Software Customer Support Engineer

Oxford Instruments; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Share incentive plan

Group pension plan

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology seeks an experienced software specialist to support Customer Service Engineers in the field, resolving complex issues and maximizing uptime.

You will lead incidents, coordinate with software, service and communications teams, and drive continuous improvement with OIPT across global locations. This role enhances customer trust and protects revenue while improving field capabilities.

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship or degree in software, computing or a related field.
• Experience with semiconductor processes and complex systems.
• Knowledge of Windows software and real-time control systems.
• Experience with remote diagnostic tools and software-hardware integration.
• Ability to communicate with non-native English speakers.

Responsibilities

• Point of contact for escalated software troubleshooting.
• Act as incident lead during high-severity issues; coordinate software engineering, service, and comms; run post-incident reviews.
• Serve as go-to for advanced troubleshooting and coordination with software engineering.
• Support global HVM process, including Tiger Teams and Landing Team.
• Lead in L2 escalations to meet specifications.
• Visit customers where software issues impact relationships.
• Support peaks in EMEAI, ASIA or US requirements for acceptance.
• Collaborate with OIPT on Continuous Improvement Projects.
• Build trusted relationships with Service Engineers and provide 2nd line support.

Skills

Semiconductor experience

Diagnostics & log analysis

Windows real-time control

C# / .NET Core / WPF

C / C++

SQL (MySQL)

PLC programming

Azure DevOps

GitHub CI/CD

TCP/IP / Modbus / EtherCAT

Hardware interfacing

Education

Apprenticeship and/or Degree in Software, Computing or related field

Tools

None

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

You will provide advanced software expertise and rapid escalation support to Customer Service Engineers in the field, ensuring timely resolution of complex technical issues, maximising customer uptime and feeding systemic improvement back into Product and Engineering teams.

Your contribution will reduce customer downtime, enhance customer trust, protect revenue, improve Customer Service Engineer capability and confidence and accelerate feedback loops from the field to OIPT.

• Point of contact for software related escalating troubleshooting with complex issues.
• Act as incident lead during high‑severity issues—coordinate software engineering, service, and comms; run post‑incident reviews.
• Serve as the go‑to for advanced troubleshooting and coordination with software engineering.
• Support OIPT in a global HVM process support role, supporting:
  • Tiger Teams:
    • Rapid Response.
    • Landing Team.
    • 1st in fab team (complex or HVM).
• Lead in process L2 escalations to meet specifications.
• Visiting customers where software reported issues are impacting the customer relationship.
• Support in peaks in EMEAI, ASIA or US requirements for acceptance.
• Work closely with HVM customers and OIPT on Continuous Improvement Projects as required.
• Field Relationship & Liaison.
  • Build trusted relationships with Service Engineers.
  • 2nd line support of field service engineers and customers.
  • Diagnosis and solution of software and hardware problems both by phone and email. This includes communication with people where English is not their first language.
• Monitoring Critical Field Installations.
• Track high-impact or complex installations and upgrades and proactively.
• System acceptance & customer training.
  • Customer facing during the tender process.
  • Answer technical questions & provide solutions to new requirements.
  • Demonstrate software to customers during system acceptance.
  • Support in training of OIPT staff for new developments.
• Liaise with Sales Team to provide useful background information.
• Support the Head of Global service in developing accounts for future business.
• Provide detailed and accurate record of expense incurred on behalf of the Company.

Education / Qualifications:

• Apprenticeship and/or Degree in Software, Computing or a related field.

Professional Skills/Abilities:

• Semiconductor/advanced manufacturing experience ·
• Experience with complex systems, log analysis and diagnostics, and software-hardware integration.
• Knowledge of Semiconductor processing techniques and system design.
• In depth knowledge of Windows Software and experience working on real-time control systems.
• Knowledge of hardware interfacing, including electrical schematics, is also desirable.
• Experience with remote diagnostic tools and service environments, C#, .NET Core and WPF framework, C++, C, SQL (MySQL), and PLC programming.
• Azure DevOps for task tracking and GitHub for version control & CI/CD pipelines.
• Solid experience with several network protocols, TCP/IP, UDP, Modbus, EtherCAT etc.

Personal Qualities:

• Calm under pressure – thrives in escalation scenarios.
• Excellent communication with customers, and internal teams.
• Enthusiastic and agile approach to complex tasks.
• Can embrace ambiguity, extract necessary information and define clear objectives.
• Ability to learn new technology and processes quickly.
• Ability to convey ideas both technically and as best suited to the audience.
• Shares information and knowledge to improve own and others contribution to the business.
• Coaching mindset.

At Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, we provide tools for the engineering of micro- and nano-structures, with customers using our process solutions to research and produce materials and semiconductors vital for everything from medical devices and diagnostics, to electric cars and quantum computers.

In addition to a competitive starting salary, structured career development opportunities, and a good work-life balance, Oxford Instruments offers 25 days annual leave, early finish on Fridays, private healthcare, a share incentive plan, a defined contribution Group Personal Pension Plan, and a flexible benefits package that you can tailor to your own requirements

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and would ask you to get in touch if you are concerned about any barriers you feel you may be facing in your application process with us.