Automation Engineer

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function with the ultimate aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan.

We are seeking a highly motivated new member of our Automation team. The automation team is a multifaceted group of engineers who partner with our scientific programs to automate and streamline their processes and accelerate the science. In this role, you will support research operations by automating simple to complex workflows and optimizing the usage of instrumentation and robotics that power Retro’s automated workcells. 

This position is an onsite role based in Redwood City.  

About you:

You have done the repetitive wet-lab grind and are motivated to find creative, reliable ways to modify or build tools to accelerate these processes at Retro. You are a hands-on generalist who loves complex machines, troubleshoots on the fly, and will open up hardware to understand it. You can work towards a goal without a detailed blueprint, embracing the iterative process. With a “see it, fix it” mentality, you step up to do what is needed to maintain a high-functioning lab. You are able to safely move equipment and are flexible enough to support long-running biological workflows when needed. You’re energized by the chance to reimagine how science gets done, helping Retro to iterate 10x faster!

• Design, develop, and deploy automated workflows across key programs including iPSC automation, Stem Cell Differentiation, and downstream screening.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with scientists, hardware engineers, and programmers to translate manual workflows into robust automated processes.
• Own automation project lifecycles, from requirements gathering and project management, from prototype to production.
• Design, implement, iterate, and validate liquid handling processes.
• Help identify the key bottlenecks that could be improved with automation. 
• Research and continually develop your knowledge of state-of-the-art tools that Retro can use to advance our research in innovative ways. 

• Are knowledgeable in lab automation, device integration, and developing automated workflows in an R&D environment with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Are familiar w/ biological workflows that relate to cell culture, molecular biology, and/or screening.
• Have experience independently developing workflows on automated liquid handlers, specifically Hamilton Stars or Starlets.
• Demonstrate proficiency with Python or other programming languages.
• Have experience managing projects, starting from requirements gathering to deploying to productions.
• Have experience building complex hardware/software integrations.

• Experience working in a startup environment.
• Experience doing hands-on wet lab work.
• Experience with PyLabRobot, CAD, 3D Printing, Git or version control
• Experience contributing to open source projects.

We take pride in cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative team working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are diverse in background and singular in mission.