Senior Mechatronics Engineer, Ginkgo Bioworks

• BS or MS in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Systems, Robotics Engineering or equivalent; 5+ years of relevant industry experience
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks (2020 or later), including part modeling, assemblies, detailed drawings, and PDM Vault — deep, hands-on mechanical design experience is the most heavily weighted technical requirement for this role
• Proven experience applying Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles to production hardware
• Basic software engineering proficiency; comfortable reading and writing simple scripts or recipe-language logic (e.g., Python or equivalent) to support automation workflows
• Minimum robotics experience required:
• Trajectory design: can build, simulate, and validate robot paths, including path planning, collision/reach checking, and cycle-time optimization
• Motion fundamentals: understands joint-space vs. Cartesian motion and can structure approach-contact-retract sequences
• Hands-on teaching: experience jogging and teaching points on a physical six-axis or SCARA arm, not limited to simulation alone
• Experience in 3 or more of the following areas:
• Laboratory automation systems and experimental workflow development
• Experience with making both 2D and 3D parts; familiarity with metal and/or plastic fabrication techniques including milling, turning, laser/waterjet/plasma methods
• Basic knowledge of wiring circuits, terminating cables with various connector types, power budgets, etc
• Fundamentals with PLCs, safety circuits and safety sensors, power electronics, etc
• Systems engineering mindset with strong attention to detail
• Proven ability to independently own and execute complex, multi-month engineering projects with minimal supervision

Desirable

• We're looking for talented senior engineers who are excited by the challenges of scaling and improving our Automation Technology. The Automation Team is creating integrated robotic workcells, designing processes around walk-up robotic systems, improving how data is handled, working with scientists on scaling their processes, and much more
• Ginkgo is hiring a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to join our in-house automation and integration team. This team is responsible for designing, developing, and deploying automation solutions to both internal labs and external automation customers. Ginkgo's Automation team is building the technology for a scalable, reconfigurable, highly automated industrial factory
• As a Senior Mechatronics Engineer, you will serve as a technical lead working hand in hand with biologists, software developers, and other engineers to co-develop the hardware and aid in the development of software infrastructure that enables walkaway automation for various applications
• You will bring deep expertise in CAD and mechanical design, complemented by working knowledge of robot trajectory programming, to bear on some of our most complex integration challenges
• The Automation Mechatronics Team is responsible for designing and deploying the mechanical, electrical, and control systems that form the basis for our novel integrated robotic systems
• As a senior member of the team, you will be responsible for identifying and sourcing off-the-shelf equipment, delivering custom hardware solutions, leading robot trajectory design and programming, managing assembly vendors, programming PLCs, and mentoring junior engineers
• You will own your designs through the complete product lifecycle from concept, to requirements gathering, to delivery, to second tier support
• Like all Mechatronics engineers on the team, you will have tasks sourced from a number of different projects on your to-do list
• You should expect variety in your day-to-day work, along with an agile environment where priorities shift quickly in response to new projects and updated customer needs
• At the senior level, you are expected to provide technical direction, identify risks early, and drive cross-functional alignment on mechatronics architecture decisions
• We're open to learning new tools or methodologies to get the job done more efficiently, and we hope that you will bring new ideas and perspectives to the team!
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of mechatronics infrastructure for automating various lab processes
• Own end-to-end SolidWorks CAD design for custom mechanical assemblies, including detailed drawings, PDM Vault management, and design reviews
• Design, program, and optimize robot trajectories for industrial six-axis robot arms, ensuring safe, repeatable, and efficient motion in workcell environments
• Refine and reinforce mechatronics design standards, best practices, and documentation requirements across the team
• Collaborate with biologists on automation equipment design and operation to translate scientific requirements into robust engineering solutions
• Work with vendors to build mutual understanding of needs and capabilities; lead technical evaluations of new instruments and components
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level Mechatronics Engineers
• Drive cross-functional coordination between Hardware, Software, and Systems teams on integration projects
• Manage mechanical BOM accuracy and revision control within our PLM system
• Support change management and upgrade/retrofit deployment across our existing fleet of deployed enclosures and hardware configurations, helping balance standardization goals with the practical realities of a diverse installed base