Senior Systems Engineer (Factory Automation)Senior Systems Engineer (Factory Automation)
Vow is a cultured meat company on a mission to feed billions and create food that’s good for your tastebuds, your health and your planet. We’re bringing together cutting edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design to create new meats that meat lovers can choose selfishly because it’s nutritious and delicious, and we’re doing so in a sustainable way. Want to join us?
Vow is a cultured meat company on a mission to feed billions and create food that’s good for your tastebuds, your health and your planet. We’re bringing together cutting edge innovations in science, engineering, culinary and design to create new meats that meat lovers can choose selfishly because it’s nutritious and delicious, and we’re doing so in a sustainable way. Want to join us?
The Role+
As a Senior Systems Engineer, you'll design, build, and integrate intelligent hardware-software systems that automate mission-critical manufacturing workflows, quickly bringing low-cost cultured meat to market. You'll lead the creation of real-time, software-defined automation solutions that intelligently orchestrate bioreactors, centrifuges, CIP stations, and media mixers. Your work will eliminate bottlenecks, streamline processes, and accelerate production. Additionally, you'll contribute strategically to the long-term vision of our in-house manufacturing platform and incrementally deliver its key components.
Outstanding candidates draw on an array of engineering skills and principles, operate from first principles, thrive in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments, enthusiastically embrace new skills and ways of thinking, and can work effectively with team members from diverse, multidisciplinary backgrounds to deliver great outcomes.
As a Senior Systems Engineer, you'll design, build, and integrate intelligent hardware-software systems that automate mission-critical manufacturing workflows, quickly bringing low-cost cultured meat to market. You'll lead the creation of real-time, software-defined automation solutions that intelligently orchestrate bioreactors, centrifuges, CIP stations, and media mixers. Your work will eliminate bottlenecks, streamline processes, and accelerate production. Additionally, you'll contribute strategically to the long-term vision of our in-house manufacturing platform and incrementally deliver its key components.
Outstanding candidates draw on an array of engineering skills and principles, operate from first principles, thrive in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments, enthusiastically embrace new skills and ways of thinking, and can work effectively with team members from diverse, multidisciplinary backgrounds to deliver great outcomes.
Your Experience+
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in a relevant technical or engineering discipline (Electrical, Systems, Computer Science, or related)
- 3+ years experience designing & deploying controls systems. 5+ years professional experience
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Experience integrating hardware with software-based systems, bonus if you have experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC-UA, MQTT, IO Link, EtherNet/IP).
- Comfort and willingness to write production-grade software (especially Python in Linux environments). This is not a pure software engineering role, but writing clear, maintainable code is essential.
- Experience with industrial automation - experience with more traditional OT stacks is welcome, assuming some proficiency in software development.
- Familiarity with modern software practices (version control, CI/CD, automated testing) in Unix environments.
- Solid understanding of mechanical and electrical principles relevant to automated equipment.
Soft skills that will make someone successful:
- Strong work ethic and ability to operate in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
- Interest and ability for first principles problem solving, identifying optimal solutions in an industry with few precedents.
- Genuine interest in developing highly automated manufacturing systems and AI enabled manufacturing.
- Strong user and stakeholder focus - you actively seek feedback and consider the end-user impact in every decision.
- High ownership mindset; ability to identify and execute on opportunities that ladder up to to outcomes supporting company goals
- Decision-making skills that balance perfection with pragmatism, focusing on cost-effective and impactful solutions.
Bonus if you have:
- Knowledge of multi-system orchestration challenges in bioprocessing, pharma, food production, or highly automated manufacturing.
- Experience driving architectural decisions in environments that blend physical hardware with software-defined control, including setting standards for software placement and device orchestration.
- Exposure to contemporary operational technology (OT) or software first industrial control stacks, including approaches to continuous integration & deployment to field devices.
Additional Requirements
- This is a full time on-site position at our facility in Alexandria
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in a relevant technical or engineering discipline (Electrical, Systems, Computer Science, or related)
- 3+ years experience designing & deploying controls systems. 5+ years professional experience
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Experience integrating hardware with software-based systems, bonus if you have experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, OPC-UA, MQTT, IO Link, EtherNet/IP).
- Comfort and willingness to write production-grade software (especially Python in Linux environments). This is not a pure software engineering role, but writing clear, maintainable code is essential.
- Experience with industrial automation - experience with more traditional OT stacks is welcome, assuming some proficiency in software development.
- Familiarity with modern software practices (version control, CI/CD, automated testing) in Unix environments.
