Principal Lab IT Engineer

Job Description

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) is the global pharmaceutical research organization of Novartis. With approximately 6,000 scientists and physicians around the world, our research is focused on discovering innovative new drugs that will change the practice of medicine. We have an open and entrepreneurial culture, encouraging collaboration to make effective therapies.
At NIBR, our mission is to discover innovative medicines that treat disease and human health. To do that, our scientists need cutting-edge, state-of-the-art computing systems.
With NIBR Informatics (NX), NIBR is making a strategic investment into informatics capabilities and is positioning itself to deliver the systems and services that are critical to the future of drug discovery.

The Technology and User Services (TUS) group in NX is driven to help users use tools effectively to improve productivity and foster innovation. We deliver excellence in technology and support services to enable a secure and frictionless digital user experience. Our organization is here providing the technology backbone and devices that enable users to work in an office, lab or mobile environment.
Major Accountabilities (may include but not limited to):
As a Principal Lab IT Engineer, you deliver excellence in technology and onsite support services to NIBR Laboratories in order to enable a secure, frictionless, digital user experience.
You will be responsible for providing support to the lab computing environment which demands uninterrupted service in a state-of-the-art biomedical research center. Specific emphasis of the role includes building specialized computing platforms, installing and configuring scientific applications, and customizing system configurations to meet and exceed scientific demands.

•Service delivery for lifecycle management (inventory, security and compliance, upgrades, and roadmaps) of the 250+ Windows lab systems onsite in Emeryville.
•Provide business analysis and technical expertise to plan and define the requirements to implement local and global lab technology initiatives, working closely with global teams, third party vendors and scientific community.
•Demonstrate an appropriate awareness of the service needed by the user community by building relationships across the site to provide a feedback channel into global Lab Technologies team.
•Lead Lab IT projects at our Emeryville, CA site from inception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time and meet business requirements with measurable business results.
•Provide day-to-day onsite support for Lab IT systems and collaborate with NX, Lab scientists and external vendors to ensure prompt resolution of issues with minimal downtime.
•Provide excellent customer service to scientists with a high level of professionalism, communicate with them clearly and effectively.
•Identify opportunities for improvement, that will streamline and/or expedite the delivery of improved laboratory research and its supporting business applications/processes to optimize performance, reliability, and security.
•Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including lab managers, researchers, and vendors, to ensure that the lab's IT infrastructure is aligned with their needs and expectations.
•Provide design and delivery with technical expertise to build new Windows lab systems to custom infrastructure specifications, integrate hardware, install, and configure the operating system to ensure visibility to the network in accordance with the Novartis Standards and security guidelines.
•Ensuring the security and integrity of lab systems by implementing backup and disaster recovery solutions for critical lab systems.
•Manage the remediation of identified vulnerabilities in lab systems and ensure thorough documentation as per Novartis Information Security & Compliance standards.
•Adheres to Novartis Information Security & Risk Management standards, including Pandemic Preparedness, security patching and incident response.
•If applicable, ensure Regulatory Compliance (e.g. GLP & GCP) standards and policies for GxP products/services.

This opportunity is located at the Novartis Emeryville (CA) site and will not have the ability to be located remotely. Relocation assistance may be available.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $124,000 and $186,000 per year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/23 through 12/31/23, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Minimum Requirements

What will you bring to the role
•5+ years of Lab IT experience supporting lab instrumentation with excellent understanding of the respective research lab processes and informatics needs.
•Experience in the Biotech or Biopharma industry, specifically in relation to scientific instrumentation/vendors, software applications, and systems.
•Understanding of research processes and scientific information systems and how they relate to drug discovery or drug development environment.
•Experience with Windows operating systems, including installation, administration, configuration, and troubleshooting.
•Proven capability interacting with scientists in complex global research organization.
•Excellent interpersonal, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
•Strong customer service attitude and solution orientation with ability to respond to changing needs and priorities quickly and efficiently.
•Excellent understanding and practical experience integrating enterprise components to deliver end-to-end solutions for specific research processes.
•Knowledge of IT security principles and best practices, as well as risk management and compliance standards.
•Experience with Windows security patch management and security vulnerability remediation.
•Experience with Linux environment/operating system is plus.
•Ability to work independently and/or as part of a team.
•Degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience.

Why Novartis?
766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we’re proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people’s lives.

We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.
We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world’s toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying!

Imagine what you could do here at Novartis!

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals in need of a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or disability for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network