Position:  Industrial Engineer – Integrated Biological Production Systems & Automation

Location: South San Francisco

Type: Full-time

Desired start date: ASAP

About the Role:

We are seeking an Industrial Engineer to design, build, and integrate high-throughput, automated biological production systems.  This work will focus on process improvements in the laboratory, greenhouse, and seed production processes. This role focuses on transforming manual, sequential laboratory workflows into scalable, production-grade systems through thoughtful process design, automation, and systems integration.  As programs and processes evolve this role will expand to encompass all aspects of operations and operational excellence.  

This is a hands-on builder role with a systems architect mindset for someone who can rethink how biological processes are structured, connected, and scaled.   You won’t just automate lab steps — you’ll design the systems that enable reliable, repeatable biological production.

You will be responsible for driving operational excellence, which includes mentoring and leading teams in Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), 5S, Lean Six Sigma production, Kaizen events, and Gemba walks. 

What You’ll Do:

Re-Architect End-to-End Biological Workflows

• Deconstruct manual laboratory workflows into core unit operations and system requirements

• Redesign processes from first principles to be automation and/or process friendly rather than direct translations of laboratory of greenhouse SOPs

• Architect end-to-end production workflows that optimize flow, timing, and resource utilization across process stages

• Build by doing:  run process to understand pain points and to build solutions 

Build, Integrate & Commission Automated Systems

• Hands-on design, build, and commissioning of automated and semi-automated biological workflows

• Integrate robotics, liquid handling, incubation, sensing, imaging, and sample tracking into cohesive production platforms

• Work directly with automation engineers, integrators, and vendors and production associates to prototype, test, and deploy systems

Assay Development for Scalable Production

• Partner with biology and R&D teams to adapt assays for throughput, robustness, and automation compatibility

• Drive assay standardization, simplification, and turnaround-time reduction to support scalable workflows

• Ensure assays integrate cleanly into production timelines and operational constraints

Throughput, Yield & System Optimization

• Define performance targets for throughput, yield, turnaround time, and system reliability

• Identify bottlenecks, variability, and failure modes across interconnected biological processes

• Use production data to guide iterative system and process improvements

Systems Integration & Technical Ownership

• Own interfaces between biology, automation hardware, software, data systems, and operations

• Ensure smooth handoffs between tissue culture, gene editing, assays, genotyping, and greenhouse teams.  

• Influence upstream process design by embedding manufacturability and automation considerations early

Production Readiness & Scale-Up

• Take systems from concept to prototype to pilot and into production

• Develop SOPs, process documentation, and training materials grounded in real system behavior

• Support production ramp, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• 7+ years of experience building and scaling automated or semi-automated production systems

• Experience translating manual laboratory workflows into integrated, high-throughput systems

• Strong background in process flow, system architecture, and throughput modeling

• Hands-on experience with equipment integration and system commissioning

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent

• Experience leading operational excellence initiatives. 

Preferred

• Experience with tissue culture, gene editing, assay development, genotyping, or DNA extraction

• Familiarity with lab automation, robotics, liquid handling, imaging, and sensor-driven systems

• Experience operating in contamination-controlled or regulated lab environments

• Track record of building first-of-kind or non-standard biological production systems

Who You Are

• A builder who enjoys getting systems off the ground and making them work in practice

• A systems thinker who optimizes end-to-end workflows, not isolated steps

• Comfortable operating across wet lab biology, automation hardware, and production environments

• Motivated to turn complex, manual biological workflows into scalable production systems

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $120,000 - $160,000 per year for our South San Francisco location.  As a new role with Ohalo, the pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on a number of factors such as (but not limited to) the final scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About Ohalo: 

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.

Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time. 

This organization participates in E-Verify. Posters linked here. 

No recruiters, please.