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Instrument Software Engineer

USA - South San Francisco, CA

Instrument Software Engineer - (onsite in South San Francisco) 

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled Instrument Software Engineer to join our manufacturing technology team in South San Francisco, California. The ideal candidate will design and develop internal software for laboratory instruments, interface with our Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and implement tools to streamline manufacturing workflows. This role also involves sustaining and improving existing manufacturing software, gathering and analyzing instrument data, and providing hands-on technical support, including troubleshooting instrument-related issues. We’re looking for a self-motivated, fast-learning, and detail-oriented engineer with strong familiarity in lab instrumentation and a passion for building reliable, scalable systems that empower high-throughput biotech manufacturing. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design, implement, and maintain software that controls and communicates with laboratory instruments.
  • Develop user interfaces, data acquisition modules, hardware abstraction layers, and real-time control logic.
  • Sustain and troubleshoot existing instrument software used in production environments.
  • Collaborate with hardware, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration between software and hardware components.
  • Develop and support communication protocols (e.g., USB, RS-232, CAN, TCP/IP) for instrument control and data exchange.
  • Provide ongoing software support for deployed instruments, especially in manufacturing and lab environments.
  • Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, and integration failures in collaboration with the support and testing teams.
  • Work with test engineers to develop and execute verification and validation protocols to ensure software reliability and compliance.
  • Support automated and manual testing of instrument software, including regression testing.
  • Write and maintain detailed technical documentation, including design specifications, software architecture, and user manuals.
  • Ensure software complies with applicable regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485, if applicable).
  • Contribute to research and development efforts for next-generation instruments.
  • Evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to improve instrument performance and usability.
  • Work closely with scientists, lab personnel, manufacturing teams, and field service engineers to gather feedback and implement improvements.
  • Participate in design reviews and product development meetings to align software solutions with business and user needs.

Required Qualifications:

  • BS in Computer Science or related field with 3+ years of working experience; or 1 year and a Master's degreeA Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or a related field and five years of relevant experience; or three years of experience and a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
  • Proficient in C#, WPF, and UX
  • Extensive background with electro-mechanical systems and instrumentation
  • Familiar with Agile and software development lifecycle
  • Experience with Visual Studio, Git, Jira, and Azure is noce to have 
  • Good understanding of software design principles
  • Knowledgeable in scientific computation and data analysis
  • Hands-on experience with lab instrumentation and integrated systems
  • Excellent communication and writing skills, and ability to work in a fast-paced team environment
  • Experience with LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a strong plus

About Twist Bioscience

Twist Bioscience synthesizes genes from scratch, known as “writing” DNA. Just as children learn to both read and write, the next phase of development for the genomics revolution is the ability to write DNA.

At Twist Bioscience, we work in service of people who are changing the world for the better. In fields such as health care, agriculture, industrial chemicals and data storage, our unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform provides precision at a scale that is otherwise unavailable to our customers.

Twist Bioscience Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Twist Bioscience Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law.

The base cash compensation for this California-based role is below. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package. Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate skill, experience, expertise, and location and may vary from the amount listed above. Compensation may be different in other locations.

San Francisco Bay Area Pay Range

$139,000 - $155,000 USD

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