R&D Technician

Spectraforce Technologies
United States, Illinois, North Chicago
Sep 03, 2025
Position Title: R&D Technician Work Location: North Chicago, IL, 60064 Assignment Duration: 6 months Work Arrangement: On-site Position Summary: Manage highly automated compound management department to accelerate sample delivery and enhance consistency for early drug discovery. Background & Context: Our organization has a highly automated compound management department utilizing robotic instruments to manage the tasks of adding or removing samples from storage banks, along with electronic barcodes to facilitate record-keeping and sample preparation tailored to research scientists' experimental needs. Automation not only accelerates sample delivery but also promises enhanced consistency of samples regarding concentration accuracy and the uniformity of physical properties across experimental runs. These improvements are crucial in advancing early drug discovery. Key Responsibilities: Work cross-functionally to develop a deep understanding of the scientific processes and identify key bottlenecks that could be improved with automation to increase research velocity. Develop appropriate automation protocols to meet the needs research scientists. Maintain instrumentation through routine maintenance and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to minimize equipment downtime. Write and update protocols for new automation workflows using robotic-specific software for laboratory instruments, e.g., Tecan, Beckman Coulter, Agilent Technologies, and SPT. Draft, edit, and review laboratory Standard Operating Procedures for the automated platforms and the protocols necessary to support sample delivery. Promptly enter all data to support the needs of the research scientist. Interpret results, identify anomalies or unexpected outcomes, and provide appropriate remedies. Qualification & Experience: Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, or similar). Experience with robotic liquid handlers from Hamilton, TECAN, Agilent Technologies, or Beckman Coulter. Experience in compound management preferred. Ability to work upright and stationary and/or standing for typical working hours. Ability to lift and move objects up to 25 pounds. Ability to work in non-traditional work environments. Ability to use and learn standard office equipment and technology proficiently. May have exposure to potentially hazardous elements typically found in laboratory environments (PPE required).