Full-Time
Director of Manufacturing
Posted on 10/31/2025
Volta Labs
51-200 employees
Genomics data analysis software licensing
No salary listed
Boston, MA, USA + 1 more
More locations: Massachusetts, USA
In Person
Must be able to relocate or commute to the Seaport Office in Boston, MA.
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- 7+ years of industry experience with preference on experience in engineering and manufacturing of electromechanical devices
- Strong technical background in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering, with experience transitioning into manufacturing leadership roles
- Proven track record of working closely with technicians and engineers to resolve hands-on technical challenges on the production floor
- Experience implementing and improving manufacturing processes, scaling production, and driving efficiency and throughput
- Startup or high-growth environment experience—comfortable with ambiguity, change, and fast iteration
- Ability to think systematically and make data-driven decisions based on production metrics and technical analysis
- Experience leading small to mid-sized teams, with a hands-on leadership style
- Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM), quality systems, and documentation best practices
- Industry experience in life sciences tools, 3D printing, or medical devices strongly preferred
- This is a full-time position that requires a significant amount of in-person work and collaboration onsite at our Seaport Office in Boston, MA. If you are unable to relocate or commute to the Boston MA area, this role won't be a match.
- Own the full manufacturing floor, including managing technicians and manufacturing engineers
- Evaluate current production processes, layouts, and identify key bottlenecks
- Build and implement short- and long-term plans to increase throughput and reliability
- Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve electro-mechanical design challenges for the Callisto instrument
- Create systems and documentation to support quality, repeatability, and scale
- Help grow output from 40 units/year now to 100+ units by 2026
- Identify talent and resource gaps to support scaling and address technical challenges
- Champion a hands-on, solution-oriented culture in the manufacturing team
- Within 3 months you’ll; Work to deeply understand current manufacturing workflows, team capabilities, and product requirements. Map out key technical and process issues across the floor, identify and start to prioritize urgent issues.
- By 6 months you’ll; Implement improvements to high-impact areas (process flow, yield, uptime, throughput), drive cross-functional initiatives with R&D, Product, and QA and help set a roadmap for scaling output toward goals. Begin shaping hiring and resource plans based on observed gaps.
- At 12+ months you’ll; Drive long-term manufacturing initiatives such as scaling strategy, process documentation, and manufacturing design. Continuously iterate on a strong foundation of growth, preparing for the next phase of scale up ( 100+ units/year)
- Industry experience in life sciences tools, 3D printing, or medical devices strongly preferred
Volta Labs develops software tools for genomic data analysis that are licensed to research institutions, clinical laboratories, and biotechnology companies. The core products are software applications that process and interpret genomic data, with an App Development team ensuring scripts and workflows produce precise sample results. The tools are deployed to laboratories and research centers, and revenue comes from software licensing, service contracts, and potentially data monetization under privacy rules. Volta Labs operates at the intersection of software development and biochemistry to enhance accuracy and efficiency in genomic analysis, aiming to make genomic data analysis accessible to a global audience.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Early VC
Total Funding
$24.4M
Headquarters
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Founded
2018
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Hartwig and UMC Utrecht processed thousands of cfDNA samples on Callisto in 2025.
- Ginkgo Bioworks integrated Callisto for routine Illumina sequencing in February 2025.
- Launched PCR-free WGS kit with Watchmaker at AGBT 2026 for mid-throughput labs.
What critics are saying
- Oxford Nanopore launches in-house LSK114 automation in 2025, undercutting Callisto app.
- Roche integrates full AXELIOS 1 library prep by mid-2027, bypassing Callisto.
- Watchmaker expands PCR-free kits to Beckman Coulter platforms in Q3 2026.
What makes Volta Labs unique
- Callisto uses digital fluidics for sequencer-agnostic walk-away sample prep.
- MIT-originated electrowetting tech enables reagent miniaturization and contamination-free workflows.
- Apps-based model replaces manual development with push-button NGS automation.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Paid Time Off
Sponsored Commuter Benefit Plans
Robust Equity Program
Stock Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -5%1 year growth
↓ -5%2 year growth
↓ -1%Volta Labs propels AGBT 2026 with significant product launches and industry-shaping partnerships. Expanded platform integrations for Roche AXELIOS 1, new PCR-free WGS complete kit with Watchmaker, and customer data at production scale signal a turning point for automated genomics. BOSTON, February 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Volta Labs today announced a series of product launches, strategic partnerships, and customer presentations that position the company at the forefront of the next wave of genome sequencing. Through new collaborations with Roche and Watchmaker Genomics, Volta Labs is expanding the capabilities of its Callisto platform, transforming sequencing from manual workflow development into true push-button execution. Expansion across the sequencing ecosystem Roche Sequencing - AXELIOS 1 Roche introduced the development of Callisto as part of its AXELIOS 1-compatible automation solutions. Volta will aim to integrate the AXELIOS 1 SBX-D preparation workflow into the Callisto platform. Callisto already features integrated DNA extraction workflows that enable an optimized end-to-end solution. Our goal is to ensure that customers using next-generation sequencers can rely on Callisto from day one for automated, high-quality library preparation. This reflects our comprehensive commitment to making Callisto the automation layer for sequencing ecosystems. Presentation by Hartwig Medical Foundation: Advances in cfDNA whole-genome sequencing At AGBT, the Hartwig Medical Foundation presented its research on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for longitudinal patient monitoring, including therapy selection and disease surveillance, as a crucial workflow in oncology. This work utilizes Volta Labs' Callisto platform. The presentation showcased the fully automated cfDNA workflow and the successful optimization required for implementation in their high-throughput environment. Details presented included insights into workflow optimization, size selection, and operational benefits of Callisto, such as unique mixing functions that can lead to faster ligation. Hartwig's presentation emphasized the platform's role in advancing clinical whole-genome sequencing for difficult sample types.
