Automation Manager Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Automation manager jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where manufacturers, semiconductor firms, and tech-driven logistics companies actively hire for this role. Employers such as Applied Materials, Tesla, and Broadcom have established engineering operations that regularly sponsor international candidates for automation management positions.
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Get Access To All JobsWork Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Laboratory Setting, Office
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
About the Role
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Genetic Sciences Division R&D is developing the technologies needed for the next generation of genetic-analysis platforms and automated scientific workflows.
We are seeking a Senior Manager of Advanced Technology & Automation to lead the incubation, prototyping and maturation of emerging technologies across instrumentation, consumables, molecular biology and laboratory automation.
Working within the architecture and technology direction established for the division, this leader will turn promising ideas into evidence-based system capabilities. The role will build a team that experiments rapidly, resolves critical uncertainties and transitions successful technologies into product-development organizations.
The successful candidate will combine scientific curiosity, hands-on engineering and disciplined execution. This person must be comfortable making investment and termination decisions based on customer value, technical evidence, scalability and commercial potential.
What You’ll Do
Lead Advanced Technology Incubation
- Build and manage a focused portfolio of advanced technology and automation initiatives.
- Translate customer needs, scientific trends and technology opportunities into clear hypotheses and learning objectives.
- Lead feasibility studies, prototypes and experiments that address the most important technical and commercial uncertainties.
- Establish staged maturation plans from exploration through feasibility, system validation and product transition.
- Define evidence-based criteria for continuing, redirecting or stopping initiatives.
- Balance rapid experimentation with appropriate scientific rigor, documentation and intellectual-property protection.
- Ensure incubation investments remain aligned with platform architecture and business strategy.
Develop Next-Generation Technologies
- Advance technologies across areas such as:
- Genetic analysis and multiomics workflows
- Molecular biology and sample preparation
- Microfluidics and consumable architectures
- Optical detection and precision instrumentation
- Sensors, embedded systems and intelligent control
- Laboratory automation, robotics and connected workflows
- AI-enabled experimentation and data-driven systems
- Integrate scientific, consumable, instrument, software and data considerations from the beginning.
- Build prototypes that demonstrate system and customer value—not isolated technical performance.
- Identify scalability, manufacturability, reliability and regulatory constraints early.
- Partner with system architects to ensure new capabilities align with reusable platform foundations.
- Convert experimental learning into technology roadmaps, technical requirements and product recommendations.
Advance Automation and Lab-in-the-Loop
- Develop automated sample-to-answer and multi-instrument workflows.
- Integrate instruments with liquid handlers, robotics, workflow orchestration and laboratory data systems.
- Build Lab-of-the-Future concepts that improve throughput, reproducibility and ease of use.
- Develop Lab-in-the-Loop capabilities using experimental data and real-time feedback to adapt or optimize workflows.
- Partner with customers and automation vendors to test representative scientific applications.
- Ensure automation concepts can evolve into scalable, supportable product capabilities rather than one-off demonstrations.
Apply AI to Science and Engineering
- Identify high-value applications of AI in experimental design, workflow optimization, anomaly detection, intelligent control and data interpretation.
- Use AI-assisted methods to accelerate concept exploration, modeling, experiment planning and technical analysis.
- Develop data and system foundations required for reliable AI-enabled capabilities.
- Partner with data science, software and domain experts to prototype and evaluate AI-enabled workflows.
- Ensure appropriate attention to data quality, robustness, traceability, cybersecurity, validation and human oversight.
- Measure AI initiatives through scientific, customer and engineering outcomes—not tool adoption alone.
Transition Technology into Products
- Partner with Product Management, architecture and product-development teams to define transition pathways.
- Demonstrate technical feasibility, customer value and architecture alignment before product handoff.
- Identify productization gaps involving reliability, cost, manufacturability, serviceability, quality and regulatory needs.
- Package prototypes, models, data, requirements and technical knowledge for effective transfer.
- Support receiving teams during early integration and resolve critical transition risks.
- Capture lessons from successful and unsuccessful initiatives to improve the incubation process.
Build Innovation Capability and External Connections
- Recruit, coach and develop innovators, researchers and automation engineers.
- Create a culture of curiosity, hands-on experimentation, constructive challenge and accountability.
- Develop capability in rapid prototyping, experimental design, systems thinking, automation and AI.
- Build partnerships with customers, KOLs, academic laboratories, startups, suppliers and technology providers.
- Maintain awareness of emerging science, competitive technologies and external innovation.
- Develop future technical and people leaders and build succession depth.
What You Bring
Education and Experience
- Advanced degree in engineering, bioengineering, molecular biology, biophysics, applied physics, computer science or a related discipline; a PhD is preferred.
- Substantial experience in advanced technology development within life sciences, diagnostics, laboratory automation or complex scientific instrumentation.
- Demonstrated success translating early-stage technology into validated system capabilities or commercial products.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and a portfolio of exploratory initiatives.
