Position: Automation Engineer 2, Automation Support Applications
Automation Engineer 2, Support Applications Engineering
As a member of the Automation Support Applications Engineering team, you are at the intersection of technology development, deployment to the customer site, and continual support of the deployed technology. Your goal is to understand and translate the needs of the customer and work alongside Automation Scientists, Software Engineers, and Mechatronics Engineers to turn a scoped integrated automation system into a real, production‑ready system.
This role requires strong attention to detail, collaborative communication and project management skills. It is a unique position as the first member of an overnight shift and will require you to be onsite, alone for several hours. You will be the primary owner of our Autonomous Lab during the hours you work, troubleshooting errors, performing instrument maintenance, and addressing user tickets.
Responsibilities
- Primary owner of Ginkgo's Autonomous Lab during overnight hours – recover from errors, perform instrument maintenance, address user tickets
- Execute or guide remote recovery efforts with customers, diagnosing root causes and executing corrective actions for instrument or integration level failures
- Lead root‑cause investigations for complex software‑hardware integration failures – synthesize findings and choose corrective actions that improve time between failures and overall reliability
- Develop and validate automation scripts / configuration templates that standardize installs and reduce manual effort across the Deployment team
- Create and continuously refine end‑to‑end deployment playbooks from initial setup and configuration of our automation products, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT)
- Author and own SOPs, troubleshooting guides, and training material to keep documentation compliant and accessible as a single source of truth
Perform and periodically audit the recurring PM program, ensuring tasks, frequencies, and parts lists meet reliability goals; train and certify customer operators and technicians on execution.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical field, and 4–7 years of relevant experience in laboratory automation, systems integration, or related technical work; or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible, hands‑on experience (typically 6+ years total) that demonstrates the same level of knowledge and ability.
- Proactive problem‑solving mindset and the ability to adapt in fast‑paced environments.
- Customer‑focused approach, balancing customer needs while considering technical feasibility.
- Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills; ability to convey concepts and priorities, as well as an ability to solicit and/or accept feedback.
- Self‑motivated and capable of managing time and tasks with minimal supervision.
- Occasional travel to customer sites for 1–2 weeks to conduct SAT (less than 10% total time).
- Ability to bend, reach, and lift, push, or pull up to 25 lbs. Ability to stand or walk for long periods of time. Repetitive action may be required while performing tasks.
On‑site presence required 5 days/week (Boston, MA). Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences. This position will follow a graveyard shift schedule (10 PM‑6 AM, five days per week).
Preferred Capabilities and Experience
- Experience in a customer‑facing role with an explicit Service Level Agreement (SLA)
- Experience in operating, troubleshooting, or maintaining laboratory automation equipment or other complex automated machinery
- Experience in the life science industry, ideally in a lab or research setting. Proven track record of working in high‑stakes environments, contributing to significant scientific advancements and operational improvements.
- Experience in workflow/process scheduling software or interacting with multi‑device systems. Expertise in managing complex workflows and integrating multiple devices to optimize laboratory processes and enhance productivity.
Benefits
The base salary range for this role is $85,600.00–$. Actual pay within this…