Software Engineering - Lab Automation and Software
Agilent Technologies · Shanghai
Job Description
This role develops C#/.NET-based software for laboratory automation platforms that connect instruments, workflows, data, and AI-enabled capabilities. The Software Engineer will deliver reliable instrument communication, desktop and back-end services, scientific data processing, diagnostics, reporting, and intelligent workflow integration for customer-facing automation products.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop C#/.NET software for laboratory automation, instrument control, data acquisition, diagnostics, and workflow execution.
- Build instrument communication and control logic for analytical instruments, automation controllers, robotic or sample preparation devices, and connected laboratory systems.
- Develop C# back-end capabilities including REST APIs, data services, background processing, configuration services, and system integration interfaces.
- Apply asynchronous and concurrent processing patterns for real-time instrument events, automated workflows, and long-running tasks.
- Develop scientific data capabilities including spectrum or chromatogram access, data transformation, file parsing, reporting, and result preparation.
- Create desktop application components using WPF, WinForms, or related technologies for monitoring, configuration, diagnostics, and operator workflows.
- Integrate AI-enabled features through APIs, service interfaces, tool execution, workflow triggers, or data-processing pipelines.
- Improve software reliability, observability, performance, error handling, logging, diagnostics, and maintainability for customer-facing automation products.
- Collaborate with front-end, AI Agent, data science, product, test, application, and instrument teams from design through delivery.
- Contribute to technical design, code reviews, unit testing, integration testing, troubleshooting, documentation, and release readiness in alignment with Agilent quality and PLC expectations.
Qualifications
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or above in computer science, software engineering, automation, electronic engineering, instrumentation, analytical science, or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on C# software development experience, including strong experience with .NET Framework and modern .NET versions such as .NET 6, .NET 8, or later.
- Strong knowledge of object-oriented design, design patterns, modular architecture, clean code, maintainability, and software engineering best practices.
- Strong experience with asynchronous programming, multi-threading, concurrency control, deadlock prevention, performance troubleshooting, and long-running task management.
- Experience building desktop applications with WPF or WinForms for data display, instrument monitoring, configuration, or operator-facing workflows.
- Experience developing REST APIs, background services, data services, client-server communication, WebSocket, HTTP-based integration, or related enterprise service capabilities.
- Experience with relational databases such as SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or SQLite, including database design, data access, query optimization, and ORM frameworks such as Entity Framework.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex software issues across device communication, data acquisition, service integration, performance, reliability, or customer workflows.
- Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional engineering, product, test, application, and instrument teams.
- Ability to read technical documentation and participate in technical discussions in English; stronger English communication skills are a plus.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in laboratory automation, analytical instrumentation, medical device software, industrial automation, or scientific workflow applications.
- Hands-on exposure to instrument protocols or device integration such as hardware APIs, SDKs, serial communication, TCP/IP, device drivers, command execution, or diagnostics.
- Familiarity with TypeScript, Node.js, or JavaScript-based service components for AI Agent workflows, API integration, tool calling, orchestration logic, or back-end workflow automation.
- Familiarity with Python for data processing, scientific computation, automation scripting, AI/ML service integration, prompt or tool workflow support, or rapid prototyping.
- Experience with scientific data workflows, including chromatography or mass spectrometry data processing, spectrum or chromatogram analysis, file parsing, data conversion, quantitative review, or scientific reporting.
- Exposure to AI-enabled software integration, including AI Agent services, model inference APIs, tool execution, workflow triggers, orchestration, or data-processing pipelines.
- Familiarity with Angular, Electron, or modern front-end technologies for hybrid desktop applications, workflow user interfaces, or instrument-facing user experiences.
- Experience with CI/CD, automated testing, logging, monitoring, deployment packaging, or quality-sensitive product delivery processes.
Additional Details
This job has a full time weekly schedule.Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for a preferred location. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locationsAgilent Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.