Automation Scientist

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best-in-class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

Pfizer colleagues have many perspectives, many backgrounds, and many strengths, but we share one goal: to improve the lives of patients. An Automation Scientist in Analytical Technology and Compound Management (ATCM) within the Liquid Store plays an important role specializing in automation, troubleshooting, data handling and material logistics to facilitate the transfer of compounds in our corporate collection in the proper format for screening both across the Pfizer enterprise and externally. This is a lab-based role which requires hands-on interactions with automated, liquid handling systems and an expert knowledge of our workflows and systems with the expectation that they can provide immediate assistance, education, and training for colleagues, contractors, and visitors on an as needed basis. To accomplish this, the individual will operate unattended as well on teams to drive daily problem solving and process enhancements decisions by contributing impactful, innovative ideas against defined goals while partnering with our screening stakeholders, Digital (IT), Global Operations, and external vendors to provide training, education, and troubleshooting expertise in line with business goals.

As a Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will be part of a team that is addressing the critical task of rejuvenating our pipeline with innovative, differentiated First-In-Class/ Only-In-Class programs in the years to come. This will be addressed by generation of strong data packages from target hypotheses derived from academic outreach and initiatives. You will be an essential member of this team and creatively design and execute key experiments to address the basic and translational biology of novel drug targets, their molecular pathways, and their connection to human disease. You will support projects in one or more therapeutic areas of interest to Pfizer including Immunology, Oncology, Immuno-Oncology, Neurodegenerative Disease, etc.

With your deep knowledge in the discipline, you will be an active team member who influences at the project team level. You will be using your scientific judgment to adapt standard methods and techniques by applying prior work experience and consulting others. Your ability to plan will help in preparing short-term work activities on projects. Your creativity in developing novel processes and new ideas will be used frequently. You will undertake mentoring activities to guide your team members.

It is your innovative scientific temperament that will help in making Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

How You Will Achieve It

• Contribute to achievement of goals of the team and influence at the work group/project team level.
• Apply technical skills and functional knowledge to projects/ assignments within own work group/ project team independently and proactively.
• Develop expert level knowledge in the operation and troubleshooting of lab automation to support the production of high quality near and assay ready plates for screening campaigns delivered within defined SLAs.
• Hit-Identification Provisioning System (HIPS) super user expected to operate the system both in the lab, remotely, and facilitate vendor access to maintain optimal up time by responding to system reported errors to minimize order fulfilment delays often caused by system failures.
• Large acoustic tube store super user expected to test, operate, and troubleshoot the system to drive daily production and order fulfillment requests and provide expert training and/or education to colleagues and contractors as needed.
• Collaborate with team members and partners to design and continuously improve workflows to ensure on-time delivery of requests.
• Contribute towards maintaining the Pfizer compound collection and develop innovative solutions which contribute towards good compound stewardship.
• Provide expert customer support by addressing reported issues from stakeholders, which may require in lab demonstrations for better understanding, especially related to compound deliverables and if necessary, develop and report innovative enhancement requirements to improve workflows and minimize risks for issues.
• Provide up to date workflow SoPs for both new and existing workflows to ensure proper in lab procedures are followed that strictly adhere to Pfizer safety policies.
• Provide informative lab tours which showcase our work and the complex automated hardware that we’ve incorporated into our workflows to optimize quality and efficiency to all visitors both internal and external, which demonstrates a deep knowledge of automated systems and associated workflows.
• Effective communication utilizing email and Teams to coordinate efforts and special case handling for various projects based on prioritization while effectively utilizing contractor support.
• Prepare and present experimental results to various teams.
• Comply with all safety training and good laboratory practices.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Computer Science or a related field with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Excellent organization and planning skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team, while demonstrating strong motivation with a dedicated work ethic with a commitment to timely delivery of high-quality work products while overcoming obstacles in a fast-paced environment with a continuous improvement mind-set.
• Demonstration of excellent computer, verbal, and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrate ability to Identify opportunities to develop as an individual, enable innovation, and continuous improvement in workflows and operations in a manner which applies learnings based on changing needs through customer interactions.
• Experience in eliciting, documenting, and translating functional and technical requirements into business impactful solutions associated with laboratory liquid sample handling equipment.
• Experience programming automated systems and troubleshooting both hardware and software related issues efficiently to minimize downtime.
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate well with external vendors and stakeholders to improve and ensure automated system robustness to maximize total capacity and efficiency while minimizing risks for issues and errors.

Nice-to-Have

• Master’s degree in engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Computer Science or a related field, with 4+ years relevant work experience.
• Experience with Azenta, HiRes Biosystems, Beckman, Agilent, and Hamilton systems.
• Experience with Teams, Power Apps, Jira, Pipeline Pilot, SQL, TOAD, Visual Basic, Java, and Oracle databases.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data analysis platforms and architecture including integration with other applications via API such as RESTful APIs.
• Demonstration of verbal and written communication skills. Past oral and/or poster presentations at conferences or society meetings.
• Demonstrated ability to forge strong collaborative relationships inside and outside organizational walls and across multiple cultures: academic, industrial, and CROs.
• Basic understanding of primary pharmacology assay development and compound screening.
• Prior experience working in areas of compound management, or pharmaceutical laboratory automation, or high throughput screening.
• Expert knowledge in the operation and troubleshooting of liquid handling systems and other automated plate handling instruments.
• Project management experience.
• Technical and scientific writing skills documenting and updating SoPs and workflows.
• Experience in working with multi-functional, cross line teams.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Sitting, standing, and walking.
• Regular use of computers.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Candidate must comply with laboratory safety practices and wear personal protection as required.

Work Location Assignment :On Premise

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $74,900.00 to $124,800.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits tendersglobal.net (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

Research and Development