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Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.

Automation Scientist Intern, RAC Operations

Boston , United States
internship On-site

AI overview

Be the hands-on force behind cutting-edge Reconfigurable Automation Cells, mastering lab automation while supporting diverse molecular and cell biology scientific workflows.

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. 

 

The role is based out of Ginkgo’s Boston, MA location and requires regular in-person attendance.

About the Role: Ginkgo Bioworks is deploying a massive fleet of Reconfigurable Automation Cells (RACs)—modular, mobile robotic units that snap together like LEGOs to form an autonomous lab. We are looking for an Automation Scientist Intern to be the hands-on force behind this fleet. You will learn how to load, operate, take down, and troubleshoot protocol runs on the most advanced lab automation hardware in the world, pushing our "Nebula" frontier lab towards autonomous operation.

Responsibilities:

  • Master the RAC Platform: Learn to operate and maintain a system of Reconfigurable Automation Cells, designed to support a variety of molecular and cell biology scientific workflows. You will queue and submit programmatically-generated protocols, remote monitor for errors and conduct remote and on-site error recovery, with the support of our Apex Support team. Over time, you will advance to modifying or writing new protocols for our RAC Automation system.
  • Learn Biology: You will prepare and onboard reagents and consumables for upcoming molecular and cell biology scientific workflows, execute and monitor such workflows, and take down and offboard used plates from completed workflows.  In the process, you will learn how to carefully handle and prepare reagents and consumables for workflows, do basic monitoring and error recovery of runs and safely dispose of used plates from completed workflows.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • No college degree necessary but some skills in coding, biology or computational biology required. 
  • "Automation-forward" mindset: you love working with lab automation and making robotic systems run smoother.
  • Willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that existing and new scientific workflows run successfully on our RAC automation system.

Bonus (not required):

  • Interest in communications, marketing, social media, and/or short form video

About the Role: Ginkgo Bioworks is deploying a massive fleet of Reconfigurable Automation Cells (RACs)—modular, mobile robotic units that snap together like LEGOs to form an autonomous lab. We are looking for an Automation Scientist Intern to be the hands-on force behind this fleet. You will learn how to load, operate, take down, and troubleshoot protocol runs on the most advanced lab automation hardware in the world, pushing our "Nebula" frontier lab towards autonomous operation.

Responsibilities:

  • Master the RAC Platform: Learn to operate and maintain a system of Reconfigurable Automation Cells, designed to support a variety of molecular and cell biology scientific workflows. You will queue and submit programmatically-generated protocols, remote monitor for errors and conduct remote and on-site error recovery, with the support of our Apex Support team. Over time, you will advance to modifying or writing new protocols for our RAC Automation system.
  • Learn Biology: You will prepare and onboard reagents and consumables for upcoming molecular and cell biology scientific workflows, execute and monitor such workflows, and take down and offboard used plates from completed workflows.  In the process, you will learn how to carefully handle and prepare reagents and consumables for workflows, do basic monitoring and error recovery of runs and safely dispose of used plates from completed workflows.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • No college degree necessary but some skills in coding, biology or computational biology required. 
  • "Automation-forward" mindset: you love working with lab automation and making robotic systems run smoother.
  • Willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that existing and new scientific workflows run successfully on our RAC automation system.

Bonus (not required):

  • Interest in communications, marketing, social media, and/or short form video

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.

Ginkgo has implemented a return to office policy effective October 1, 2025 with required in-office days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  This policy applies to all employees who live within 50 miles of Ginkgo’s offices in Boston, MA, Emeryville, CA and West Sacramento, CA. **Biosecurity positions are excluded from this policy. 

 
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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 Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.

Important Notices: If you have a disability and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment, please contact [email protected].   Recruitment & Staffing AgenciesGinkgo Bioworks does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Ginkgo or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Ginkgo’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Ginkgo Bioworks, and will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.   Scam AlertPlease be aware of the potential for scams from individuals, organizations and internet sites that claim to represent Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. in recruitment activities. Ginkgo conducts a formal recruitment process for all authorized positions posted and does not conduct interviews via social media or other third-party sites. This site is secure and any applications made here will feed to our legitimate Applicant Tracking System. If you’re contacted by a Ginkgo Recruiter, please ensure whomever is contacting you truly represents Ginkgo. We will never ask for the exchange of any money or credit card details during the recruitment process. Please be aware of any suspicious email activity from people who could be pretending to be recruiters or senior professionals at Ginkgo and please report any suspicious recruiting activity to: Your state’s Attorney General’s OfficeInternet Crime Complaint CenterUSA.govBetter Business Bureau     

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$37,700 – $53,500 per year
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