Lab Automation Engineer (Robotics & Systems Integration)

This is an onsite role in Upland, California, with approximately 10% travel for customer deployments. What you'll do You'll deliver customer projects entirely within the Dorna platform - every solution is designed, simulated, and deployed using our software, not as a one-off custom build.

• Work with lab customers to understand workflows and translate them into automation requirements
• Build automation workflows in the Dorna software platform - configuring cells, accessories, and routines for each application
• Simulate and validate workflows in our software before deployment
• Deploy and commission the solution on Dorna hardware at the customer's site
• Integrate third-party lab instruments into the platform
• Extend platform functionality with Python when an application needs custom logic
• Design simple mechanical fixtures and adapters in CAD when needed
• Debug hardware, software, and integration issues in live customer environments
• Test, validate, and iterate until systems run reliably day after day
• Feed learnings back into the platform - the software you use is the software our team builds

Must-have

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Hands-on CAD experience (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar)
• Strong hands-on mindset - enjoys building, testing, and solving real-world problems
• Python programming experience (automation, scripting, or hardware control)
• Basic electronics knowledge (wiring, sensors, troubleshooting)
• Comfortable in lab environments around scientific equipment
• Able to translate user workflows into technical implementations
• Strong communication skills - comfortable working directly with customers and explaining technical concepts clearly
• A team player who collaborates well across engineering, sales, and support
• Eager to learn, take feedback, and continuously improve

Nice to have

• Lab automation or life sciences workflow experience
• Exposure to robotics, automation platforms, or system integration
• Experience building prototypes, fixtures, or custom hardware
• Customer-facing or solutions engineering experience
• Startup experience

• Competitive base salary
• Stock options - meaningful equity so you share in what we build
• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Hands-on work with real hardware and real customers from day one
• A direct line from your work to the product - what you learn in the field shapes what we ship next

About Dorna We're building a modular robotics platform for lab automation - robotic arms, accessories, and software that snap together to automate the physical work labs do every day: sample handling, plate movement, instrument tending, and everything in between. Faster to deploy than a custom integration, more flexible than a liquid handler. We're a small, hands-on team shipping real systems to real labs.