Junior to Senior Level

Summary

We are seeking a Control Software Engineer to develop, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the control software for an advanced microfluidic high-content screening platform. This role is primarily focused on LabVIEW software development, NI FPGA-based hardware control, system integration, and hands-on troubleshooting of complex automated instrumentation.

The successful candidate will develop and maintain LabVIEW applications for controlling NI FPGA hardware, sensors, actuators, pumps, valves, pressure controllers, cameras, and data acquisition devices. The role also includes operating the platform and conducting experiments to validate software features, troubleshoot system issues, evaluate system performance, and support ongoing platform development. The engineer will work closely with scientists and multidisciplinary engineers to continuously improve platform reliability, automation, and throughput.

Python is primarily used for experimental data analysis, visualization, result generation, and troubleshooting support.

This is a highly hands-on engineering role where success depends on developing reliable LabVIEW control software, integrating and troubleshooting complex hardware/software systems, validating system performance through targeted experiments, and continuously improving an advanced automated screening platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain LabVIEW-based control software for an NI FPGA-based high-content screening platform.
• Develop software for instrument control, fluidic automation, synchronization, data acquisition, calibration, diagnostics, error handling, and system recovery.
• Integrate and control NI FPGA hardware, DAQ devices, cameras, sensors, pumps, valves, pressure controllers, and other laboratory instrumentation.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware/software integration issues, including control logic, communication failures, timing issues, electrical interfaces, and instrument performance.
• Perform system bring-up, debugging, verification testing, and reliability validation of automated instrumentation.
• Operate the platform and perform experiments to validate software changes, evaluate system performance, troubleshoot issues, and support platform development.
• Investigate abnormal system behavior, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to improve system stability, reliability, and performance.
• Design and implement software features that improve system diagnostics, error detection, debugging efficiency, and operational reliability.
• Develop automation workflows to improve platform robustness, usability, maintainability, and operational efficiency.
• Use Python to analyze experimental data, generate reports and visualizations, and support troubleshooting and experiment interpretation.
• Collaborate closely with scientists and multidisciplinary engineers to translate experimental requirements into reliable automation and control solutions.
• Senior-level engineers will lead control software architecture, mentor junior engineers, establish engineering best practices, and drive continuous improvement of the platform.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• Strong experience developing applications in LabVIEW for instrument control, automation, machine control, or data acquisition.
• Experience with NI hardware, including FPGA, CompactRIO, PXI, DAQ, motion control, or related platforms, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience integrating, debugging, and troubleshooting complex hardware/software systems involving instrumentation, automation equipment, electromechanical devices, or scientific instruments.
• Hands-on experience operating laboratory or engineering systems and performing experiments to support software validation, system troubleshooting, and platform development.
• Experience integrating sensors, actuators, cameras, pumps, valves, pressure control systems, and laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience using Python for data analysis, scripting, visualization, and experiment support.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a systematic approach to root-cause investigation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary R&D environment.
• Senior-level candidates should have experience leading software development projects, designing scalable control software architectures, mentoring engineers, and driving continuous improvement of complex automation platforms.