Field Engineer, xPloration

About OmniAb

OmniAb provides our pharmaceutical industry partners access to the most diverse antibody repertoires and cutting-edge screening technologies to enable discovery of next-generation therapeutics. We leverage our state-of-the-art technologies to facilitate the discovery of best-in-class antibodies. Within OmniAb are also core capabilities for the discovery and screening of high-value ion channel and transporter targets.

OmniAb consists of dynamic, collaborative and innovative team members that are passionate about contributing to the technological frontier of drug discovery and to the advancement of global human health. Together, with our partners, we are enabling the discovery of next-generation therapeutics.

About OmniAb’s xPloration® Discovery System

OmniAb’s xPloration offers superior screening and cell recovery compared to other single cell profiling technologies. Its high throughput enables the discovery of rare cells potentially missed by other systems or approaches. Its rapid laser-based recovery process paired with next-generation sequencing enables further mining of immune repertoires for potential hit expansion. xPloration supports various assay formats and is valuable for high-throughput B cell screening within the growing OmniAb partner ecosystem.

About This Role

We’re seeking a Field Engineer to support demonstrations, testing, QC, and field maintenance of OmniAb’s xPloration™ high-throughput screening platform. This person will travel to partner sites to demonstrate, install, maintain, and troubleshoot systems. This role works closely with the Field Applications team, Technical Product Development team, and the Sales team.

This role reports to the Senior Manager, Technical Product Development.

This is an onsite position based out of our Durham, North Carolina office, with travel 50% to 75% of the time to partner sites. This is a full-time position, and the office hours are between 8am–5pm PT.

What You’ll Do

• Travel to partner sites to demonstrate, install, maintain, and repair xPloration™ instruments. Follow safety and quality standards in the lab and at partner sites.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software problems using logs, schematics, and factory protocols. Share findings with Field Applications Scientists and Technical Product Development so they can follow up with partners.
• Track service activities and coordinate instrument and consumable shipments.
• Contribute to SOPs, service procedures, and other technical documentation.
• Maintain accurate service records, installation reports, and QC documentation.
• Build diagnostic tools that speed up issue resolution, strengthen our instrument and service data infrastructure, and apply AI and analytics to monitor performance, flag problems proactively, and turn field data into product improvements.
• Other duties as required.

What You Bring

• BSc in Engineering, Electronics, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical field and 5+ years of hands-on experience working with complex laboratory or analytical instruments.
  • Alternatively, an MSc in a relevant field with 2+ years of hands-on experience.
• Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills for both hardware and software issues.
• Experience documenting service activities and producing clear, detailed reports.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, and comfortable training others on technical equipment.
• Organized and able to balance field work, in-house testing, and logistics tasks.
• Able to work independently in the field and collaboratively with internal teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% of the time.
• Physical ability to lift up to 20 lbs. and work in a range of laboratory environments.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with service management or ticketing software.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, C++, etc.

Nice to Have

• Experience supporting high-throughput screening, single-cell, microfluidic, or imaging platforms in a life sciences setting.
• Familiarity with antibody discovery workflows or biotech R&D environments.

Our total rewards package includes an annual base compensation, target bonus, equity, refresh grants, ESPP, comprehensive health plans, immediate 401k matching, PTO, sick leave, paid parental leave, commuter benefits, wellness stipend, education reimbursement and more!

The base compensation range for this position is $89,250 - $104,550 per year. The range provided is an estimate. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, education, location, and other factors permitted by law.

At OmniAb, we value diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment for everyone. We welcome a variety of experiences, skills, and perspectives within our organization and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we will consider all qualified applicants based on merit and business need. We do not discriminate due to any non-merit-based factors or legally protected classes under federal, state, or local law.