Shift Supervisor, Research Operations

Lila Sciences

$118K — $182K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of hands-on experience in lab automation or research operations
  • Proficient in operating and troubleshooting automated liquid handling platforms
  • Experience leading workflow execution and providing direction to engineers
  • Strong knowledge of assay design and execution
  • Skilled in identifying operational issues and driving resolutions
  • Effective communicator for collaboration across teams

Responsibilities

  • Own safe and reliable execution of automated lab workflows on shift
  • Serve as the technical lead and provide real-time guidance to engineers
  • Monitor run performance and system health, resolving issues as needed
  • Manage accurate handoff documentation for team continuity
  • Flag QC/QA deviations and document observations with detail
  • Collaborate with scientific and engineering teams to troubleshoot workflows
  • Support tech transfer by validating workflows against manual processes

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Employer-paid life and disability insurance
  • Flexible time off and generous company-wide holidays
  • Paid parental leave and educational assistance
  • Commuter benefits, including bike share memberships
  • Company subsidized lunch program
Full Job Description
Your Impact at LILA

Lila's Research Operations team runs the automated lab workflows that power our science. As a Shift Supervisor, you own the reliable execution of those workflows across your shift and serve as the technical lead for the engineers running them. You are the first point of accountability for run quality, the first source of operational guidance for engineers on shift, and a critical link between the bench and the automated systems behind our science.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on operational ownership, takes pride in process discipline, and knows how to keep a team and workflows running smoothly in a fast-paced, high-throughput environment.

What You'll Be Building
  • Own the safe, reliable execution of automated lab workflows across your shift, meeting quality, throughput, and operational performance targets
  • Serve as the technical lead for engineers on shift, providing real-time guidance, prioritization, and workflow coordination
  • Monitor run performance and system health in real time, independently resolving common issues, and escalating complex problems appropriately
  • Manage accurate shift handoff documentation in real time, ensuring seamless continuity with the incoming team
  • Flag QC/QA deviations promptly and accurately, documenting observations with high attention to detail
  • Partner with scientific, engineering, and automation teams to troubleshoot workflow challenges and improve operational performance, including ongoing relationships with scientific leads
  • Support tech transfer by validating automated workflows against manual processes and partnering with cross-functional teams to resolve process gaps and improve robustness

What You'll Need to Succeed
  • 3-5 years of hands-on experience in lab automation, research operations, high-throughput screening, or a closely related technical environment
  • Experience operating and troubleshooting automated liquid handling platforms (Hamilton, Lynx, Echo, or similar) in a production or research setting
  • Experience leading and coordinating workflow execution in a team setting, including providing direction to peer engineers, managing competing priorities, and maintaining operational continuity in real time
  • Strong foundational knowledge of the scientific basis for assay design, execution, and interpretation
  • Experience identifying operational issues, performing root-cause investigation, and driving issues to resolution
  • Clear, concise communicator with the ability to collaborate effectively across Research Operations, scientific, and engineering teams

Bonus Points For
  • Degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent technical training and hands-on experience
  • Prior experience in a shift lead, supervisor, or lead technician role in a highly automated or high-throughput laboratory environment
  • Experience improving production protocols, supporting tech transfer, or validating workflows from manual bench execution to automated platforms
  • Familiarity with QC/QA systems, deviation management, SOP development, and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, 5S, Kaizen)
  • Familiarity with electronic lab notebooks (ELN), LIMS, or other laboratory operations software platforms


Compensation

We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.

U.S. Benefits. Full-time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company wide holidays; paid parental leave; an educational assistance program; commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees; and a company subsidized lunch program.

International Benefits. Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.

Expected Base Salary Range

$118,800-$182,400 USD

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