Contract Sequencing Platform Operator (12 month Fixed-Term Contract)

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The Position

Job Title: Contract Sequencing Platform Operator

Department: Sequencing Assay Development

Location: Roche Diagnostics, Cape Town, South Africa

Employment Type: Contract (12 months)

The Opportunity
 

The Sequencing Assay Development team is seeking a dedicated Contract Sequencing Specialist to join us on a 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract.

In this position you will assume primary operational ownership of Axelios 1 sequencing systems.

This role directly supports research and development projects by ensuring consistent instrument performance, precise protocol execution, and high data quality across experimental runs.

Key Responsibilities


* Instrument Operation: Prepare reagents, load libraries, and execute sequencing runs on Axelios 1 platforms following standard operating procedures (SOPs).


* System Maintenance: Perform weekly instrument washes, sensor calibrations, and routine preventative maintenance to maximize system availability.


* Sample Prep Support: Assist scientists in sample pooling, conduct basic quality control checks, and submit pools to sequencing queue app


* Inventory Management: Monitor inventory for platform-specific consumables and reagents, escalate the need for orders.


* Troubleshooting & Escalation: Diagnose routine run errors, software flags, or hardware anomalies; liaise directly with internal specialist and/or Axelios core team members for technical resolution.


* Data Management & Logging: Maintain thorough laboratory records, tracking run metrics, flow cell performance, failure rates, and maintenance logs as deemed necessary by the Axelios core laboratory.


* Research and development collaboration: Partner with research and development scientists to schedule runs, test experimental formulations, and provide feedback on instrument performance should it be required.


* Small Axelios Instrument specific projects: When necessary, design and perform Axelios run experiments to test elements of Axelios run performance.

Who You Are as an Ideal Candidate
Qualifications & Requirements


* Education: BSc (Hons), BTech, or MSc in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.


* Practical Experience: Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience operating automated liquid handlers; Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms or similar instrumentation within an R&D, industrial, or diagnostic laboratory setting.


* Core Skills: Proficiency in operating and maintaining automated lab hardware, m...