Robotics Engineer

About Plasmidsaurus

Plasmidsaurus is on a mission to accelerate new cures and promote a healthier planet by unlocking a new level of productivity for scientists who use DNA tools to bring their ideas to life. Our DNA sequencing tools are used daily by thousands of innovators, including Nobel prize winners, dynamic biotech startups, research labs, and DIY biohackers. Our global network of labs operates day and night to enable world-changing discoveries. In 2024, we saved these scientists 2 million hours of time, radically accelerating their research. Every team member at Plasmidsaurus plays a crucial role in driving forward the future of biotech research.

Position Overview

As a Lab Robotics Engineer at Plasmidsaurus, you will play a crucial role in automating and optimizing our sample processing pipeline. You'll be directly responsible for developing, deploying, and maintaining automation processes across our global network of labs.

Your responsibilities will span:

• Writing production-quality Python code to control our robotic platforms, integrating with various lab instruments

• Design robotic systems using various hardware components and embedded systems, including Raspberry Pis, Arduinos, and custom-designing electronic & mechanical parts

• Collaborating with our world-class scientists to productionize new lab protocols, leveraging your expertise in automation to scale and refine these processes

• Building and managing a fleet of robots, and monitoring systems to proactively identify and address issues with robots in the field

Culture

You are someone who: 

• Enjoys high agency and high ownership work

• Is curious about learning from other people’s expertise in scientific/biological domains 

• Is excited to make an impact on the scientific community, enabling the next generation of medicines, biotechnology, and even plant-based-meats! 

• Can lead projects from idea to production independently 

• Is a life-long learner

• Is excited to work in a tight-knit fast-paced environment with a motivated team 

• Values clear communication and helping others learn new skills 

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Biology, or relevant work experience 

• 3+ years of experience programming in Python (web frameworks like Flask/Django a plus!)

• 1+ years of experience automating, optimizing, and scaling lab procedures using liquid handling systems (OpenTrons, Hamilton, etc), and lab robotics

• Familiarity with molecular biology protocols with 1+yrs lab experience

• Experience automating, optimizing and scaling procedures performed in a laboratory setting using various hardware components and embedded systems

• Experience with orchestration and deploying software to multiple devices in the field (e.g. Docker, Ansible)

• Experience writing software for Raspberry Pi

• Experience with building & maintaining QA, telemetry, and monitoring systems to ensure device stability

• Experience working with Linux servers

• Experience with 3D printing (e.g., Fusion 360) and basic CAD modeling

• Some experience with simple computer vision (e.g., OpenCV)

• (Preferred) interest in learning about biotechnology and DNA sequence analysis 

Why Plasmidsaurus?

• IMPACT: Your work will directly contribute to accelerating biotech research. This research is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for stopping climate change and developing novel therapies.

• INNOVATION: Work on the cutting edge of biotech and software, introducing indispensable tools to top-tier researchers.

• COMMUNITY: Join a passionate, scrappy team that values close, interactive relationships with our customers and each other.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description as we seek out diverse and creative perspectives. Team members who love to learn and collaborate in an inclusive environment will thrive with us. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need additional accommodations to feel comfortable during your interview process, please let us know at [email protected].