Software Engineer III - Driver Developer (Autonomous Lab)
Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.9 hours ago
Boston, MA, USAMid Level / Senior
H1B sponsor
Base Salary
$112k - $160k/yr
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and maintain high-performance software drivers in Python and/or C#/.NET for laboratory automation hardware.
- Implement low-level communication protocols including RS-232, USB, and TCP/IP, and contribute to the device abstraction layer.
- Use and enable agentic software while developing reliable drivers with robust error handling, logging, fault tolerance, and graceful recovery.
- Perform integration and functional testing with the Catalyst stack, scientists, and quality assurance teams.
- Develop automated unit and integration tests and hardware simulation environments for driver validation.
- Provide Tier 2 technical support, using logs, remote diagnostic tools, and protocol analyzers to diagnose customer-site software and communication issues.
- Document workarounds and permanent solutions and propose improvements to driver usability, reliability, and customer uptime.
- Travel occasionally to the Boston office and customer sites as needed.
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 focused on hardware integration, embedded systems, or driver development.
- Extensive experience with Python.
- Preferred experience includes laboratory automation, robotics, scientific instrumentation, operating-system fundamentals, threading, synchronization, memory management, real-time constraints, Git, Windows, C#, COM, OPC-UA, and SiLA2.
- Preferred capabilities include low-level debugging with protocol sniffers, logic analyzers, and remote debugging tools, as well as experience in life science or chemistry laboratories.
- Strong communication, collaboration, patience, and ability to explain complex technical issues to scientists, customers, and other non-software stakeholders.
Benefits
- Base salary range is $112,200–$159,600, with company stock awards and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave policies, and a 401(k) program with employer contribution.
- The company provides eight paid holidays, a full-week winter shutdown, and unlimited paid time off.
- Effective October 1, 2025, employees living within 50 miles of the Boston or Emeryville offices must work in the office five days per week; some teams may require onsite work four to five days per week.
- Occasional travel to the Boston office and customer sites may be required.
About Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.
Ginkgo Bioworks engineers organisms for customers in biotech, pharma, agriculture, food, and materials using an automated “foundry” and a bio + AI data platform. It offers contract R&D, cloud lab services, and partnerships that can include licensing and royalties on resulting products. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Boston, it is a public company listed on the NYSE and BMV.