- Solid understanding of mechanical and electrical principles relevant to automated equipment.
Soft skills that will make someone successful:
- Strong work ethic and ability to operate in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
- Interest and ability for first principles problem solving, identifying optimal solutions in an industry with few precedents.
- Genuine interest in developing highly automated manufacturing systems and AI enabled manufacturing.
- Strong user and stakeholder focus - you actively seek feedback and consider the end-user impact in every decision.
- High ownership mindset; ability to identify and execute on opportunities that ladder up to to outcomes supporting company goals
- Decision-making skills that balance perfection with pragmatism, focusing on cost-effective and impactful solutions.
Bonus if you have:
- Knowledge of multi-system orchestration challenges in bioprocessing, pharma, food production, or highly automated manufacturing.
- Experience driving architectural decisions in environments that blend physical hardware with software-defined control, including setting standards for software placement and device orchestration.
- Exposure to contemporary operational technology (OT) or software first industrial control stacks, including approaches to continuous integration & deployment to field devices.
Additional Requirements
- This is a full time on-site position at our facility in Alexandria
What you'll do+
- Design and implement distributed control systems that intelligently orchestrate bioreactors, centrifuges, CIP stations, and media mixers, ensuring seamless multi-device integration and coordination
- Develop and deploy software-defined automation with modern real-time Linux-based Python systems
- You will lead technical projects, mentor junior engineers, and provide guidance on key engineering decisions
- Develop and deploy control systems for our bioreactors, balancing hardware, software and process constraints for optimal business outcomes
- Define hardware/software boundaries and strategy, determining where software should run (field, cloud, or hybrid) to maximize system efficiency and reliability
- Develop, test and debug low level communication interfaces & system drivers
- Develop monitoring, alerting and alarm systems to ensure high reliability manufacturing processes & easy troubleshooting
- Work to expose interfaces for artificial intelligence based systems to automatically troubleshoot and remediate low risk deviations.
- Work with mechanical and process teams to design & implement factory automation systems which are cost effective, have a short time to value, and fit in with a longer term technical strategy
- Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical leader on the Software and Automation team
- Contribute to & develop robust integration frameworks that channel real-time operational data and key performance metrics from our automation systems into enterprise-level monitoring platforms (ERPs, MES), ensuring strategic insights drive business decisions
- This role provides significant growth potential toward technical leadership, systems architecture, or engineering management as Vow expands
- Design and implement distributed control systems that intelligently orchestrate bioreactors, centrifuges, CIP stations, and media mixers, ensuring seamless multi-device integration and coordination
- Develop and deploy software-defined automation with modern real-time Linux-based Python systems
- You will lead technical projects, mentor junior engineers, and provide guidance on key engineering decisions
- Develop and deploy control systems for our bioreactors, balancing hardware, software and process constraints for optimal business outcomes
- Define hardware/software boundaries and strategy, determining where software should run (field, cloud, or hybrid) to maximize system efficiency and reliability
- Develop, test and debug low level communication interfaces & system drivers
- Develop monitoring, alerting and alarm systems to ensure high reliability manufacturing processes & easy troubleshooting
- Work to expose interfaces for artificial intelligence based systems to automatically troubleshoot and remediate low risk deviations.
- Work with mechanical and process teams to design & implement factory automation systems which are cost effective, have a short time to value, and fit in with a longer term technical strategy
- Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical leader on the Software and Automation team
- Contribute to & develop robust integration frameworks that channel real-time operational data and key performance metrics from our automation systems into enterprise-level monitoring platforms (ERPs, MES), ensuring strategic insights drive business decisions
- This role provides significant growth potential toward technical leadership, systems architecture, or engineering management as Vow expands
Success is+
Within 3 months, you will:
- Fully understand Vow's approach to cultured meat production, including the current systems and processes in place. Understand Vow’s mission, values, and milestones we need to overcome as we move to a highly automated manufacturing process.
- Make your first contributions to our existing automation systems through improvements or new features with quantifiable improvements manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction, and product quality, directly attributable to your work.
Within 6 months, you will:
- Work with other engineers to deploy the first iteration of our multi-device automation effort, significantly improving efficiency and safety through long running complex automation workflows.
- Work closely with manufacturing teams to develop deep insights into manufacturing workflows, users, critical processes, and key metrics that drive Vow’s scaling efforts.
- Begin to identify independent project ideas or proposals which will bring Vow closer to its goals and lead the process to get these off the ground
Within 12 months, you will:
- Begin to own the technical roadmap & strategy for our factory control system architecture. You will be turned to for big challenges like deploying our system in new factories at the scale required to feed millions of people.
