Job Details

Job Description - Pioneer Labs - Laboratory Automation Engineer

About Pioneer Labs

Pioneer Labs is engineering the first microbes that will be used on Mars. We are building an engineering platform that allows us to cultivate hearty critters that can grow robustly even in extreme conditions. We aim for this research to make biomanufacturing ubiquitous, reliable, and green - on Earth and beyond.

To do so, Pioneer is building a platform for polyextremophile microbial engineering. Our approach combines functional genomics and robotics-accelerated evolution to rapidly engineer microbes that are tailored to suit harsh, unusual conditions found in biomanufacturing.

We are a nonprofit startup based in Emeryville, California. We do marsshot science with an agile, startup-esque team. Pioneer received pre-seed funding from The Align Foundation and is now supported by The Astera Institute's Residency program.

Laboratory Automation Engineer

Pioneer is seeking an Automation Engineer to join the team in Emeryville in summer or fall 2025. As a nonprofit startup, we have a unique mandate to keep our automation engineering as open-source as possible and share our results with the scientific community through open publishing on our substack.

Automation Engineering

• Scale the throughput of existing assays. We already use a Hamilton to enable plate-based assay setup, passaging experiments, and data collection. We aim to increase the throughput of these existing assays while maintaining good performance.
• Automate new workflows. Work closely with the team to translate manual processes to automated workflows that accelerate our science, including scripting workflows for hands-off and 24/7 experiments

Operations

• Specify & procure equipment. Evaluate needs, source new robots and peripherals, and manage vendor relationships from quote to delivery.
• Maximize uptime. Schedule preventive maintenance, stock critical spares, and own firstline troubleshooting to keep the platform running.
• Train, document, & support. Write SOPs, run workshops, and support researchers so anyone can launch automated runs confidently.
• Share the playbook. Publish hardware configs, protocols, and performance data so the broader bioautomation community benefits and contributes.

About You

Note that this section describes an ideal candidate in order to provide insight into what this job could entail. The more of these that apply to you, the more likely we think you will be a good fit for the role. Please don't hesitate to apply even if you don't feel like you're a perfect match!
Essential

Essential qualifications, experience, and competencies:
Technical:

• At least 3-5 years of experience with laboratory automation.
• Associate's, Bachelor's, or similar degree in bioengineering, molecular biology, or similar. Candidates with a PhD are eligible, but a PhD is NOT required.
• Inventive builder mentality. Demonstrated ability to problem solve beyond the boundaries of off-the-shelf hardware and software solutions,
• Programming experience. At least 2 years experience with coding in Python, or similar language, and understanding of software best practices.
• Liquidhandling system mastery. Deep expertise programming Hamilton or comparable platforms for complex multiplate, multistep protocols with rigorous QC documentation.
• Clear technical communication. Produces precise SOPs, trains multidisciplinary teams, and presents automation performance metrics to stakeholders. Understanding of basic laboratory safety procedures.
• Agile, startuporiented mindset. Comfortable prioritizing under ambiguity, delivering iterative improvements, and meeting aggressive timelines in a smallteam environment.

Interpersonal:

• Learning Mindset: Willingness to learn new skills and teach these to others
• Collaboration: Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate with wet lab scientists and software engineers.
• Organization: Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills. Attention to detail is imperative for this position. A well-organized notebook must be maintained at all times
• Creative problem-solving: Ability to think critically and creatively. Employ scientific reasoning to problem-solving and troubleshooting.

Desirable

Outstanding candidates may have additional specialized expertise that would serve them well in this role. Some examples of additional valuable expertise might be:

• Familiarity with PyLabRobot or other agnostic lab automation programming systems, or other software engineering experience
• Familiarity with LIMS or database systems (ex. Airtable, Notion)
• Experience with lab automation beyond liquid handlers (3D printers, bioreactors, plate readers, integrated devices)
• Experience working at biotech startups
• Experience with open science and public communication, including publishing protocols, hardware configurations, and performance benchmarks.
• Experience with strain engineering or molecular biology techniques (directed evolution, non-model microbe culturing, DNA sequencing, cloning)

Salary and benefits

Pioneer Labs benchmarks salaries based on equivalents in for-profit biotech startups. Base salary will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and interview performance. We anticipate that the salary for this role will likely be $110k-$160k/year, depending on experience.

We offer benefits including:

• Health Insurance (inc. medical, dental, and vision) for employee and dependents
• Family leave (up to 12 weeks)
• A flexible time off policy
• 401(k) plan

Pioneer can sponsor visas as needed.

Pioneer Labs welcomes everyone

We believe diversity enriches our team and so strive to hire people with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences.

We are an equal opportunity employer. That means we don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.