Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. · 6 hours ago
Automation Engineer II, Support Applications Engineering
California, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Entry, Mid Level
$86K/yr - $120K/yr
2+ years expGinkgo Bioworks is focused on making biology easier to engineer, addressing global challenges in various sectors. The Automation Engineer II will be responsible for deploying and supporting automation systems, ensuring customer satisfaction and operational efficiency through collaboration with various engineering teams.
BiopharmaBiotechnologyChemical
Responsibilities
Create and continuously refine end-to-end deployment playbooks from initial setup and configuration of our automation products, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT)
Actively lead full system setup, configuration, FAT, SAT, and post-install stabilization – execute test plans, tune hardware/software parameters, and make real-time engineering decisions that ensure each RAC/Tile system meets acceptance criteria and transitions smoothly into routine operation
Lead root-cause investigations for complex software-hardware integration failures – synthesize findings and choose corrective actions that improve time between failures and overall reliability
Develop and validate automation scripts / configuration templates that standardize installs and reduce manual effort across the Deployment team
Author and own SOPs, troubleshooting guides, and training material to keep documentation compliant and accessible as a single source of truth
Execute or guide remote recovery efforts with customers, diagnosing root causes and executing corrective actions for instrument or integration level failures
Perform and periodically audit the recurring PM program, ensuring tasks, frequencies, and parts lists meet reliability goals; train and certify customer operators and technicians on execution
Qualification
Required
Minimum 2 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience)
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical field and 0-3 years of relevant experience; or
An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible, hands-on experience (e.g., 3+ years in laboratory automation, instrumentation, or related technical work) that demonstrates the same level of knowledge and ability
On-site presence required 3-4 days/week (Emeryville, CA), strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
Proactive problem-solving mindset and the ability to adapt in fast-paced environments
Customer-focused approach, balancing customer needs while considering technical feasibility
Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills; ability to convey concepts and priorities, as well as an ability to solicit and/or accept feedback
Eager to learn and grow, staying up to date with new technologies and industry developments
Self-motivated and capable of managing time and tasks with minimal supervision
This position may follow a 4/10 schedule (10AM-8PM, four days per week) with a rotational third shift (8PM-4AM PT) requirement
Occasional travel to customer sites for 1-2 weeks to conduct SAT (less than 10% total time)
Ability to bend, reach, and lift, push, or pull up to 25lbs. Ability to stand or walk for long periods of time. Repetitive action may be required while performing tasks
Preferred
Experience in a customer-facing role with an explicit Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Experience in operating, troubleshooting, or maintaining laboratory automation equipment or other complex automated machinery
Experience in the Life Science industry, ideally in a lab or research setting. Proven track record of working in high-stakes environments, contributing to significant scientific advancements and operational improvements
Experience in workflow/process scheduling software or interacting with multi-device systems. Expertise in managing complex workflows and integrating multiple devices to optimize laboratory processes and enhance productivity
Benefits
Company stock awards
A comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage
Health spending accounts
Voluntary benefits
Leave of absence policies
401(k) program with employer contribution
8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown
Unlimited Paid Time Off policy
Company
Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.
At Ginkgo, we use biology to grow the future.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (13)
2024 (38)
2023 (25)
2022 (27)
2021 (27)
2020 (8)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.58BKey Investors
Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAgriculture and Food Research Initiative
2024-04-10Grant
2023-12-13Grant
2023-10-05Grant
Leadership Team
Reshma Shetty
Co-founder
Austin Che
Founder
Recent News
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2026-02-06
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