INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Software Graduate Intern, Autonomous Lab

CompanyGinkgo Bioworks Inc.
LocationEmeryville
Work ModeOn Site
PostedFebruary 18, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will develop Python-based protocols to control lab equipment and assist in creating an AI interface for launching experiments. They will also work on data integration and hardware instrument integration.
Internship Type
full time
Salary Range
$45,100 - $63,600
Company Size
659
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
At Ginkgo, we use biology to grow the future. Companies across industries leverage our platform to design, develop, and optimize products for a breadth of commercial applications. We help our partners grow key ingredients for vaccines, crops that rely less on fossil fuel-based fertilizers, plant-based meat that tastes like the real thing, materials for the next generation of circular fashion, and so much more. We know our unique experiences, ideas, and perspectives are essential to our success and enable us to make biology easier to engineer and ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of our platform. As such, we seek to to grow an inclusive culture and diverse workforce. Let's make biology easier to engineer and join our team.
About the Role

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:

  • Recent graduate (BS/MS) or current student in Computer Science, Bioengineering, or a related STEM field.
  • 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.

 

The base salary range for this role is $45,100-$63,600. 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 3x per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  Some teams may require to be onsite 4-5 days per week and this will be discussed as part of the interview process.  This policy applies to all employees who live within 50 miles of Ginkgo’s offices in Boston, MA, Emeryville, CA and West Sacramento, CA.

 
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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I understand that I am applying for employment with Ginkgo Bioworks and am being asked to provide information in connection with my application. I further understand that Ginkgo gathers this information through a third-party service provider and that Ginkgo may also use other service providers to assist in the application process.  Ginkgo may share my information with such third-party service providers in connection with my application and for the start of employment.  Ginkgo will treat my information in accordance with Ginkgo's Privacy Policy.  By submitting this job application, I am acknowledging that I have reviewed and agree to Ginkgo's Privacy Policy as well as the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by Ginkgo's associated with the application process.
Key Skills
PythonHardware ControlAPIsAI ModelsLaboratory AutomationData PipelinesRobotic ArmsLiquid HandlersPlate ReadersBioengineeringSoftware DevelopmentNatural Language ProcessingExperimental DataDevice DriversAutomationSTEM
Categories
TechnologyScience & ResearchEngineeringSoftwareHealthcare
Benefits
Health InsuranceStock Options401kPaid Time OffDental CoverageVision CoverageHealth Spending Accounts