What are the responsibilities and job description for the Electro-Mechanical Engineer position at General Biological?
About:
General Biological (GB) is a pioneering industrial biotech and chemical 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 rather 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 seeking an innovative and experienced electro-mechanical engineer to drive the development, fabrication, and integration of our bioreactor systems and process automation. This position requires a strong background in electromechanical design, prototype fabrication, and rapid iterative improvement.
As GB pursues vertical integration, you will have exciting opportunities to contribute to interdisciplinary project teams working on end-to-end hardware and process solutions. We are looking for someone who thrives on project ownership, ensuring timely execution, managing independent work streams, tracking budgets, and aligning efforts with our broader vision.
The ideal candidate will help drive GB's success by spearheading the design, fabrication, and integration of bioreactor systems and process components for our microbial production platform, enabling fully-automated production at pilot and commercial scale. This role requires a first principles mindset and willingness to take calculated risks.
Key Responsibilities:
- Plan and execute the design, development, and construction of bioreactor hardware, including fermentation vessels, sensors, automation hardware, and supporting infrastructure
- Complete in-house fabrication and prototyping tasks related to bioreactor design and process integration
- PLC programming, preferably Siemens TIA Portal and structured text programming
- HMI, SCADA, IoT (MQTT, OPC-UA), Ignition systems with focus on user friendly navigation and machine health monitoring and control
- Field Bus Networking protocols, preferably EtherCAT, Profinet, Profisafe, Ethernet/IP
- Industrial software application to mechanical assemblies, electrical systems, sensors, pneumatics/hydraulics, including how to safely checkout these interdisciplinary systems prior to production implementation
- Participate in cross-functional team-based projects with biologists and chemists to optimize end-to-end processes and rapidly iterate reactor design based on performance to ensure seamless, efficient, and cost-effective integration of bioreactor systems with upstream feedstock processing, fermentation, and downstream chemical separations
- Conduct rigorous testing and validation of the bioreactor system to ensure reliability, scalability, and compliance with industry standards
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant industry experience
- Proficiency working with CAD software for 3D modeling
- Proficiency with SCADA systems
- Strong hands-on skills in building and testing electromechanical prototypes
- 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:
- Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones
- Practical mechanical and industrial site experience with pilot scale and larger fermentation or chemical processing equipment
- Experience transitioning components from prototype to mass manufacturing
- Familiarity with fluid dynamics, mass transfer, and heat transfer
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- A collaborative and innovative work environment
- The chance to make a significant impact in the field of 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.