Note: As part of the Plant Sciences team, this role will share occasional weekend and holiday coverage responsibilities, including manual troubleshooting of automated greenhouse systems.

Responsibilities

In planta assay enablement:

• Fill the pots using the automated pot-filler and bale breaker
  Plant, irrigate, fertilize and provide excellent care to produce uniform high quality plant material
  Provide horticultural support, including 20+ unique support types to ensure successful assay execution (e.g., plant staking, pollination, raising grow lights, etc.)
  Utilize plant request LIMS to deliver on daily greenhouse and growth chamber tasks
  Use company vehicle to transfer materials within the West Sacramento sites
  Apply pesticides, as needed, in compliance with state and federal regulations

Systems maintenance:

• Program climate monitoring systems and other automated tools (including Argus, Conviron, HOBO)
  Maintain fertigation system, including performing equipment maintenance/calibration, mixing stock solutions, and facilitating fertigation solution quality testing
  Schedule, install, remove, and sanitize irrigation components
  Sweep, power wash and perform general cleaning tasks of greenhouse and growth chambers
  Maintain a clean and safe working environment
  Report and troubleshoot potential horticultural or operational problems

Minimum Requirements

• High school degree or equivalent
• 1 year of controlled environment experience required
• Valid driver's license
• Can work in conditions up to 95 degrees
• Can lift 50 lbs.
• Willing to learn to operate a skid steer
• Can obtain QAC within 6 months of starting position
• Ability to follow all safety procedures
• Proficient in Google Suite
• Willing to work occasionally on weekends/holidays

Preferred Capabilities and Experience

• Desire to learn and grow within greenhouse technician role
• Customer service experience
• Ability to perform mechanical troubleshooting and repairs
• Previous experience working in R&D or agricultural setting
• Experience programming in Argus and Conviron
• Continuous improvement mindset, especially in regards to safety
• Keen observation to detail and strong communication skills

Total compensation for this role is market driven, with a starting annual salary of $54,600+, as well as company stock awards. Base pay is ultimately determined based on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k) program with employer contribution, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.

This position is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the California Labor Code. Employees in non-exempt roles are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek or over 8 hours in a workday, at a rate of one and one-half times their regular rate of pay. Additionally, employees are entitled to double-time pay for hours worked over 12 in a workday and for hours worked over 8 on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek.

Non-exempt employees are required to accurately record all hours worked and must receive prior approval from their supervisor before working any overtime hours. In accordance with California law, non-exempt employees are also entitled to meal and rest breaks. Employees must take a 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work more than 5 hours in a day, and a second 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work more than 10 hours in a day. Additionally, employees are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof.

To learn more about Ginkgo, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com/press/ or check out some curated press below:

• What is it really like to take your company public via a SPAC? One Boston biotech shares its journey (Fortune)
• Ginkgo Bioworks resizes the definition of going big in biotech, raising $2.5B in a record SPAC deal that weighs in with a whopping $15B-plus valuation (Endpoints News)
• Ginkgo Bioworks CEO on scaling up Covid-19 testing: 'If we try, we can win' (CNBC)
• Ginkgo raises $70 million to ramp up COVID-19 testing for employers, universities (Boston Globe)
• Ginkgo Bioworks Redirects Its Biotech Platform to Coronavirus (Wall Street Journal)
• Ginkgo Bioworks Provides Support on Process Optimization to Moderna for COVID-19 Response (PRNewswire)
• The Life Factory: Synthetic Organisms From This $1.4 Billion Startup Will Revolutionize Manufacturing (Forbes)
• Synthetic Bio Pioneer Ginkgo Raises $290 Million in New Funding (Bloomberg)
• Ginkgo Bioworks raises $350 million fund for biotech spinouts (Reuters)
• Can This Company Convince You to Love GMOs? (The Atlantic)

We also feel that it's important to point out the obvious here - there's a serious lack of diversity in our industry, and that needs to change. Our goal is to help drive that change. Ginkgo is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its practices, especially when it comes to growing our team. Our culture promotes inclusion and embraces how rewarding it is to work with people from all walks of life.

We're developing a powerful biological engineering platform, so we must remain mindful of the many ways our technology can - and will - impact people around the world. We care about how our platform is used, and having a diverse team to build it gives us the best chance that it's something we'll be proud of as it continues to grow. Therefore, it's critical that we incorporate the diverse voices and visions of all those who play a role in the future of biology.

It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.

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