LIMS Platform lead

Starting compensation: $144,000 to $178,000, depending on experience; we may make exceptions for outstanding candidates Work location: On-site in Cambridge, MA Role Overview SecureBio is a nonprofit working to protect the world from catastrophic pandemics. As advances in biotechnology lower the barriers to engineering pathogens, our mission is to ensure humanity’s detection and alert systems are ready. As part of this mission, our Detection team is building a pathogen-agnostic pandemic early warning system: we operate the world’s largest metagenomic biosurveillance network, which performs daily sequencing of wastewater samples and nasal swabs to screen for emerging pathogens. Our laboratory processes hundreds of wastewater and nasal swab samples from intake to sequencing data handoff, so that our computational team can use detection pipelines responsible for rapid processing in order to flag potential threats. In pandemic early detection, speed is critical: novel pathogens spread exponentially, so every day of delay means many more people are infected by the time of detection. To meet this challenge, SecureBio Detection plans to significantly scale our operation and reduce turnaround, also integrating laboratory automation. As our early warning system scales, we’re looking for a LIMS Platform Lead to own the design, architecture, and operation of the systems that track every sample and harmonize lab data across our pipeline, from intake through sequencing and handoff to the computational team. The focus is robust sample tracking, traceability, and turnaround-time visibility across a continuous stream of diverse samples from 50+ sources, each processed under a range of experimental conditions. Benchling is our current platform, and this role owns the decision of whether to keep building on it or move to an alternative R&D/LIMS platform that better serves our needs. The LIMS Platform Lead is expected to work both independently and collaboratively, serving as SecureBio’s deepest expert on lab informatics while partnering closely with laboratory scientists and technicians, the Automation Lead, the computational biology team, and leadership. The role pairs system architecture with strong product management, UX sensibility, and clear communication, ensuring the platform is intuitive for the people who depend on it, traceable end to end, and continuously improving as the lab scales. Responsibilities Manage and harmonize lab data across sample processing, molecular, and NGS workflows, with robust sample tracking and traceability as the central focus, including metadata, QC results, and timestamps at every stage transition. Own the Benchling platform. Design data models and schemas, including nested schemas that allow a single sample to be processed multiple ways, in close collaboration with the computational biology team. Configure inventory, storage, and barcode/labeling systems, partnering closely with the Lab Operations Manager and the Automation Lead to integrate barcode scanners and laboratory automation equipment so samples and plates are tracked accurately as they move between instruments. Build and maintain integrations across the platform, lab instruments, and AWS; own the standard integrations and partner with the computational team on more advanced engineering and a clean handoff to their analysis pipelines. Champion the end-user experience, keeping the platform genuinely easy for lab scientists and technicians to use day to day. Give on-demand visibility into sample status, turnaround time (TAT), and per-step pipeline efficiency through reporting and dashboards. Manage requirements and roadmap, prioritize across many competing requests, and flag risks or resource needs early and clearly. Manage third-party contractors, consultants, and software vendors for LIMS and sample management, ensuring their work fits the broader architecture. Serve as the front-line expert and escalation point for users who get stuck, continuously improving the system and enforcing conventions for data entry, naming, and permissions that keep data integrity high. Work in an AI-forward way, incorporating AI tools into day-to-day configuration, integration, data-modeling, documentation, and support work, and helping the lab team adopt AI capabilities. Competencies and qualifications Required 3+ years implementing or owning LIMS and ELN systems in a biological or laboratory context. Hands-on Benchling experience: direct experience configuring and administering entity/registry schemas, inventory, notebook and protocol templates, and assay schemas. Demonstrated ability to translate scientific and operational workflows into well-designed data models, especially complex, nested, or multi-path workflows. Excellent communication, listening, and stakeholder-management skills, with proven project and product-management ability across scientific, technical, operational, and leadership audiences. Technical foundation to own configuration and standard integrations independently, while relying on the computational team for more advanced engineering work. Includes working proficiency with REST APIs and integration patterns. Proficiency with Python for scripting and automating scientific workflows, such as the use of the Benchling Python SDK to work with the Benchling backend or an analogous LIMS system. Preferred Past experience working as a bench scientist. Prior experience implementing a full-scale Benchling solution in production, plus broader exposure to comparable R&D/LIMS platforms. Experience integrating laboratory automation equipment (liquid handlers, instruments, robotics) and barcode/labeling systems with informatics platforms. Familiarity with genomics and NGS workflows and the metadata and QC needs of a sequencing pipeline. Experience building custom UI experiences for researchers with the Benchling App framework. Exposure to BI and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) and reporting against a data warehouse. Strong proficiency with SQL and databases (e.g., PostgreSQL), and AWS cloud services (e.g., S3, Lambda) and how they support scientific data storage and integration. Logistics and benefits This is a full-time in-person role located in our Cambridge, MA office. Our employee benefits reflect our belief in investing to build the strongest possible team, in which everyone receives the trust and support they need to excel. Our benefits package includes: Flexible work hours; unlimited paid time off (PTO) for all employees; and minimum 12 weeks fully-paid parental leave. Employer 401(k) match up to 4% of total salary. Free commuter benefits up to $250/month, plus a generous relocation allowance for employees who move to the Boston area. We offer a referral bonus of up to $4830 to individuals who refer successful candidates for this position. To receive these bonuses, we must reasonably believe that you were responsible for referring the candidate to us (e.g. due to you introducing them to us when we didn’t previously know them, or them mentioning you on their application as the reason they heard about the position). If you refer a candidate that we invite to an in-person work trial, you will receive $950; If the candidate accepts a job offer from us, you will receive a further $3880, for a total of $4830. #J-18808-Ljbffr SecureBio, LLC