Here's the tl;dr:

• We are on a mission to make programming biology easy. We provide biologists with the software, machine learning & services to discover, design and optimise enzymes and their cell-factories to ultimately produce almost anything.

• We're an experienced team. We have built many successful products before and we have raised enough funds to have plenty of runway for the years to come!

• We're focused on building the best possible team culture. We're distributed across two locations, and are flexible about when and where we work.

• We offer top of the market salary, a generous equity stake in the company and a wide range of benefits from health and wellbeing, financial, to training and career progression opportunities.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a seasoned Automation Engineer to join Cradle's interdisciplinary team and take our innovations to new heights. As a key player in our BioEngineering team, you'll be the driver for automating high-throughput workflows for building DNA and expressing, purifying and testing proteins.

We've reimagined experimentation with our state-of-the-art wet-lab infrastructure, seamlessly integrated with machine learning algorithms allowing for more scalable and cost-effective solutions. But that's not all – we are also developing novel techniques beyond what is mainstream!

As an Automation Engineer, you’ll help shape the strategy and steer the vision. You’ll have the runway to source, onboard and integrate devices (including robotic arms). You'll be the one to keep our automation in-flight and connect devices to our LIMS and ML Ops system.

If you like robots, have a passion for precision and innovation, enjoy collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and want to help the next-generation platform for monumental biotechnological advancements - please apply!

Responsibilities

As an Automation Engineer in the BioEngineering team, you would be expected to:

• Onboard new protocols onto our liquid handlers through collaboration with the BioEngineering team to set up robust robotic protocols for building DNA, culturing and transforming microbes, purifying and assaying proteins.

• Own and overcome technical hurdles, troubleshooting technical problems

• Identify gaps within our automation capabilities,taking ownership of upgrading and/or onboarding new liquid handlers and equipment, collaborating with vendors and internal stakeholders.

• Collaborate with the BioEngineering team and external integration party to integrate liquid handlers, robotic arms, and other equipment into a unified platform, streamlining protein optimization workflows.

• Define and optimize protocols for pipetting and liquid handling, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility in the experimental processes.

• Write code to harmoniously integrate input and output data with our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and ML Ops system, ensuring efficient data tracking and organization.

• Conduct regular maintenance and calibration of laboratory automation equipment to ensure consistent performance.

• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials to train new users on lab automation, ensuring proper use of the devices.

Need-to-Haves

• Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline

• Practical experience developing protocols on liquid handlers (e.g. Tecan, Hamilton, Biomek, OpenTrons, iDOT, Echo) and writing scripts for laboratory automation

• Strong understanding of liquid classes, pipetting optimization and robotic arm movements.

• Proficient in writing readable code in a major language (e.g. Python, C++, Java, etc).

• Familiarity with statistical methodologies for understanding, controlling and reducing process variation.

• Successful track record tackling complex issues with innovative and resourceful solutions, demonstrating a keen analytical mindset

• Skillful balance between working autonomously and contributing collaborating

• Ability to think on your feet and adapt strategies as situations evolve

• Enthusiasm for acquiring knowledge, contributing effectively, and driving innovation in an early stage startup, displaying a keen appetite for ambiguity and fast pace

Nice-to-Haves

• Background in molecular biology and protein engineering

• Familiarity with Tecan Fluent liquid handlers

• Proficiency navigating automated laboratory scheduling software(e.g. Green Button Go, Plate Butler, and Cellario)

• Familiarity with workflow management systems like Airflow, Argo, and Flyte

• Proven experience using CAD software, 3D printing, and/or laser cutting

• Track record engineering change control processes and/or software version control (Git, VSS, etc.)

• Demonstrated prowess designing and building custom integrated systems involving hardware from various vendors

Cradle helps biologists design improved proteins in record time using powerful prediction algorithms and AI design suggestions.

We use generative machine learning models, accessible through user-friendly software interfaces, to help engineer protein properties such as stability, expression, activity, binding affinity and specificity. Our mission is to ultimately help more people build with biology and replacing traditional farms and factories for a more sustainable world.

You will be joining a high-growth, highly ambitious startup with an experienced founding team, whose motivation is building a more sustainable world using biology. We are backed by some of the most well known investors and industry veterans. Joining us now means you will be getting in on the ground floor; you will have a significant impact on how we shape the company, and success will mean an outsized reward.

Did we pique your interest? We'd love to hear from you. Please use this form to apply directly.