Automation Engineering Intern
About:
General Biological (GB) is a pioneering industrial chemical and hardware manufacturing company developing the next generation of scalable, low-cost biomanufacturing technologies. Our mission is to establish a new era of chemical products and physical materials derived from carbohydrates vs. than hydrocarbons - to build the 21st century refinery. For more, see here https://infinitefrontiers.io/c...
Central to our approach is vertical integration - working at the intersection of biotechnology, chemistry, and integrated hardware-software engineering to scale fast. The GB platform harnesses a non-model organism with remarkable metabolic flexibility and low sterility requirements, enabling us to truly industrialize biotech. By building custom bioreactor hardware and downstream operations, we fully leverage these properties to dramatically reduce capital and operating costs while accelerating execution.
Position Summary:
We are looking for an innovative and driven automation intern to drive the development, process integration, and validation of our next-generation bioreactor systems. This position requires a strong background in industrial control systems, PLC programming, and rapid iterative improvement based on reactor performance.
As GB pursues vertical integration, you will have opportunities to contribute to teams working on end-to-end hardware and process solutions. We are looking for someone who thrives on project ownership and rapid execution. The ideal candidate will help drive GB’s success by developing and improving the design and execution of our current bioreactor automation. This will involve hands on programming, tackling potential problems that may arise in production, and critical problem-solving skills - requiring a first principles mindset and willingness to take calculated risks.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, build, and validate improvements to current bioreactor design and other process automation
- Integrate sensors to enable steady-state bioreactor performance
- Install and program pump control loops
- Write, and debug PLC code
- Create electrical, pneumatic and fluid schematics for control panels
- Conduct rigorous testing and validation of the bioreactor system to ensure reliability
- Continuously identify and implement cutting-edge strategies to enhance bioreactor efficiency, reduce production costs, and improve technology
Required Qualifications:
- Pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field with relevant industry experience.
- Hands on experience with at least one of the specific disciplines mentioned and interest in learning the other areas you are not yet strong in
- Strong hands-on skills in building and testing prototypes or personal projects
- Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively to overcome technical challenges
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and meet aggressive timelines
Preferred Qualifications:
- Related interest or experience working with Robotic Automation Cells
- Knowledge of process control systems design and automation
- Familiarity with fluid dynamics, mass transfer, and heat transfer
- Practical mechanical and industrial site experience with pilot scale and larger fermentation or chemical processing equipment
What We Offer:
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- A collaborative and innovative work environment
- The chance to make a significant impact in the field of sustainable chemical production
If you are passionate about applying your engineering expertise to develop groundbreaking solutions for the chemical industry, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity at General Biological.