Senior Software Engineer

At Oxford Instruments, we enable the world’s leading industrial companies and scientific research communities to image, analyse and manipulate materials down to the atomic and molecular level. Using Atomic Force Microscopes from Asylum Research, our customers can see how cancer cells respond to new treatments, extend the lifetime and efficiency of renewable energy systems and lithium-ion batteries, and develop the novel materials required for quantum computing.

Senior Software Engineer, Scientific Instrumentation

Location: Santa Barbara, CA (Hybrid)

Advance Technology That Enables Scientific Discovery

At Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, we develop industry-leading Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) systems that enable scientists, engineers, and innovators to explore and understand materials at the nanoscale.

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our engineering team and help develop the next generation of software powering our advanced instrumentation platforms. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of software development, hardware integration, automation, and scientific innovation.

As part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, you will design and develop software that enables breakthrough discoveries across semiconductor research, materials science, nanotechnology, and life sciences.

What Makes This Role Exciting

• Develop software that directly controls world-class scientific instruments
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and product leaders to solve complex technical challenges
• Play a key role in advancing cutting-edge nanoscale measurement technologies
• Influence software architecture and future product capabilities
• Work with modern software technologies while interfacing with sophisticated hardware systems
• See your work used by leading research institutions and technology organizations worldwide

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for advanced AFM systems
• Contribute to the ongoing development of our Ergo software platform
• Develop software for instrument control, automation, and data acquisition
• Design and implement hardware integration and remote operation capabilities
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to create new measurement workflows and instrument features
• Troubleshoot complex software, hardware, and system-level issues
• Participate in architecture discussions, design reviews, and code reviews
• Mentor junior engineers and champion software engineering best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
• 8+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong experience developing applications using C# and .Net Core 10
• Experience designing and building desktop, automation, or hardware-integrated software applications
• Experience with Protocol Buffers (Protobuf) and gRPC
• Strong understanding of object-oriented design principles, software architecture, and design patterns
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities
• Experience working in Agile development environments

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Scientific instrumentation
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), microscopy, or imaging systems
• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
• Motion control systems
• Robotics and industrial automation
• Sensors and hardware integration
• Data acquisition and measurement systems
• Test and measurement platforms
• Medical devices
• Distributed systems and remote operation technologies
• Interface and system design specifications

Why Join Oxford Instruments Asylum Research?

At Oxford Instruments, you'll help develop technologies that enable scientific discovery and innovation around the world. You will join a team committed to technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous innovation while working on products that have a meaningful impact across research and industry.

This role offers opportunities for technical leadership, professional growth, and the ability to contribute directly to the future of advanced scientific instrumentation.

Compensation

$150,000 – $180,000 annually

Compensation is based on qualifications, skills, experience, and location. Oxford Instruments also offers a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and professional development.

Join Us

If you're passionate about developing software that interacts with real-world hardware, enables scientific breakthroughs, and solves complex engineering challenges, we'd love to hear from you.

Build technology that enables discovery. Build your future with Oxford Instruments Asylum Research.

#LI-CW1 #LI-Hybrid

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.