The Senior Software Developer for Instrument Control is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software that directly controls and monitors clinical diagnostic instruments. This role owns significant portions of the instrument control stack, collaborates closely with hardware, systems, assay, and test teams, and ensures delivery of robust, maintainable, and compliant software used in regulated environments. This position operates with a high degree of autonomy, contributes to architecture and technical direction, and mentors other developers while remaining hands‑on with complex instrument‑facing code.
How You’ll Make An Impact
Instrument Control Software Development
Design, implement, and maintain C#-based instrument control software, including device communication, command sequencing, state machines, and error handling.
Interface with hardware components such as sensors, actuators, motors, and controllers through defined protocols and APIs.
Develop and maintain simulation and diagnostic tools to support development, manufacturing, and service workflows.
Architecture & Technical Ownership
Own medium-to-large instrument control subsystems end-to-end, from design through deployment and sustainment.
Contribute to software architecture decisions, including layering, abstraction boundaries, and hardware‑software interfaces.
Ensure designs support scalability, testability, reliability, and long‑term maintainability.
Quality, Reliability & Compliance
Develop software in compliance with regulated development processes (e.g., IEC 62304, ISO 13485 familiarity).
Write and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and system‑level tests for instrument control software.
Support verification, validation, and root‑cause analysis activities for instrument‑related issues.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with hardware engineering, systems engineering, assay development, manufacturing, and service teams to define and refine instrument behavior.
Support instrument bring‑up, integration, and troubleshooting activities in lab and manufacturing environments.
Provide technical input during requirements definition, risk analysis, and design reviews.
Mentorship & Technical Leadership
Mentor junior and mid‑level developers in C#, instrument control patterns, and best practices.
Participate in and lead code reviews, promoting high coding standards and shared ownership.
Act as a technical point of contact for instrument control topics within the software team.
What You Bring
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
10+ years of professional software development experience, with significant hands‑on C# development or related technology.
Direct experience developing instrument control, device control, or hardware‑adjacent software.
Technical Skills
Strong proficiency in C# and .NET, including object-oriented design and multithreading.
Experience implementing state machines, command/response patterns, and robust error handling.
Familiarity with hardware communication concepts (e.g., serial, TCP/IP, USB, or vendor SDKs).
Experience with debugging complex systems involving both software and hardware interactions.
Preferred / Nice-to-Have Qualifications
Experience in regulated medical, diagnostic, or life sciences environments.
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum development processes.
Experience supporting manufacturing test software or service/diagnostic tools.
Behavioral & Professional Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, especially for complex system-level issues.
Ability to communicate effectively across software, hardware, and non-software stakeholders.
Proactive ownership mindset with a focus on quality, reliability, and long-term product health.
Comfortable working independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team culture.
Location
This position must be based in Hercules, California and requires the employee to be located within commuting distance of the office.
Total Rewards Package
At Bio‑Rad, we’re empowered by our purpose and recognize that our employees are as well. That’s why we offer a competitive and comprehensive Total Rewards Program that provides value, quality, and inclusivity while satisfying the diverse needs of our evolving workforce. Bio‑Rad's robust offerings serve to enrich the overall health, wealth, and wellbeing of our employees and their families through the various stages of an employee’s work and life cycle.
Benefits
We’re proud to offer a variety of options, including competitive medical plans for you and your family, free HSA funds, a new fertility offering with stipend, group life and disability, paid parental leave, 401k plus profit sharing, an employee stock purchase program, a new upgraded and streamlined mental health platform, extensive learning and development opportunities, education benefits, student debt relief program, pet insurance, wellness challenges and support, paid time off, Employee Resource Groups, and more!
Compensation
The estimated base salary range for this position is $157,400 to $216,400 at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if applicable, and is based on several factors we believe fairly and accurately impact compensation, including geographic location, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other job permitted factors. This position is eligible for a variable annual bonus, which is dependent upon achievement of your individual objectives and Company performance.
EEO Statement
Bio‑Rad is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, and we welcome candidates of all backgrounds. Veterans, people with physical or mental disabilities, and people of all race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin and citizenship status are encouraged to apply.
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