--- title: 'Software Engineer III - Driver Developer (Autonomous Lab) at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-iii-driver-developer-autonomous-lab-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-2kbt99rt0ngp' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-26' --- # Software Engineer III - Driver Developer (Autonomous Lab) at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. - **Company:** Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. - **Location:** Boston, MA - **Posted:** 2026-09-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-26 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ginkgobioworks/jobs/5241119007 ## Job description 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. Job Description 1: Software Engineer III - Driver Developer (Autonomous Lab) Team: Automation Systems Team Location: Boston, MA Hiring Manager: Yangdy Chen and Bradley Spillert ## About the Role We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Software Engineer III to join our core engineering team working on Catalyst, our software stack that runs our robotic lab systems. In this role, you will be responsible for the design, development, integration testing, and field support of software drivers for our cutting-edge autonomous labs. The ideal candidate possesses a solid background in programming reliable physical or real-time systems. You excel at cross-functional collaboration, ensuring our drivers meet the exacting standards of the scientific community while providing rapid response to customer issues. To learn more about automation engineering at Ginkgo, take a look at [our website](https://www.ginkgo.bio/product/software). ## Responsibilities This job requires occasional travel to Ginkgo's office in Boston, MA and customer sites as needed. Driver Development & Implementation (70%) - Design, implement, and maintain robust, high-performance software drivers using Python and/or C#/.NET for a diverse range of lab automation hardware (e.g., robotic arms, liquid handlers, plate readers). - Deeply understand and implement various low-level hardware communication protocols, including RS-232, USB, and TCP/IP. - Develop drivers with a focus on reliability. - Contribute to the design of the device abstraction layer to create intuitive and robust interfaces for high-level application developers. - Use and enable agentic software. Integration & Validation (20%) - Extensive testing with the rest of the Catalyst stack - Collaborate closely with scientists and quality assurance teams to perform joint functional testing and validate driver performance against scientific requirements. - Develop and maintain sophisticated automated unit and integration tests. - Design and build hardware simulation environments to enable comprehensive driver testing and rapid iteration without relying on physical instrument access. - Ensure the drivers include comprehensive error handling, logging, and fault-tolerance mechanisms to guarantee graceful recovery from communication timeouts and hardware failures. Field Support & Diagnostics (10%) - Act as a Tier 2 technical resource, providing rapid diagnosis and resolution to software and communication errors occurring at critical customer laboratory sites. - Utilize remote diagnostic tools, system logs, and protocol analyzers to troubleshoot complex field issues quickly and effectively. - Develop and document workarounds and permanent solutions to maintain high customer uptime. - Proactively observing usage of our drivers and proposing improvements to the user experience/reliability ## Minimum Requirements - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. - 2–4 years of professional software development experience, with a focus on hardware integration, embedded systems, or driver development. - Extensive experience with Python. - Strong communication and collaboration skills. - Familiarity with laboratory automation, robotics, or scientific instrumentation is highly beneficial. ## Preferred Capabilities and Experience We do not expect that any one candidate will have all of the following capabilities - each is independently a preferred or “nice-to-have” capability. - ## Experience in a fast-moving, deep-tech company - Experience or understanding of laboratory automation and lab automation user personas - Strong understanding of Operating System fundamentals (threading, synchronization, memory management) and real-time constraints. - Excellent communication, patience, and the ability to translate complex technical issues for non-software stakeholders (scientists, customers). - Proficient with Git and experience working within agile methodologies and CI/CD pipelines. - Advanced skills in debugging low-level code, including use of protocol sniffers, logic analyzers, and remote debugging tools. - Experience with Windows, C#, COM. - Experience with OPC-UA, SiLA2. - Experience or background in a life science or chemistry laboratory The base salary range for this role is $112,200–$159,600. 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 5x per week. 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 and Emeryville, CA. It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet. Privacy Notice 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](https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/concentric-privacy-policy/).  By submitting this job application, I am acknowledging that I have reviewed and agree to Ginkgo's [Privacy Policy](https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/concentric-privacy-policy/) as well as the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by Ginkgo's associated with the application process. ## About Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Ginkgo Bioworks builds and operates autonomous labs that replace manual benchwork with robotics, enabling scientists to program biology for applications across biopharma, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. - **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: DNA) - **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, United States - **Founded**: 2009 - **Founders**: Jason Kelly, Reshma Shetty, Barry Canton, Austin Che, Tom Knight ## Core Business - Primary industry: Biotechnology Research, Synthetic Biology, Autonomous Labs - Target customers: Biopharma, agriculture, and industrial biotech companies (B2B, Enterprise) - Mission: "Build the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone" — with a vision that "our children will program biology like we once programmed computers." ## Products & Services - **[Autonomous Lab Platform]**: A robotics-driven laboratory system where scientists can order experimental work to be run by robots, replacing manual benchwork. Available as Ginkgo’s in-house lab or as a "cloud lab" service. - **[Ginkgo Datapoints]**: A contract research service offering small molecule developability, high-throughput screening, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) services. - **[Ginkgo Solutions]**: Custom contract research and development services for customer-specific biotech projects. - **[Catalyst Agent]**: A tool that lets scientists "run your experiments on Ginkgo's autonomous lab in Boston, virtually." - **[Biosecurity Software]**: A software offering focused on biosecurity applications. