Mechatronics Engineer (8-month Co-op/Internship)

AbCellera Biologics Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation allowance

Sick leave

Mentorship

Job summary

AbCellera Biologics Inc. seeks a motivated engineering student for an 8-month co-op/internship on the High Throughput Robotics team in Vancouver, BC. You will design, test, and prototype cell screening instruments while receiving mentorship from experienced engineers.

The role emphasizes experimentation, software development, and hands-on prototyping in a fast-paced biotechnology environment with on-site, in-person collaboration.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in an Engineering degree program in a relevant field (e.g., Mechatronics).
• Familiarity with SolidWorks or a CAD package.
• Experience with at least one programming language (Python, C++, Go, LabVIEW).
• Interest in electronics, prototyping, and cleanroom environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute rigorous experiments to characterize cell screening instruments.
• Interpret experimental results and recommend improvements.
• Understand equipment through manuals and team knowledge.
• Write production-quality software.
• Design, assemble, and test precision prototypes with various parts.
• Validate designs in cleanroom and lab environments and monitor production.

Skills

Strong communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Creative thinking

Scientific method

Education

Engineering degree program (Mechatronics)

Tools

SolidWorks

Python

C++

Go

LabVIEW

Job description

Each of us cares about someone who will need medicines. That’s why our vision is to repeatedly beat the odds to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients that need them. AbCellera’s platform integrates biology, computation, and engineering to develop impactful antibody-based medicines. We’re scientists, engineers, and business professionals who work together to turn scientific insights into breakthrough medicines. We pursue truth and scientific rigor. We offer the opportunity to stretch and explore, and to work on things that matter. We pursue truth and scientific rigour and have the courage to work at the edge of the unknown.

We are looking for a motivated and meticulous individual currently pursuing an Engineering degree in a relevant field to join our High Throughput Robotics team as a co-op or intern for an 8-month term, either January to August 2027 or May to December 2027 (we will work with the successful candidate to determine their start date). Our team builds and maintains an array of custom cell screening instruments that are used to image antibody secreting cells as part of our discovery pipeline. These instruments perform high precision functions, and are complex to characterize. You will design and execute experiments to characterize the systems, and design, build and test precision prototypes to address shortcomings found using your experiments.

While in this on-site position, based in beautiful Vancouver, you will receive guidance and supervision from experienced team members within the High Throughput Robotics team. The internship is designed to offer exposure to real-world projects and the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of antibody-based medicines from target to clinic within Canada.

How you might spend your days

• Designing and executing rigorous experiments to characterize our cell screening instruments and associated workflows
• Interpreting the experimental results with recommendations to improve the cell screening instruments
• Understanding equipment using technical product manuals and internal team knowledge
• Writing production-quality software
• Designing, assembling and testing precision prototypes with 3D printed, machined, or off-the-shelf parts
• Validating your designs in cleanroom and lab environments, and monitoring performance during production

We’d love to hear from you if

• You are enrolled in an Engineering degree program in a relevant field, such as Mechatronics or Engineering Physics
• You are an outstanding communicator, team player, and relationship builder
• You are known for attention to detail, creative thinking, and commitment to the scientific method
• You have familiarity with Solidworks or a similar CAD package
• You have experience with at least one common programming language (e.g. Python, C++, Go, LabVIEW)
• You are interested in working with electronics, e.g. stepper motors and microcontrollers
• You are comfortable with shop tools (we have a machine shop and an array of prototyping tools)
• You can design parts keeping the manufacturing process in mind with fit for purpose tolerances
• You are comfortable in clean room and wet bench lab environments

What we offer

AbCellera’s hiring range for this role is CAD $3,400 - $3,800 per month, commensurate with your education and job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

• You will have a vacation allowance as well as additional days off as part of our company-wide office closures (a real value to all!)
• sick leave time while on your internship
• Scientific and technical mentorship is a priority
• you’ll find we prioritize teams and social groups to build community and connections across AbCellera

About AbCellera

Creating medicines is the most important work we can do.

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody-based medicines in the areas of endocrinology, women’s health, immunology, and oncology. We have built a platform for advancing antibody drug programs from target to clinic, and we are using it to build our internal pipeline.
Today, our pipeline includes two drug candidates in clinical development, two preclinical development candidates (DCs) in Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities, and more than 20 active discovery programs across multiple modalities and indications.

We believe that when tenacious people share a vision and work together, they can truly have a positive impact. That’s why we hire for character and intelligence, not just for CVs or experience.

We look for people with drive and energy. People we trust. People who need to know their days are being well spent. That their work really matters. In the end, our success will be measured by the impact of our medicines.

We receive a large volume of applications and are only able to contact those who are selected for an interview. All communication from our Talent Discovery team will come from an @abcellera.com email address.

Application deadline: October 5, 2026, at 5pm PT

Start date: January 11, 2027 or May 3, 2027 (We will work with the successful candidate to determine their start date)

Duration: 8 months

Location: Vancouver, BC

Workplace arrangement: On-site