Intern, Laboratory Automation Software

Who We Are:
Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico's highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science, and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position description:

Calico is seeking an intern to join the Automation Core team. To succeed, you will need to be an enthusiastic team player, detail-oriented, extremely organized and comfortable working on complex problems. In this position you will apply software engineering principles to real-world physical systems. You will move beyond simple scripting to help build the robust software tools that power our research, bridging the gap between code and robotic instruments. The successful candidate will work closely with members of the Automation Core and software engineering teams on developing Python APIs, improving test coverage, and prototyping tools that help our scientists run experiments more efficiently and reliably.

Responsibilities: 

• Design and implement robust Python APIs to control complex lab systems (automated liquid handlers, robotic arms), turning physical actions into reliable software functions
• Write automated tests (unit and integration) and hardware-in-the-loop validation protocols to ensure our software runs safely and consistently
• Help build internal tools or simple web dashboards to monitor instrument status, visualize data, or run diagnostics
• Collaborate with the team to integrate your code into shared frameworks, learning how to contribute to a larger, shared codebase

Position requirements:

• Currently pursuing a BS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
• Strong proficiency in Python (familiarity with object-oriented programming is a plus)
• Experience with Git/Version Control and a desire to write clean, readable code
• Interest in the intersection of software and hardware – you are excited by the idea of your code moving a robot arm
• Knowledge of basic biological concepts
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Self-motivated with a "can-do" attitude
• Flexible, able to respond quickly to shifting priorities and able to multitask

Nice to have:

• Experience in web development basics (e.g., React, Flask, or FastAPI) for building control interfaces
• Experience with automated testing frameworks (e.g., PyTest) or CI/CD tools (e.g., GitHub Actions)
• Experience in additional languages such as C# or Visual Basic/VBA

About our Program:

Calico's internship program is a paid 12-week program over the summer for students interested in understanding the fundamental science of aging and finding treatments for the associated and intractable diseases. Working in a collaborative environment and fully embedded in one of our labs/teams, Calico interns tackle a unique project under the mentorship of at least one of our scientists or engineers. 

• 3-month summer timeline
• In-person experience at our offices in South San Francisco
• Matching with at least one Calico mentor
• Group supplemental activities weekly featuring guest speakers, Senior Leadership spotlights, and discussion groups on aging science, our drug development approach, and more
• End-of-summer company-wide project showcase and poster session
• Competitive compensation ($45 - $70/hour) and monthly living expenses stipend
  

• Able to work in-person at our offices in South San Francisco
• Free for a consecutive period of 11-12 weeks in June, July, and August
• Not graduating before December 2026
  • Exception for students enrolling into a graduate degree program in Fall 2026
• Must be enrolled in a US university
• Must apply by application deadline: February 1, 2026.