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About the job

Category: Science Lab/Area: Finkbeiner Lab

Description:

The Finkbeiner Lab at the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, CA is hiring a Research Engineer (level II or III, depending on experience) to develop, operate and maintain our custom and commercial microscopy systems. You will support the development of our automated imaging platforms, including the newly invented Thinking Microscope and Robo5, help maintain our legacy systems, and build and maintain the image-analysis pipelines and data infrastructure that turn images into results.

This is a hands-on role at the intersection of microscopy, computation and cell biology, and you will be a critical member of a team of biologists. Fluency with microscopes, from hardware and optics through acquisition software to the analysis pipeline, is the core of the job. Because our instruments are developed around real biological samples, wet bench and cell culture experience is a strong plus. The ideal candidate is interested in engineering, biology, high-throughput systems, robotics and artificial intelligence, and is comfortable troubleshooting an instrument and writing analysis code, and ideally preparing cells for imaging.

What you will do:

Microscopy systems (primary focus)

  • Support the development of the lab's automated, robotic imaging platforms (including the Thinking Microscope and Robo5), covering hardware integration, optical alignment and acquisition software
  • Operate, calibrate, maintain and repair the lab's existing and legacy fluorescence microscopes and imaging systems
  • Troubleshoot hardware, firmware and software faults and document fixes
  • Keep documentation, standard operating procedures and parts inventories current, and train lab members on the instruments

Image analysis and data

  • Build, run and maintain image-analysis pipelines from raw acquisition through quantification
  • Organize and manage imaging data and metadata, including querying and maintaining databases
  • Use AI and machine-learning tools to speed up analysis, automation and day-to-day engineering work

Wet bench

  • Culture cells, develop biosensors, and prepare biological samples used to develop, test and validate imaging capabilities, such as multiplexed reporters and hyperspectral imaging
  • Contribute to ongoing wet bench projects as needed, in support of platform development
  • Work with lab scientists to translate biological questions into instrument and analysis requirements

Collaboration and project management

  • Partner with computational and biology colleagues across the lab
  • Plan and track your own projects, set realistic timelines and keep stakeholders informed
  • Communicate progress, results and technical trade-offs clearly to a mixed audience
  • Support funder-facing deliverables tied to platform development

What you will need:

  • B.S. or higher in biological sciences, engineering, physics, bioengineering, computer science, math or a related field, plus 2 or more years of relevant experience in an academic or industry setting, or equivalent experience; level II or III depending on years of relevant experience
  • Fluency with fluorescence microscopy hardware: hands-on experience with epifluorescence and/or confocal microscopes, including optical alignment, acquisition software and troubleshooting
  • Experience deriving quantitative data from images using automated analysis techniques, and building or maintaining image-analysis pipelines
  • Proficiency in at least one language used for image analysis and instrument control (for example R, Python, or others)
  • Comfortable working on the command line and with Git for version control
  • Interest in engineering and customizing microscopes, and in developing software to control them
  • Ability to troubleshoot and use creativity to solve problems without an established playbook
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in small groups with scientists who are not engineers
  • Responsible, highly organized, independent and self-motivated, able to manage several projects at once with minimal supervision

What is preferred:

• Wet bench and cell culture experience (strong plus), including familiarity with the biology behind the experiments; fibroblast or iPSC culture experience is especially helpful • Experience running analyses on distributed or high-performance computing systems such as Slurm, and with workflow or pipeline tools such as Nextflow • Experience with robotics, automation, high-content imaging or large-scale image acquisition • Experience with databases such as SQL for organizing and querying imaging data • Familiarity with AI and machine-learning tools, including deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, Keras or PyTorch, and with everyday AI productivity tools • Experience integrating hardware (cameras, stages, light sources, controllers) with software • Experience with firmware, electronics or CAD for custom instrument parts • Familiarity with and interest in neurodegenerative diseases, neuroscience, and cell biology Salary Range: Research Engineer II - $78k - $92K Research Engineer III- $89K - $105K

Gladstone Perks & Benefits

  • People –work with talented, committed, and supportive teammates within an organization that values each member of its community.
  • A meaningful place to grow and learn –whether it’s your professional skills or scientific knowledge, we have the resources and environment to advance either so you can better support Gladstone’s mission to drive a new era of discovery in disease-oriented science and to mentor tomorrow’s leaders in an inspiring and excellent environment.
  • Healthy work/life balance –you are highly engaged and productive at work because you can have time to recharge and enjoy a vibrant life outside of work.
  • Compensation –competitive salary. Title and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
  • Excellent benefits –generous medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, paid vacation, commuter benefits, access to free shuttle transportation.

​ Gladstone is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other non-job related characteristic. We make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment.

From The J David Gladstone Institutes's careers page (Workday), checked 12 Nov 2026.

How to apply

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  3. The J David Gladstone Institutes will reply to you directly. No real employer asks you for money to apply.

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