Co-op, Automation
About The Position
Be a hero for our rare disease patients At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them. Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work. If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team. Position Summary: ultraimpact – Make a difference for those who need it most Working in collaboration with other Analytical Development team members, the Automation Intern will focus on understanding and documentation of the connections in laboratory automation workcell. This role will document the architecture, instrument connectivity, software interfaces, and operational workflow of the system to help the team more effectively maintain, troubleshoot, and modify the platform. The ideal candidate is technically curious, organized, and comfortable working across hardware, software, and laboratory operations. This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or current student interested in laboratory automation, robotics, process engineering, or life science instrumentation. Work Model: Core Lab & Ops: This role typically requires that the majority of the work be conducted on-site.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing / recent graduate from a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, biotechnology, computer science, life sciences, robotics, or a related field.
- This is a 6 month co-op, starting July 6, 2026 working full-time (40 hours per week) until December 18, 2026
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
- Ability to understand technical systems and explain them clearly
- Comfort working with both software and hardware concepts
- Strong problem-solving and information-gathering skills
- Ability to learn unfamiliar equipment and workflows quickly
- Experience with diagramming, process mapping, or systems documentation
- Strong communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional stakeholders
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Hamilton liquid handlers / VENUS software and/or Green Button Go scheduling software, or other laboratory robotics strongly preferred
- Experience with technical documentation for equipment, workflows, or engineering systems preferred.
Responsibilities
- Map the connected automation workcell, including major instruments, peripherals, communication pathways, and software dependencies
- Develop clear internal documentation describing: instrument-to-instrument connections; software and control system interactions; data flow and triggering logic; physical layout and functional workflow
- Partner with scientists and automation team members to gather information from existing methods, hardware configurations, and team knowledge
- Review current automation methods and supporting files to understand how the workcell is configured and operated
- Create visual diagrams, reference guides, and standard documentation that can support troubleshooting, onboarding, and future system modifications
- Help identify gaps, risks, or single points of failure in current workcell knowledge and documentation
- Support evaluation of potential future workcell changes, integrations, or instrument additions by organizing technical requirements and existing system constraints
- Assist with general automation lab support activities as needed, which may include observing workflows, helping organize files, and supporting method-related investigations
Benefits
- Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company
- Volunteer days
- Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings
- Employee wellbeing benefits
- Fitness reimbursement
- Tuition sponsoring
- Professional development plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