Volta Labs announced major product launches and partnerships at AGBT 2026, positioning its Callisto platform as a universal automation solution for genomic sequencing. The company is integrating Roche's AXELIOS 1 sequencer workflows and launched the Callisto Complete Kit for DNA EF Library Prep with Watchmaker Genomics, enabling fully automated PCR-free whole genome sequencing. Hartwig Medical Foundation presented data on using Callisto for circulating-tumour DNA workflows in oncology. UMC Utrecht and Hartwig have processed thousands of patient samples using the platform over nearly a year, with UMC Utrecht now expanding its Callisto deployment laboratory-wide. The announcements signal Volta's push towards an apps-based genomics model, where pre-developed applications replace manual workflow development. CEO Udayan Umapathi said the company aims to make push-button sequencing standard across the industry.
Volta Labs launches Callisto Complete Kit for pcr-free WGS at AGBT 2026. At the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) General Meeting 2026 in Orlando, Florida, Volta Labs announced the launch of the Callisto Complete Kit for DNA EF Library Preparation. The new kit delivers fully automated, PCR-free whole genome sequencing (WGS) by pairing premium chemistry with push-button automation. Why pcr-free WGS is gaining momentum? Whole genome sequencing is expanding across clinical research and translational labs. PCR-free workflows are increasingly preferred because they: * Reduce amplification bias * Minimize sequencing artifacts * Improve coverage uniformity, especially in GC-rich regions The trade-off? PCR-free library prep demands precision. Manual workflows struggle to deliver consistent results at scale. What the Callisto Complete Kit solves? The Callisto Complete Kit combines Watchmaker Genomics DNA EF chemistry with Volta's digital fluidics automation. Together, they enable: * Fully automated, walk-away PCR-free WGS library prep * Elimination of manual liquid handling * Reduced operator variability * Reproducible, high-quality libraries The system is designed for mid-throughput labs that need reliability without the complexity of ultra-high-throughput infrastructure. Designed for push-button simplicity. "We designed Callisto to make sequencing sample preparation simpler and more accessible," said Udayan Umapathi, CEO of Volta Labs. With the new kit, labs can run PCR-free WGS workflows in a push-button format, while freeing technical staff for higher-value work. Built for clinical and translational labs. According to Trey Foskett, CEO of Watchmaker Genomics: PCR-free WGS requires both high-performance chemistry and workflow precision. The Callisto Complete Kit delivers both - without requiring high-throughput scale. This makes it well-suited for clinical and translational environments where consistency matters more than sheer volume. AGBT 2026 launch event. To mark the launch, Volta Labs and Watchmaker Genomics hosted a joint in-suite presentation at AGBT 2026 on February 24 at 8:30 a.m., held in the Fulton Suite. About Volta Labs. Volta Labs is rethinking sequencing sample preparation through: * Digital fluidics * Modular workflows * Full walk-away automation The Callisto platform supports whole-genome, targeted, and custom NGS applications. Volta Labs is headquartered in Boston. About Watchmaker Genomics. Watchmaker Genomics develops high-performance tools for genomic research and clinical applications. Its expertise spans: * Protein engineering * Next-generation sequencing * Precision reagents for cancer detection, epigenetics, and liquid biopsy The company focuses on accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effective molecular analysis. Bottom line: The Callisto Complete Kit lowers the barrier to PCR-free WGS by combining elite chemistry with true automation - without forcing labs into high-throughput complexity.
Volta Labs and Watchmaker Genomics have launched the Callisto Complete Kit for DNA EF Library Prep at the AGBT 2026 conference in Orlando. The solution combines Watchmaker's NGS sample preparation chemistry with Volta's digital fluidics automation to deliver fully automated, PCR-free whole genome sequencing library preparation. The kit targets clinical research and translational laboratories requiring mid-throughput solutions. PCR-free workflows minimise amplification bias and sequencing artefacts whilst enabling more uniform genome coverage, particularly in GC-rich regions. The automation eliminates manual liquid handling and reduces operator variability. "Labs can run PCR-free whole genome sequencing workflows in a push-button format, delivering consistent, high-quality results," said Udayan Umapathi, CEO of Volta Labs. The companies hosted a joint presentation at AGBT 2026 on 24 February.
Volta Labs and Watchmaker Genomics partner for DNA library prep kit. Up next. Published on 23 February 2026 New Callisto Complete Kit simplifies DNA library preparation for researchers. * Volta Labs and Watchmaker Genomics collaborate on an innovative DNA kit. * The Callisto Complete Kit aims to streamline genomic research. * The launch coincides with AGBT 2026 event. Volta Labs and Watchmaker Genomics have joined forces to launch the Callisto Complete Kit, designed for efficient DNA library preparation. This new DNA library preparation kit targets researchers looking to enhance their genomic workflows. The collaboration underscores a commitment to advancing laboratory technology in genomic research. The Callisto Complete Kit introduces a simplified approach to preparing DNA for sequencing. It combines several critical steps into one streamlined process, potentially increasing efficiency for scientists. The partnership aims to provide researchers with tools that facilitate more effective genomic studies. This announcement aligns with the AGBT 2026 event, where both companies are showcasing their innovative solutions. Researchers attending the event can explore how this new kit complements current genomic sequencing methodologies, enhancing the overall research process.