Software Intern, Autonomous Lab

Ginkgo Bioworks; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 37,700 - 53,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock awards

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage

Unlimited Paid Time Off policy

Job summary

A pioneering biotech company based in Emeryville is seeking a Software Intern to help build the digital brain of their Total Autonomous Lab. The role involves developing Python-based protocols for automation systems, refining AI-driven interfaces, and integrating lab data. Ideal candidates have a strong proficiency in Python and an interest in lab automation technologies. This internship requires onsite work five days a week, with competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Some skills in coding or related areas required.
• Enthusiasm for 'Lab-in-the-Loop' technologies where AI models drive physical experimentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine Python-based protocols using the Catalyst Client.
• Assist in the development of Catalyst Agent for launching experiments.
• Work on data pipelines for harvesting and structuring experimental data.
• Help integrate new hardware instruments into the Catalyst ecosystem.

Skills

Proficiency in Python

Experience with hardware control or APIs

Interest in biological data standards

Job description

Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in‑house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.

About the Role

Ginkgo Bioworks is constructing the world’s first "Total Autonomous Lab"—a facility where scientific work is requested by code and executed by robots, 24/7. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Benefits & Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $37,700-$53,500. Actual pay within this range will depend on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer 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 and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.

It is expected that all Internships are onsite five days a week.

It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.

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