Senior Director, Head of Automation & Innovation
Core
Technical backbone of a maximally automated end-to-end wet lab in Beijing, designing and executing automation architecture for drug discovery workflows (multi-specific antibodies, peptides, oligonucleotides) using a lab-in-a-loop approach.
Role type
Senior Director, Head of Automation & Innovation (Hands-on IC with strategic leadership)
Builds
A coherent lab-in-a-loop system integrating physical automation, data automation, and engineering/facilities for hit identification through lead optimization.
Domain
Biopharma R&D / Lab Automation / Robotics / Drug Discovery
Deliverable
Production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Lab automation technology expertise (robotics, liquid handling, lab orchestration), multi-year technology roadmap definition, vendor and technology evaluation, cross-functional team leadership, external thought leadership, hands-on technical execution
Preferred skills
Experience with biologics/peptide/oligonucleotide discovery workflows, greenfield automated lab builds, change management, external conference speaking
Technologies
Robotics, liquid handling systems, high-throughput methods, lab orchestration software, dry-wet lab integration
Responsibilities
Define automation architecture and multi-year technology roadmap; evaluate emerging automation/robotics technologies; set technical standards for lab-in-a-loop integration; lead technical design and vendor selection for automated workflows; build and scale the automation technical team; represent AstraZeneca externally as a technical authority; troubleshoot technical bottlenecks in real-time
Seniority
Senior Director, hands-on IC with strategic scope