- Expand Vow's automation capabilities and explore new opportunities to open up new avenues for cultured meat production and distribution.
Within 3 months, you will:
- Fully understand Vow's approach to cultured meat production, including the current systems and processes in place. Understand Vow’s mission, values, and milestones we need to overcome as we move to a highly automated manufacturing process.
- Make your first contributions to our existing automation systems through improvements or new features with quantifiable improvements manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction, and product quality, directly attributable to your work.
Within 6 months, you will:
- Work with other engineers to deploy the first iteration of our multi-device automation effort, significantly improving efficiency and safety through long running complex automation workflows.
- Work closely with manufacturing teams to develop deep insights into manufacturing workflows, users, critical processes, and key metrics that drive Vow’s scaling efforts.
- Begin to identify independent project ideas or proposals which will bring Vow closer to its goals and lead the process to get these off the ground
Within 12 months, you will:
- Begin to own the technical roadmap & strategy for our factory control system architecture. You will be turned to for big challenges like deploying our system in new factories at the scale required to feed millions of people.
- Expand Vow's automation capabilities and explore new opportunities to open up new avenues for cultured meat production and distribution.
A diverse, mission-led, dream team of Vowzers
Our mission is to feed billions, which means making food products for everyone. To do this we need a team that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view and have built a culture to match. Be yourself and come as you are.
Our mission is to feed billions, which means making food products for everyone. To do this we need a team that’s representative of the people we serve. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view and have built a culture to match. Be yourself and come as you are.
Learn from the best
Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat. We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers' growth as much as possible.
Our team includes some of the world’s top scientists, innovators, operators, and creatives with decades of industry experience. Despite our experiences, we all strive to build, break, learn, and repeat. We see the impossible as temporary and strive to learn and support our company and fellow Vowzers' growth as much as possible.
Cutting-edge technology
We’re bringing together innovations in science, engineering, and food, to create the world’s most unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet. Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal. We're wild because we can be.
We’re bringing together innovations in science, engineering, and food, to create the world’s most unique culinary experiences. All without compromising on ethics or our planet. Since our inception in 2019, we have held the title of being the first startup to cultivate meat from the cells of an undomesticated animal. We're wild because we can be.
Backed by the best
We can make a real impact thanks to our investors Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures and PeakBridge VC.
We can make a real impact thanks to our investors Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Grok Ventures, Tenacious Ventures, P7 Ventures, Toyota Ventures and PeakBridge VC.
Perks &
Perks
Perks &
Perks
Everyone is an owner
In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success.
In addition to competitive base salaries, each and every ‘Vowzer’ owns equity in the company so we can all benefit from our hard work and future success.
Generous paid parental leave
For those who choose to start a family, we offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver.
For those who choose to start a family, we offer 8 weeks of paid caregiver leave and an additional 8 weeks paid leave for the birth giver.
Generous relocation budget & support
We offer support for interstate or overseas team members, their families and, of course, their pets.
We offer support for interstate or overseas team members, their families and, of course, their pets.
Flexible working hours and location
We value work-life balance and we recognise that everyone works differently. We want you to do your best work, so you can choose how and where you do it.
We value work-life balance and we recognise that everyone works differently. We want you to do your best work, so you can choose how and where you do it.
Unlimited personal leave
Sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or simply deal with an emergency. We put unlimited personal leave in place to empower you to bring your best self to work every day.
Sometimes you need time off to recuperate, look after your mental health, or simply deal with an emergency. We put unlimited personal leave in place to empower you to bring your best self to work every day.
Heaps of tasty samples from our culinary centre
Our fantastic "food inventors" on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess.
Our fantastic "food inventors" on the Vow team are always cooking up new product prototypes, and all Vowzers are given the opportunity to taste, give feedback, and learn from their culinary prowess.
Converted warehouse 'campus'
Complete with a glass-walled lab, manufacturing lines, snacks, a culinary centre and professional-grade coffee machine.
Complete with a glass-walled lab, manufacturing lines, snacks, a culinary centre and professional-grade coffee machine.
A variety of social clubs
It's Vowzers who make our culture. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with each other.
It's Vowzers who make our culture. From book clubs to hiking groups, we’re always looking for ways to learn and engage with each other.
Human and dog friendly office
An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, we encourage you to bring your true self…and your dogs.
An inclusive community and culture, in a welcoming office, we encourage you to bring your true self…and your dogs.