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 USD - $255,000 USD Seniority level Seniority level Not Applicable Employment type Employment type Full-time Job function Industries Translation and Localization Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Vivodyne by 2x Get notified about new Senior Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA . Director of Engineering, Product Engineering Oakland, CA $241,000.00-$305,000.00 1 week ago San Mateo, CA $90,000.00-$150,000.00 1 year ago Senior Developer Events Manager, Google Cloud Sr. Software Engineer - Payments Support San Francisco, CA $138,400.00-$173,000.00 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $204,000.00-$259,000.00 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $156,000.00-$211,000.00 6 days ago San Mateo, CA $448,990.00-$515,210.00 2 weeks ago Agentic Software Engineer / AI Systems Developer (Contract/Part-Time Lead) Software Engineering Technical Leader (Hybrid Remote- San Jose, CA) Redwood City, CA $140,000.00-$198,000.00 19 hours ago Manager, Software Quality Engineering in Test San Mateo, CA $195,500.00-$293,300.00 2 months ago Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Planning and Control San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$240,000.00 1 month ago Senior Engineering Manager - Backend Developer User Experience Senior Engineer - Warehouse Management System Brisbane, CA $140,000.00-$180,000.00 1 month ago Vice President, Machine Learning Engineer Senior/Staff Motor Control Software Engineer San Francisco, CA $130,000.00-$177,500.00 2 days ago Senior Software Engineer, Robotics Reliability (Hardware in the Loop Experience Required) Emeryville, CA $170,000.00-$220,000.00 3 days ago San Francisco, CA $75,000.00-$150,000.00 1 month ago Intermediate or Senior Civil Engineer – Land Development (Commercial) - Houston, TX Senior Technical Writer, Developer Experience SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER - TEAM LEAD - LAND DEVELOPMENT - HOUSTON TX San Francisco, CA $122,478.00-$208,212.00 2 weeks ago Lead Pyspark / SQL Engineer - Threat Detection & DataBricks San Francisco, CA $76.55-$129.16 3 months ago Senior Civil Engineer - Land Development (FT - Hybrid) Foster City, CA $140,000.00-$175,000.00 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $137,700.00-$199,750.00 6 hours ago Senior Software Engineer, Fullstack (Quip) San Francisco, CA $184,000.00-$276,100.00 1 month ago Senior Software Engineer, Infrastructure San Francisco, CA $130,000.00-$200,000.00 8 months ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

#J-18808-Ljbffr