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.

We are seeking a Lead Scientist to drive the evolution of Ginkgo’s automated antibody production and developability platforms. This role is pivotal in bridging complex antibody engineering, specifically bi- and multi-specific formats, with Ginkgo’s RAC (Reconfigurable Automation Cart) systems. The ideal candidate is a technical expert in antibody transfection, purification, and characterization who thrives on translating manual workflows into robust, automated pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead method development and execution of antibody production and characterization on Ginkgo’s autonomous robotic labs using the RAC (reconfigurable automation cell) systems.
• Optimize high-throughput transfection and purification protocols for complex modalities, including bi-specifics and multi-specifics, at various scales (96 wp, 24 wp, 6 wp), ensuring high purity and correct assembly.
• Execute and automate standard developability suites (thermal stability, aggregation, polyreactivity, etc), binding assay (BLI, SPR) and functional assays (cell-based) to support rapid "Design-Build-Test" cycles.
• Serve as the project lead for customer projects focused on antibody production and developability characterization.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to scientific strategy and innovation.
• Author technical reports, SOPs, and present findings to internal leadership and external customers

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field with 2+ years of industry/academic experience in antibody production and characterization (or M.S. with 6+ years of industry/academic experience).
• Direct experience with the production and purification of complex antibody formats (e.g., bi-specifics, VHH-Fcs). Experience with Protein A/G/L, IEX, and SEC, specifically in a high-throughput or automated context.
• Demonstrated proficiency in antibody binding (SPR, BLI) and developability (DSF, DLS, SEC, HIC, AC-SINS, Polyreactivity, etc.) assays
• Demonstrated proficiency in using automated liquid handlers such as the Lynx, Bravo, TECAN, Hamilton

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience onboarding assays onto robotic platforms (e.g., translating a manual SEC-MALS or ELISA to a liquid handler).
• Experience with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for confirming chain pairing in multi-specific formats.
• Familiarity with Python or scheduling software for automation.

Total compensation for this role is market driven, with a starting salary of $100k+, as well as company stock awards. Base pay is ultimately determined based on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, Employee Assistance Program, 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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