Automation Engineer

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Design and build electromechanical and fluidic systems for automated synthesis, liquid handling, and laboratory workflows.
• Select and integrate pumps, valves, tubing, reactors, sensors, heaters, motors, and controllers.
• Develop controls for sequencing, flow, pressure, temperature, mixing, sensing, and fault detection and recovery.
• Connect instruments, analytical systems, sample tracking, and quality-control workflows into reliable automated processes.
• Build and debug prototypes, identify the causes of failures, and turn test results into practical improvements.
• Work with scientists to improve throughput and reproducibility while maintaining purity, yield, and sample quality.
• Write clear test procedures, define acceptance criteria, and document system performance and operation.
• Hands-on experience building, integrating, testing, or maintaining automation systems, laboratory instruments, robotics, fluidic devices, or other electromechanical hardware.
• Practical strength in some combination of mechanical systems, electronics, fluidics, sensing, controls, or instrument integration.
• A systematic approach to troubleshooting problems that span hardware, controls, and process conditions.
• The ability to take ownership of a subsystem, communicate engineering tradeoffs, and work closely with scientists and other engineers.
• A background in mechanical, electrical, chemical, biomedical, or bioengineering—or equivalent hands-on experience. Nontraditional paths are welcome.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn across disciplines. We do not expect experience in every area listed above.
• In addition to the posted salary range, we offer generous equity options.
• Compensation will depend on the skills, experience, and scope of impact you bring. If your background, experience, or compensation needs fall outside this range, we are still open to a conversation based on the scope and impact you could bring.
• $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools that help you perform at your best.
• Healthcare: We offer a broad range of medical, dental, and vision coverage options, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.
• You will also have access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans.
• Healthy dinners with the team are provided daily.
• We support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways. Our team is already international, with members from Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, India, and the United States.
• Our process is fast, transparent, and personal. We care about getting to know the person behind the application.
• Initial application
• First phone screen
• Second phone screen
• In-person work trial in San Francisco: designed to give both sides a realistic sense of working together. Get to know the founding team!
• Curious but not sure? Apply anyway. It takes 5 minutes, and you do not need to be actively job searching to start a conversation.
• Some of the best people do not map perfectly to a job description. If this sounds like a place where you could do important work, we would like to hear from you.
• And if someone exceptional comes to mind, send them our way here. We read every referral carefully, and if your referral joins Capable, we’ll send you a thank-you bonus.

Ideal Qualifications

Pay & Benefits

Application Process

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Equal Opportunity