Software Intern, Ginkgo Bioworks
Autonomous Lab
$37.7-53.5k
Biological engineering product developer
Open for applications
Biological engineering product developer
1001+ employees
Open for applications
$37.7-53.5k
1001+ employees
Company mission
Ginkgo Bioworks' mission is to make biology easy to engineer.
Role
Who you are
- No college degree necessary but some skills in coding or related areas required
- Strong proficiency in Python; experience with hardware control or APIs is a plus
- Enthusiasm for "Lab-in-the-Loop" technologies where AI models drive physical experimentation
- Interest in biological data standards and laboratory automation
What the job involves
- We are looking for a Software Intern to help build the digital brain of this lab
- You will work with Catalyst, our proprietary software stack that orchestrates fleets of Reconfigurable Automation Cells (RACs)
- This role is ideal for software engineers who want to apply their skills to physical systems or computational biologists who want to move beyond analysis into autonomous execution
- Enable "Protocols as Code": Develop and refine Python-based protocols using the Catalyst Client to control liquid handlers, plate readers, and robotic arms
- Build the AI Scientist: Assist in the development of Catalyst Agent, our LLM-based interface that allows scientists to launch experiments using natural language
- Integrate Lab Data: Work on data pipelines that automatically harvest, structure, and upload experimental data from RACs into our data lake for AI model training
- Develop Device Drivers: Help integrate new hardware instruments into the Catalyst ecosystem, writing the drivers that allow our software to "talk" to new lab tools
Our take
Research into the programmable nature of biological cells presents massive opportunities for almost every industry, but the technology is hardly accessible. Bespoke programming of cells requires cutting-edge lab equipment and an in-depth understanding of microbiology, something that would not seem feasible to the average product designer.
Ginkgo Bioworks sells programmable cell development services to provide access to the technology to industries outside of medicine. Whilst the company has already worked on medical products such as vaccines for Moderna, it will research and design products based on programmed cells for any product that it believes holds value.
The startup’s approach to providing cell programming services outside of the medical sector is smart, as an increasingly high number of industries recognize the potential for bespoke cell-based materials. Ginkgo also provides an opportunity for innovation where it previously was not possible by taking the research and design into its own hands where companies would usually need to facilitate such services within their company.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (last 2 of 11 rounds)
May 2020
$70m
LATE VC
Sep 2019
$290m
SERIES E
Total funding: $792.7m
Company benefits
- Growth and development opportunities
- Unlimited paid time off
- Comprehensive health and parental leave benefits
- Flexible work options
- Commuter benefits
- State-of-the-art labs, work spaces, and conference rooms
- Competitive 401K contribution
Company HQ
Seaport District, Boston, MA
Leadership
Reshma Shetty
(COO)Reshma studied for a PhD in Biological Engineering at MIT, having worked as a Research Assistant at Cambridge and Utah universities. They co-founded Ginkgo Bioworks in September 2008.
Barry Canton
(CTO)Barry studied at University College Dublin before taking a PhD in Biological Engineering at MIT. They co-founded Ginkgo Bioworks in 2008 on graduation, working there since.
Jason Kelly
(CEO)Previously founded OpenWetWare while a graduate student at MIT. At MIT they earned a PhD in Biological Engineering.
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