Software Automation Engineer

Lawrence Harvey; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Oxford seeks a Software Automation Engineer to develop and integrate automated workflows for lab and robotics platforms. This hybrid role demands expertise in automation engineering, strong programming skills in Python and C/C++, and the ability to design innovative solutions. The company offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in automation engineering, robotics, biotech, or industrial systems integration.
• Proven track record of designing and deploying robust automation systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and C/C++.

Responsibilities

• Develop automated workflows for complex experimental steps.
• Integrate lab hardware and software.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure automation meets real-world needs.

Skills

Automation engineering

Robotics

Software best practices

Python

C/C++

Education

Relevant degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics

Tools

PyLabRobot

Job description

Software Automation Engineer

Do you want to help build the next generation of autonomous lab platforms?

This role focuses on creating the automation backbone behind next‑generation lab and robotics platforms. You'll work at the intersection of instruments, robots, firmware, and software - building the integrations and workflows that enable true autonomous experimentation. Expect a mix of device‑level engineering, system‑wide architecture, and hands‑on problem solving.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Developing automated workflows that turn complex experimental steps into structured, repeatable software protocols using robotics
• Integrate lab hardware and software, exposing firmware capabilities through clean, standard interfaces.
• Contribute to system architecture design to ensure high reliability, monitoring, and performance across all automation platforms.
• Break systems down, understand them deeply, and reimagine how they can be used to create innovative solutions.
• Collaborate with scientific, technical, and operational colleagues to ensure automation meets real‑world needs.
• Evaluate new tools and technologies with external vendors and integrate them into existing workflows.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience in automation engineering, robotics, biotech, or industrial systems integration.
• Proven track record of designing and deploying robust automation systems, including multi‑device orchestration.
• Skilled in firmware‑level control, driver development, and exposing device capabilities through APIs.
• Strong programming skills in Python and C/C++.
• Experienced in software best practices: version control, PR reviews, documentation, and efficient workflows.
• A creative thinker - able to design automation that goes beyond simply replicating human tasks.

Nice to Have:

• Relevant degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or similar.
• Familiarity with open‑source automation libraries, such as PyLabRobot.
• Experience creating digital twins or virtual representations of lab devices.
• Background in biotech, pharma, materials science, or other R&D areas that rely heavily on automation.

Offices and Lab located in Oxford.

Hybrid working c.3 days in office

Competitive salary + benefits dependent on experience.

Ready to help build the next generation of intelligent robots? Apply now and join a fast‑moving team shaping the future of applied robotics and AI