cancer drugs succeed in clinical trials. Clearly, new methods are needed. We combine cutting-edge biology and AI to build the next generation of insight platforms with a large cohort of patient-derived tumor avatars. These avatars fuel our predictive engine, helping to anticipate clinical outcomes, validate therapies and uncover new drug candidates. By generating multimodal, real-world data, we aim to make drug development smarter, faster and more personalized. We collaborate with leading hospitals, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. Backed by leading investors, Orakl is a fast-growing, mission-driven startup at the intersection of biology, automation and AI. Position overview Orakl runs a high-throughput 3D cell‑culture platform to culture patient-derived organoids (PDOs). These patient-derived specimens reveal critical information into the patient disease, but require heavy maintenance work. Automating these workflows will be critical to improve the reliability and traceability of experimental work. We are hiring our first automation lead to build the Automation function from scratch. This is a high ownership and high autonomy job. You will map our processes, decide what to automate and what to leave alone, specify and source the equipment, negotiate with vendors and integrators, commission the machines, run them with the lab team, and hire the people the function needs. As the ideal candidate, you have already put automated lines or special machines into service, and you know what typically breaks between commissioning and the first experimental runs. While previous experience in biology is a plus, it is not a strict requirement: you will be taught all you need to know. However, you do need a proven experience in working deeply embedded in interdisciplinary teams. Key responsibilities Map cell culture workflows end to end and identify key process automation and optimisation opportunities. Own the automation roadmap. Present and lead the implementation of the major decisions to Orakl’s leadership. In line with the automation strategy you will have identified, evaluate vendors and integrators. Write user requirement specifications, acceptance criteria and interface requirements for each project. Negotiate price, scope, delivery, acceptance, support and consumables terms autonomously within agreed thresholds. Lead design reviews and factory and site acceptance tests. Translate our proprietary cell culture protocols into automated machine execution with our team of cell biologists and scientists. Track machine availability, hands-on time per line, interventions, failures and recovery time. Use the data to decide the next step. Coordinate with Orakl’s management to anticipate future automation needs on the platform and adjust the roadmap accordingly. Hire and develop the automation technicians and engineers the roadmap needs. Set the standards for the automated platform: documentation, quality control, safety, qualification, change control, vendor management. In this role you will collaborate closely with our cell culture, cell biology and data science teams. You will be at the heart of Orakl Oncology’s capabilities roadmap and help generate unprecedented amounts of biological data to power scientific discovery in cancer. Key qualifications Must-have Engineering degree (generalist, robotics, industrial, mechanical or process engineering) or equivalent, and at least eight years of experience. Exceptional process thinking skills: you map flows, time operations, find bottlenecks and question the processes. Experience in supplier negotiation and budget ownership on your own projects. Experience in PLC and robot programming concepts, scheduling software, instrument interfaces, basic scripting. You enjoy and are comfortable spending time on the floor with operators. You have experience in communicating and operating with engineers, technicians and workers at the heart of production processes. Autonomy: you tell your manager what you decided and why, not what you need decided. Fluency in English is required. Nice-to-have You have put automated lines, cells or special machines into service end to end: requirements, vendor selection, negotiation, integration, factory and site acceptance, ramp-up, budget. This doesn’t have to be in a lab environment : plant, food and fermentation, pharma or cosmetics are other examples of relevant experience. Automation in life-science or regulated environments: cell culture, biotech, food and fermentation, pharma, cleanroom or BSL-2 work. A working understanding of cell culture and what it demands: sterility, contamination risk, variability between samples, and steps governed by the biological pace. Liquid handling, plate-based workflows, incubators and imagers; laboratory scheduling software. Experience hiring and leading an automation te
| Role | Automation Lead |
|---|---|
| Company | Orakl Oncology |
| Location | Villejuif |
| Type | full-time |
| Compensation | Not disclosed |
| Deadline | Rolling |
Typical process for this type of role
A general guide — the exact steps for this specific listing may vary; check the original posting for details.
- 1ApplicationSubmit your resume through the apply link.
- 2ScreeningRecruiter reviews your background against the role.
- 3AssessmentA technical test, assignment, or coding round, depending on the role.
- 4Interview(s)One or more rounds with the hiring team.
- 5OfferOffer letter with compensation and start date.
Before you apply
0/4More at Orakl Oncology
Other jobs at Orakl Oncology
- Senior Business Development Manager · Villejuif
- Product Marketing Lead · Villejuif
- Communications, Brand & Events Lead · Villejuif
- Alliance & Delivery Manager, Pharma Partnerships · Villejuif
- Scientific Product Director, Clinical Prediction · Villejuif
Explore Related Placements
// similar opportunities
You might also like
Automation Engineer
Gymshark
OVERVIEW: We're looking for a frontend Automation Engineer to join our Quality Engineering (QE) team for our Mobile apps, helping us build and scale automated t...
Automation Engineer
Gradematch
De uitdaging Wij zoeken per direct een Automation Engineer voor onze klanten in de regio Weert. Onze klanten zijn actief in de (zware) industrie en techniek, en...
Lead Automaticien Siemens TIA
Eh Group
About EH Group Engineering EHG is developing cutting-edge fuel cell technology for heavy duty mobility and large-scale stationary power applications. Our unique...
Test Automation Engineer
European Dynamics
We currently have a vacancy for a Test Automation Engineer fluent in English, to offer his/her services as an expert remotely (within EU) . In the context of th...
CX AI & Automation Lead
Remotecom
About Remote Remote is solving modern organizations’ biggest challenge – navigating global employment compliantly with ease. We make it possible for businesses ...
AI Transformation Lead (UK)
Writer
🚀 About WRITER WRITER is where the world's leading enterprises orchestrate AI-powered work. Our vision is to expand human capacity through superintelligence. A...