Workflow Automation Specialist Jobs in California

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function with the ultimate aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan.

We’re building a mission-driven team of accomplished and kind individuals who embrace our startup culture of rapid iteration, transparency, and versatility.

We are hiring a new member of the Automation team to help expand Retro’s ability to run automated biological workflows with greater consistency, capacity, and operational rigor. This is a hands-on role for someone with wet lab experience who likes making complex lab processes work reliably in the real world.

You will help prepare and execute automated workflows, support related bench work, document runs and deviations, and turn recurring learnings into better protocols, SOPs, and setup practices. Because we are a lean startup, you will also contribute across adjacent areas when needed, including biological execution, scientific operations, and workflow validation.

The ultimate goal is successful science. Automation, AI tools, and operational discipline are how we reduce avoidable friction and help the team spend more time on the work that matters most.

You are a wet-lab fluent, hands-on operator who takes pride in making complex lab work run smoothly. You are detail-oriented, organized, and able to balance speed with precision without letting quality slip. You have experience at the bench and/or in biology-heavy R&D environments, and you understand how small differences in setup, timing, documentation, or execution can affect scientific outcomes.

You are frustrated by avoidable inefficiency and motivated to improve how work gets done. You are excited to use practical tools — including checklists, templates, structured run logs, lightweight scripts, and AI tools — to make workflows clearer, more consistent, and easier to troubleshoot. You are a team-first person who takes ownership, communicates clearly, creates accountability, and cares more about successful science and proactive problem solving than rigid job boundaries.

• Prepare automated workcells for regular workflow execution, including reagents, media, plates, tips, labware, consumables, and deck setup.

• Execute and monitor automated processes on our automated workcells.

• Perform manual cell culture and biological workflow steps that support automation development, troubleshooting, benchmarking, and validation.

• Draft SOPs and build out our SOP library.

• Document run setup, protocol details, deviations, errors, observations, and outcomes in structured formats.

• Work with scientists and automation engineers to improve protocols, reduce failure modes, and increase workflow reliability.

• Maintain automation-related supplies, consumables, and labware inventory.

• Perform routine maintenance, QC, and readiness checks on relevant devices.

• Follow sterile technique, biosafety, and lab operations best practices.

• Identify recurring workflow pain points, failure modes, and manual bottlenecks, and work with scientists and the rest of the automation team to improve or automate them.

• Help ensure automated workflows are run consistently, deviations are captured quickly, and learnings are translated into better protocols, SOPs, and setup practices.

• 2+ years hands-on experience in a biology, cell culture, screening, or lab operations environment.

• Comfort performing manual biological workflows such as media changes, reagent preparation, plate handling, sampling, passaging support, or assay setup.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow protocols precisely while noticing when something is off.

• Comfortable working around or operating automated lab equipment such as liquid handlers, automated incubators, plate readers, robotic arms, screening systems, or similar platforms.

• Clear communication, strong organization, and a team-first mindset in a fast-moving lab environment.

• A bias toward ownership, continuous improvement, and reducing inefficiency without sacrificing quality.

• Pride in careful, repeatable execution, and understand that reliable operations are often what make ambitious science possible.

• with mammalian cell culture, sterile technique, and BSL-2 practices.

• operating or supporting liquid handlers, robotic workcells, high-throughput screening systems, automated incubators, or plate-based assay systems.

• supporting assay development, workflow optimization, protocol transfer, or automation validation.

• with LIMS, electronic lab notebooks, barcode-based tracking, or structured data capture.

• with basic troubleshooting lab instruments, automated systems, or screening workflows.

• using LLMs, scripting, templates, or lightweight software tools to improve documentation, operations, or repetitive workflows.

• in startup or fast-moving R&D environments where priorities evolve quickly.

At Retro, we don't use titles. New hires join as a "Member of X Team".

Total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits including:

• • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• • 401(k) plan with 4% matching
• • Flexible time off and 10 company holidays per year
• • Paid parental leave
• • Annual learning & development stipend
• • Monthly Longevity stipend
• • Daily Retro-sponsored lunch and snacks

We take pride in cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative team working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are diverse in background and singular in mission.