Laboratory Application Automation Engineer

Eurofins Environment Testing (USA); Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Eurofins Environment Testing (USA) seeks a Laboratory Automation Software Engineer to design and develop software powering robotic work cells, cobots, instruments, and connected devices in laboratory environments.

The role focuses on communication, orchestration, monitoring, and control of automated operations, including UI, drivers, APIs, and integration services with LIMS and enterprise systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/eng or related field.
• 3+ years of software development experience in automation, robotics, or laboratory systems.
• Experience building interfaces for equipment or industrial systems.
• Experience integrating software with robotic systems, PLCs, or lab instruments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for laboratory automation systems.
• Build modern web and desktop UIs for operators and engineers.
• Develop workflow management, instrument control, sample tracking, and monitoring solutions.

Skills

Python

C#

C++

JavaScript/TypeScript

.NET

REST API

Web/Desktop UI

SQL/Databases

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Django

Blazor

Angular

REST API development

SQL Server / PostgreSQL

Job description

Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic, and labelling is accurate. Eurofins is dedicated to delivering testing services that contribute to the health and safety of society and the planet, and to its corporate responsibility to protect the environment and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire network of Eurofins companies.

Job Description

The Laboratory Automation Software Engineer will design and develop software applications that power laboratory automation systems, robotic work cells, collaborative robots (cobots), laboratory instruments, and connected industrial devices.

This role is focused on building the software layer that enables communication, orchestration, monitoring, and control of automated laboratory operations. The engineer will develop user interfaces, device drivers, APIs, and integration services that connect robotic platforms, instruments, ovens, scanners, sensors, actuators, PLCs, and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

The ideal candidate combines software engineering expertise with industrial automation experience and enjoys solving complex integration challenges in laboratory environments.

Key Responsibilities

Application Development

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software applications used to operate laboratory automation systems.
• Build modern web-based and desktop user interfaces for laboratory operators, technicians, and engineering staff.
• Develop software solutions for workflow management, instrument control, sample tracking, and process monitoring.
• Create dashboards, status monitoring tools, alarm handling, and reporting applications.

Device & Robotics Integration

• Develop and maintain communication interfaces for:
  • Collaborative robots (cobots)
  • Robotic systems
  • Laboratory instruments
  • Ovens and environmental chambers
  • Barcode and QR code scanners
  • Sensors and actuators
  • PLC-controlled equipment
  • Vision systems
• Create and maintain device drivers, APIs, and middleware connectors.
• Integrate automation systems with laboratory and enterprise software platforms.

System Architecture & Connectivity

• Design scalable software architectures that support laboratory automation ecosystems.
• Develop integrations with:
  • LIMS
  • Instrument data systems
  • Manufacturing and laboratory databases
  • Cloud-hosted applicationsEnterprise applications
• Implement communication protocols such as:
  • REST APIs
  • OPC-UA
  • MQTT
  • TCP/IP
  • Serial communications
  • Modbus

Workflow Automation

• Develop applications supporting:
  • Instrument maintenance tracking
  • Digital work instructions
  • QR/barcode-based workflows
  • Equipment utilization monitoring
  • Sample lifecycle management
  • Automated data collection and reporting
• Improve traceability and data integrity through automation solutions.

Testing, Validation & Support

• Perform software testing, debugging, and validation activities.
• Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues.
• Support deployment, commissioning, and production startup activities.
• Participate in root cause investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Documentation

• Create and maintain technical documentation including:
  • Software architecture documents
  • Interface specifications
  • Device communication standards
  • User guides
  • Installation and troubleshooting procedures

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering or Automation Engineering.
• Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Experience

• 3+ years of software development experience in automation, robotics, industrial systems, laboratory systems, or related fields.
• Experience developing user interfaces for equipment, industrial systems, or laboratory applications.
• Experience creating hardware communication interfaces, device drivers, or system integrations.
• Experience integrating software with robotic systems, industrial equipment, laboratory instruments, or PLCs.

Technical Skills

Strong experience with several of the following:

• Programming Languages
  • Python
  • C#
  • .NET
  • JavaScript / TypeScript
  • C++
• Application Development
  • Web application frameworks (Django, Blazor, Angular)
  • Desktop application development
  • REST API development
  • Database design and SQL
• Automation & Integration
  • Robotics integration
  • Device communications
  • Industrial network protocols
  • PLC communications
  • Machine-to-machine communications
• Database & Data Systems
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • SQLite
  • Data collection and reporting systems
• Problem Solving
  • Ability to diagnose and resolve complex software, integration, and automation issues.
  • Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Communication
  • Ability to work effectively across software, automation, laboratory, operations, and engineering teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Secure Development Practices
  • Secure application development following established software security best practices.
  • Input validation, data sanitization, authentication, authorization, and role-based access control.
  • Secure handling of credentials, secrets, configuration, and sensitive data.
  • Awareness of common application security vulnerabilities, including injection, broken access control, and insecure data handling.
  • Use of dependency management, code reviews, and security-focused testing to reduce software vulnerabilities.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with one or more of the following:
  • Universal Robots (UR)
  • ABB robotics
  • Vision systems and machine vision
  • Laboratory automation systems
  • LIMS integrations
  • Instrument control software
  • Azure cloud services
  • ROS / ROS2
  • IoT and edge computing platforms
  • Agile software development methodologies

Travel Requirements

This role requires travel of approximately 25-50%, primarily within the United States, with occasional international travel. Travel may include laboratory deployments, equipment commissioning, vendor collaboration, and support of automation initiatives across multiple locations.

Additional Information

We support your development! Do you feel you don’t match 100% of the requirements? Eurofins companies are committed to supporting your career development.

We embrace diversity! Eurofins network of companies believe in strength and innovation through diversity, being an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination against employees or applications based on gender identity and/or expression, race, nationality, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and everything else that makes employees of Eurofins companies unique.

Sustainability matters to us! We are well on our way to achieving our objective of carbon neutrality by 2025, through a combination of emission reduction and compensation initiatives. We encourage our laboratory leaders to make sustainable changes at their local level, and in addition to their initiatives we also count on our dedicated carbon reduction team to help us to achieve this goal!

Find out more in our career page: https://careers.eurofins.com/

We do not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

As a Eurofins employee, you will become part of a company that has received national recognition as a great place to work. we offer excellent benefits including comprehensive medical coverage, life and disability insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid holidays, paid time off, and dental and vision options.

*The benefits package offered will vary based on the employee's full-time or part-time regular status.

Eurofins USA Environment Testing is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.