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Robotics Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco (Brisbane)

Vivodyne creates human data before clinical trials.

We accelerate the successful discovery, design, and development of human therapeutics by testing on large, lab-grown human organ tissues at massive scale, driving technological advancement at the convergence of novel biology, robotics, and AI. We identify and validate new therapeutic targets and de-risk new therapeutic assets by producing clinically translatable multi-omic data from our proprietary, physiologically-realistic human organ tissues at unprecedented scale, speed, and quality. This enables us to produce more human data than all clinical trials in the U.S. combined. We’re financially backed by some of the most selective and successful venture funds, and we have already partnered with a majority of the top 10 multinational pharmaceutical companies to discover and develop better, safer drugs and dramatically reduce the burden of animal testing.

www.vivodyne.com

Role

As a Robotics Senior Software Engineer at Vivodyne, you will join a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to advancing our flagship automated, large-scale “tissue on-a-chip” robotics platform.

You will develop and optimize software that orchestrates advanced robotic arms, embedded controllers, and microfluidic systems to manage high-throughput, high-precision tissue culture operations. The role demands a broad skill set that spans planning algorithms, hierarchical task scheduling, resilience engineering, and more.

You will collaborate with mechanical engineers, tissue biologists, AI scientists, and process engineers to ensure smooth, reliable, and efficient robotic workflows that enable groundbreaking innovations in therapeutic discovery.

We’re looking for someone comfortable operating across multiple domains—ranging from motion planning with Kuka arms to high-level scheduling of robotic tasks—and who thrives in a fast-paced environment that emphasizes continuous learning, rigor, and innovation.

This is an onsite role at our Brisbane/San Francisco location to maximize hands-on collaboration with our hardware and biology teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain robotic control software for fully automated, large-scale lab environments, focusing on reliability, performance, and ease of integration.
  • Implement and refine motion planning algorithms for multi-axis robotic arms (e.g., Kuka) using frameworks such as ROS, MoveIt, and Gazebo, optimizing for speed, accuracy, collision avoidance, and system throughput.
  • Design scheduling and task-planning solutions (e.g., hierarchical task graphs) that efficiently orchestrate complex, multi-step processes across embedded controllers and robotics hardware.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with tissue engineers, microfluidics specialists, and AI researchers to capture requirements, set technical goals, and integrate new features into the overall robotics platform.
  • Integrate resilience mechanisms into robotic systems to ensure robust operation, fault detection, and fault recovery—minimizing downtime and maintaining data integrity.
  • Contribute to software architecture by defining interfaces, managing codebase structures, and promoting best practices for testing, documentation, and version control.
  • Leverage cloud services (e.g., AWS) for data management, simulation, and pipeline automation, collaborating with IT and DevOps teams to design scalable, cost-effective solutions.
  • Proactively identify improvement opportunities in system designs, motion planning strategies, and software workflows, driving continuous innovation in an evolving environment.
  • Test and simulate new designs and workflows in both virtual and real-world environments (e.g., Gazebo, digital twins), ensuring robust performance before deployment.
  • Communicate findings and progress to internal stakeholders, including mechanical engineers, data scientists, and senior leadership, through presentations and technical documentation.

Requirements, Expectations and Qualifications

Technical Excellence

  • Proficiency in Python and at least one additional systems or embedded programming language (C/C++ preferred).
  • Hands-on experience with robotics frameworks (ROS, MoveIt, RViz, Gazebo) and familiarity with motion planning, kinematics, and real-time control for industrial robots (ideally Kuka arms).
  • Broad software engineering skill set, including embedded controller integration, networked systems, hardware/software interfacing, and robust test-driven development.
  • Familiarity with process engineering principles and the ability to embed these into automated workflows.
  • Cloud computing experience (AWS preferred) for managing large-scale data, simulations, or distributed computing pipelines is a plus.
  • Experience with virtual robotics modeling and digital twin methodologies is a plus.

Domain Knowledge

  • Biotech/lab automation or semiconductor robotics backgrounds are highly valued; experience integrating robotics in high-throughput or regulated environments is a strong plus.
  • Microfluidics expertise and knowledge of fluid handling systems are desirable.
  • Biology background or familiarity with cell and tissue engineering concepts is a significant plus, particularly in understanding the unique constraints of handling biological samples.
  • Experience with high-content imaging and confocal microscopy systems—understanding how robotic workflows interface with advanced imaging pipelines—is a bonus.

Problem Solving & Ownership

  • You are outcomes-driven, able to translate project objectives and challenges into systematic, efficient, and resilient robotics solutions.
  • You exhibit accountability in delivering features and improvements on time, balancing speed and thoroughness without compromising reliability.
  • You have a growth mindset, continually seeking new ways to enhance processes, optimize robotics operations, and accelerate innovative solutions.

Collaboration & Communication

  • Team player who can engage constructively with engineers, scientists, and external stakeholders to gather requirements, drive design discussions, and communicate project status effectively.
  • Clear, structured communicator, capable of articulating complex robotic concepts to diverse audiences, from software developers to biologists.
  • Cross-functional mindset that values input from multiple disciplines and incorporates feedback into thoughtful, iterative design cycles.

Innovation & Leadership Mindset

  • You proactively stay abreast of emerging robotics technologies, best practices, and relevant research, bringing fresh insights to the team.
  • You are comfortable taking initiative in uncharted territories, whether it’s pioneering new motion-planning algorithms or integrating novel sensors and hardware.

San Francisco pay range

$230,000 - $255,000 USD

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