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Publicly traded (NYSE: DNA); market cap fluctuates — as of mid-2025, the company had a market cap in the range of ~$1-2 billion (check current quote). IPO date: September 17, 2021. - **Total Funding**: $3.31 billion (cumulative, including IPO and post-IPO equity) - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue — Not publicly available in search results; the company reports financials in SEC filings. Headcount: ~454 employees (-36% YoY, reflecting a significant restructuring). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Flagship Pioneering, Takeda, Sanofi, Novartis, Bayer, and others. Key acquisitions include FGen (2022), Circularis Biotechnologies (2022), Altar (2022), Bitome (2022), and AgBiome’s GENESIS Platform (2024). - **Growth Signals**: Trusted by over 130 customers; operates in 10 countries; strong government partnerships (CEO Jason Kelly previously chaired the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology); active job postings up 175% YoY (though from a low base). ## Competitive Advantages - **Autonomous Lab Leadership**: Ginkgo is pioneering the shift from manual benchwork to fully automated, robot-run labs — a significant moat in productivity and scalability. - **Founding Team**: Founders are pioneers in synthetic biology (e.g., Tom Knight is considered the "father of synthetic biology"; Jason Kelly chaired the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology). - **Platform Approach**: The "cell programming platform" allows biology to be engineered more like software, enabling applications across diverse markets (food, fragrance, pharmaceuticals). - **Government & Biosecurity Ties**: Deep relationships with U.S. government agencies for biosecurity and national security applications. ## Strategic Focus - **Autonomous Lab Expansion**: Scaling the autonomous lab platform and making it available as a "cloud lab" to external customers. - **Commercialization**: Moving from R&D to commercial revenue through Datapoints and Solutions services. - **Cost Optimization**: The 36% headcount reduction suggests a focus on operational efficiency and path to profitability. - **Biosecurity**: Leveraging government partnerships for biosecurity software and services. ## Why Work Here - **Cutting-Edge Mission**: Work at the intersection of biology, robotics, and software — "program biology like we once programmed computers." - **Engineering Culture**: Heavy emphasis on software engineering for autonomous lab systems (robotics, scheduling, optimization, driver development) — roles for senior software engineers, automation engineers, and hardware engineers. - **Locations**: Primary hub in Boston, Massachusetts (headquarters); second office in Emeryville, California. Some remote roles (e.g., Director, Government Partnership Development). - **Culture**: Described as a place where scientists "focus on insight, creativity, and judgment rather than manual lab work." Internships available in software, automation, and commercial operations. - **Perks**: Not explicitly detailed in search results, but typical for a public biotech: equity, health benefits, and the chance to work on world-changing problems. - **Important Note**: The company has undergone a 36% headcount reduction in the past year — potential job seekers should be aware of restructuring and recent departures of senior leaders (e.g., Head of Commercial, Director of National Security partnerships). ## Sources 1. [ginkgo.bio](https://www.ginkgo.bio/) 2. [ginkgo.bio/about](https://ginkgo.bio/about) 3. [LinkedIn - Ginkgo Bioworks](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ginkgo-bioworks) 4. [Greenhouse - Ginkgo Bioworks Jobs](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ginkgobioworks) ## Other roles at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. - [Automation Scientist Intern, RAC Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/automation-scientist-intern-rac-operations-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-h89145y8r51b) — Boston, MA - [Associate Director, Environmental Health and Safety](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-environmental-health-and-safety-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-epcvdtv6me0f) — Boston, MA - [Scientist, AI/ML — Antibody Developability](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-ai-ml-antibody-developability-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-california-zt4jk6yhnwgq) — California, United States - [Cheminformatics & Synthesis Prediction](https://feeny.ai/job/cheminformatics-synthesis-prediction-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-8fbkktyfwggy) — Boston, MA - [Computational Synthetic Chemist](https://feeny.ai/job/computational-synthetic-chemist-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-ymnk9r1yjcph) — Boston, MA - [Senior Director, Multiomics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-multiomics-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-1055fh6ggbb1) — Boston, MA - [Senior Mechatronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechatronics-engineer-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-emeryville-nxd8vvdz2s3h) — Emeryville, CA - [Senior Product Manager, Reagents](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-reagents-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-x6ta5j76xcs4) — Boston, MA - [HTS Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/hts-scientist-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-qktc4azxwkhd) — Boston, MA - [Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Lab (Scheduling & Optimization)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-autonomous-lab-scheduling-optimization-ginkgo-bioworks-tsysyfd50hr5) — Boston, MA