- Experience with molecular biology workflows and integrated instrument, consumable, assay, software and data systems.
- Experience collaborating with external technology partners, startups, customers or academic researchers.
- Experience in regulated or highly quality-controlled product-development environments is preferred.
Technical and Strategic Depth
- Strong technical knowledge across several relevant areas, such as genetic analysis, microfluidics, optics, automation, robotics, embedded systems or AI.
- Experience developing prototypes that integrate scientific and engineering disciplines.
- Understanding of technology maturation, system integration and transition into product development.
- Ability to evaluate opportunities based on customer value, differentiation, feasibility, scalability and commercial potential.
- Experience with experimental design, modeling, data analysis and structured technical problem-solving.
- Practical knowledge of AI/ML and its application to scientific experimentation, automation or intelligent products.
- Familiarity with design controls, manufacturability, reliability and product-lifecycle considerations.
Leadership and Behaviors
- Builds teams that combine creativity, technical depth and disciplined execution.
- Operates effectively in ambiguous, early-stage environments.
- Moves quickly to test critical assumptions and learn from evidence.
- Connects scientific and technical possibilities with customer and business value.
- Makes clear investment and termination decisions without becoming attached to individual ideas.
- Influences effectively across science, engineering, business and global teams.
- Develops people, external networks and future leadership depth.
- Balances ambitious innovation with scalability, responsibility and customer trust.
Why This Role Matters
This role will ensure that advanced technologies, automation and AI move beyond promising ideas into validated, architecture-aligned solutions that can strengthen future platforms and customer workflows.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $165,800.00–$200,000.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Laboratory Setting, Office
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
About the Role
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Genetic Sciences Division R&D is developing the technologies needed for the next generation of genetic-analysis platforms and automated scientific workflows.
We are seeking a Senior Manager of Advanced Technology & Automation to lead the incubation, prototyping and maturation of emerging technologies across instrumentation, consumables, molecular biology and laboratory automation.
Working within the architecture and technology direction established for the division, this leader will turn promising ideas into evidence-based system capabilities. The role will build a team that experiments rapidly, resolves critical uncertainties and transitions successful technologies into product-development organizations.
The successful candidate will combine scientific curiosity, hands-on engineering and disciplined execution. This person must be comfortable making investment and termination decisions based on customer value, technical evidence, scalability and commercial potential.
What You’ll Do
Lead Advanced Technology Incubation
- Build and manage a focused portfolio of advanced technology and automation initiatives.
- Translate customer needs, scientific trends and technology opportunities into clear hypotheses and learning objectives.
- Lead feasibility studies, prototypes and experiments that address the most important technical and commercial uncertainties.
- Establish staged maturation plans from exploration through feasibility, system validation and product transition.
- Define evidence-based criteria for continuing, redirecting or stopping initiatives.
- Balance rapid experimentation with appropriate scientific rigor, documentation and intellectual-property protection.
- Ensure incubation investments remain aligned with platform architecture and business strategy.
Develop Next-Generation Technologies
- Advance technologies across areas such as:
- Genetic analysis and multiomics workflows
- Molecular biology and sample preparation
- Microfluidics and consumable architectures
- Optical detection and precision instrumentation
- Sensors, embedded systems and intelligent control
- Laboratory automation, robotics and connected workflows
- AI-enabled experimentation and data-driven systems
- Integrate scientific, consumable, instrument, software and data considerations from the beginning.
- Build prototypes that demonstrate system and customer value—not isolated technical performance.
- Identify scalability, manufacturability, reliability and regulatory constraints early.
- Partner with system architects to ensure new capabilities align with reusable platform foundations.
- Convert experimental learning into technology roadmaps, technical requirements and product recommendations.
Advance Automation and Lab-in-the-Loop
- Develop automated sample-to-answer and multi-instrument workflows.
- Integrate instruments with liquid handlers, robotics, workflow orchestration and laboratory data systems.
- Build Lab-of-the-Future concepts that improve throughput, reproducibility and ease of use.
- Develop Lab-in-the-Loop capabilities using experimental data and real-time feedback to adapt or optimize workflows.
- Partner with customers and automation vendors to test representative scientific applications.
- Ensure automation concepts can evolve into scalable, supportable product capabilities rather than one-off demonstrations.
Apply AI to Science and Engineering
- Identify high-value applications of AI in experimental design, workflow optimization, anomaly detection, intelligent control and data interpretation.
- Use AI-assisted methods to accelerate concept exploration, modeling, experiment planning and technical analysis.
- Develop data and system foundations required for reliable AI-enabled capabilities.
- Partner with data science, software and domain experts to prototype and evaluate AI-enabled workflows.
- Ensure appropriate attention to data quality, robustness, traceability, cybersecurity, validation and human oversight.
- Measure AI initiatives through scientific, customer and engineering outcomes—not tool adoption alone.
