Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer

As a Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer at AstraZeneca, you'll manage a diverse range of responsibilities. Your primary role will involve providing technical operational support to laboratory systems, ensuring that our scientists have the tools they need to perform their work efficiently. Collaboration with various teams, including Science, Facilities, and IT, will be essential as you deliver new laboratory systems. Additionally, you'll maintain an accurate inventory of systems while working closely with vendors to understand current and future lab solutions.

To thrive as a Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer at AstraZeneca, you'll need a blend of technical and interpersonal skills. A minimum of a High School Diploma is required, along with at least four years of experience in lab engineering and technical support. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are crucial, as is the ability to collaborate with teams effectively. Previous experience in a pharmaceutical or healthcare IT environment is a plus and familiarity with laboratory applications will certainly enhance your effectiveness in this role.

AstraZeneca seeks candidates for the Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer position who possess at least a High School Diploma, but a technical or business degree is preferable. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of four years of direct technical lab engineering experience, combined with proficient IT service delivery and vendor management experience. Having strong written and verbal communication skills in English is essential, particularly for effectively communicating with various stakeholders.

The Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer plays a critical role in enhancing patient outcomes at AstraZeneca by ensuring that lab scientists can efficiently perform their work. By providing timely technical support for laboratory systems and collaborating with multiple teams to deliver improvements, the engineer helps streamline workflows and drive innovations that can ultimately increase the speed and accuracy of scientific research and development. This contribution is vital in the pursuit of developing life-changing medicines.

At AstraZeneca, growth and development are integral to your career as a Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer. The company invests in employees, providing opportunities to master various technical and business-related areas. You'll have the chance to collaborate with leading scientists and participate in innovative projects that push the boundaries of science, enabling you to expand your skill set and advance your career while making a positive impact in healthcare.

In answering this question, focus on specific examples where you successfully provided technical support, detailing the laboratory systems involved and any challenges you faced. Highlight your role in resolving issues, emphasizing your problem-solving abilities and your technical expertise. Provide metrics or outcomes if possible, such as improved efficiency or reduced downtime.

Explain your approach to fostering collaboration, such as establishing clear communication channels and regular check-ins with stakeholders. Share examples of past experiences where you successfully bridged gaps between teams to achieve common goals, highlighting your interpersonal skills and ability to foster teamwork.

Discuss any specific inventory management tools or software you have utilized in your previous roles. Share your methodology for tracking equipment and systems, including how you ensure data accuracy. Relate your answer to the importance of inventory management in providing robust operational support within laboratory environments.

In your response, describe a systematic approach to problem-solving, emphasizing your ability to remain calm under pressure. Share specific examples of challenges you faced in lab environments and the strategies you applied to resolve them promptly and effectively while maintaining operations.

Provide details on your previous roles involving IT service delivery, particularly in laboratory environments. Discuss processes you implemented to ensure service quality and timeliness, showcasing your understanding of the unique needs of laboratory users and how you tailored services to meet those needs.

Here, outline your experience with Configuration Management Databases (CMDB) and ticketing systems you've used to manage incidents and requests. Detail how you logged and tracked support issues and the processes you followed to resolve tickets efficiently, demonstrating your organizational skills.

Share your strategy for prioritization, focusing on how you assess urgency, impact, and overall business goals. Give an example of a time you successfully balanced multiple demands and the outcome of your prioritization strategy, showcasing your time management skills.

Discuss your criteria for evaluating new systems, such as usability, compatibility with current workflows, and the potential for improved efficiency. Share a specific experience where you evaluated and recommended a tool, detailing the research process and decision-making involved.

When answering this question, outline a specific project from start to finish, highlighting your role as the Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer. Explain the objectives, the steps you took, and any obstacles you faced. Conclude with the outcomes and how they benefitted the laboratory and patients.

Discuss your approach to continuous learning, including resources such as industry conferences, online courses, and professional networks. Share any relevant certifications you've pursued and how you apply your newfound knowledge to improve your work as a Lab IT On-Site Support Engineer.