Transition Technology into Products
- Partner with Product Management, architecture and product-development teams to define transition pathways.
- Demonstrate technical feasibility, customer value and architecture alignment before product handoff.
- Identify productization gaps involving reliability, cost, manufacturability, serviceability, quality and regulatory needs.
- Package prototypes, models, data, requirements and technical knowledge for effective transfer.
- Support receiving teams during early integration and resolve critical transition risks.
- Capture lessons from successful and unsuccessful initiatives to improve the incubation process.
Build Innovation Capability and External Connections
- Recruit, coach and develop innovators, researchers and automation engineers.
- Create a culture of curiosity, hands-on experimentation, constructive challenge and accountability.
- Develop capability in rapid prototyping, experimental design, systems thinking, automation and AI.
- Build partnerships with customers, KOLs, academic laboratories, startups, suppliers and technology providers.
- Maintain awareness of emerging science, competitive technologies and external innovation.
- Develop future technical and people leaders and build succession depth.
What You Bring
Education and Experience
- Advanced degree in engineering, bioengineering, molecular biology, biophysics, applied physics, computer science or a related discipline; a PhD is preferred.
- Substantial experience in advanced technology development within life sciences, diagnostics, laboratory automation or complex scientific instrumentation.
- Demonstrated success translating early-stage technology into validated system capabilities or commercial products.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and a portfolio of exploratory initiatives.
- Experience with molecular biology workflows and integrated instrument, consumable, assay, software and data systems.
- Experience collaborating with external technology partners, startups, customers or academic researchers.
- Experience in regulated or highly quality-controlled product-development environments is preferred.
Technical and Strategic Depth
- Strong technical knowledge across several relevant areas, such as genetic analysis, microfluidics, optics, automation, robotics, embedded systems or AI.
- Experience developing prototypes that integrate scientific and engineering disciplines.
- Understanding of technology maturation, system integration and transition into product development.
- Ability to evaluate opportunities based on customer value, differentiation, feasibility, scalability and commercial potential.
- Experience with experimental design, modeling, data analysis and structured technical problem-solving.
- Practical knowledge of AI/ML and its application to scientific experimentation, automation or intelligent products.
- Familiarity with design controls, manufacturability, reliability and product-lifecycle considerations.
Leadership and Behaviors
- Builds teams that combine creativity, technical depth and disciplined execution.
- Operates effectively in ambiguous, early-stage environments.
- Moves quickly to test critical assumptions and learn from evidence.
- Connects scientific and technical possibilities with customer and business value.
- Makes clear investment and termination decisions without becoming attached to individual ideas.
- Influences effectively across science, engineering, business and global teams.
- Develops people, external networks and future leadership depth.
- Balances ambitious innovation with scalability, responsibility and customer trust.
Why This Role Matters
This role will ensure that advanced technologies, automation and AI move beyond promising ideas into validated, architecture-aligned solutions that can strengthen future platforms and customer workflows.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $165,800.00–$200,000.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Automation Manager Job Roles in California
See all 36+ Automation Manager Jobs in California
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Search Automation Manager Jobs in CaliforniaAutomation Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for automation managers in California?
California's semiconductor, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing sectors include employers with active visa sponsorship histories for automation managers. Companies such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tesla, Broadcom, and Northrop Grumman have filed Labor Condition Applications for engineering and automation roles. Life sciences firms in the San Diego and San Francisco Bay Area also sponsor automation managers supporting laboratory and manufacturing systems.
Which visa types realistically fit automation manager roles in California?
Automation manager is a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related field, making H-1B visa the most common path. H-1B1 visa applies to Chilean and Singaporean nationals. E-3 visa covers Australian nationals in specialty occupations. F-1 students may work via OPT or STEM OPT if their degree is STEM-designated. EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards are also available through PERM labor certification for longer-term sponsorship.
How to find automation manager visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California automation manager roles specifically at employers with verified visa sponsorship history, so you can focus on companies that have demonstrated willingness to sponsor rather than applying broadly. Filtering by California narrows results to the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego markets where automation management hiring is most active. Migrate Mate surfaces this sponsorship data directly in job listings.
Which cities in California have the most automation manager sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area, particularly Santa Clara County and the East Bay, leads California for automation manager sponsorship given the concentration of semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturers. Los Angeles and surrounding areas in the South Bay support aerospace and defense automation hiring. San Diego has a strong life sciences manufacturing cluster, and Sacramento sees demand from agricultural technology and utilities automation projects.
Are there state-specific factors that affect automation manager visa sponsorship in California?
California's strict environmental and energy regulations have accelerated investment in automated manufacturing and smart factory systems, increasing demand for automation managers across the state. University programs at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego produce engineering graduates who compete for the same roles, meaning employers are familiar with sponsoring international candidates from these pipelines. California's high concentration of H-1B-dependent tech employers also means sponsorship processes are well-established at many larger firms.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored automation manager jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.