Senior Orchestration Software Engineer- Workflow & Integration

AstraZeneca; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca in the US is seeking a software-focused engineer to join the Advanced Robotics & Data Orchestration Team within Product Development & Clinical Supply. You will own the software layer that coordinates instruments and robots into reusable workflows and design state models, events, and integration modules to support analytics and ML features.

The role emphasizes production-grade releases, observability, and secure development practices, with collaboration across scientists, data

Qualifications

• PhD or MS/BS with extensive software for lab or industrial automation or robotics
• Proficient in Python, C#, or Java and experience with event-driven patterns
• Experience with interfaces, SDKs, and data contracts; familiarity with SQL

Responsibilities

• Translate scientist and operator requirements into orchestration designs and software implementations.
• Implement run-control logic, exception handling, recovery/rollback, and scheduling for automated work cells and instruments.
• Develop reusable drivers/adapters and interface modules; review code and tests for quality.
• Integrate instruments/robots with schedulers and data services; define schemas and event models for analytics/ML features.

Skills

Python

C#

Java

Event-driven architecture

State machines

CI/CD

Education

PhD + 0 years

MS + 4 years

BS + 8 years

Tools

SDKs

SQL

Message buses

CI/CD tools

Job description

This is what you will do:

Be a key member of the Advanced Robotics & Data Orchestration Team within Alexion’s Product Development & Clinical Supply organization. You will own the software layer that coordinates instruments and robots into push-button, reusable workflows. You will design state models, events, and integration modules; partner with data engineering experts to define schemas and event contracts; and deliver production-grade releases with observability and rollback. This role is software-leaning and science-facing: experience with pharmaceutical product development workflows, verification via vision/sensors, and data product thinking will help you translate scientist needs into robust orchestration. Help us accelerate life‑changing therapies to patients with rare and ultra‑rare diseases.

• Translate scientist and operator requirements (throughput, usability, exception paths, reliability targets) into orchestration designs and software implementations.
• Implement run-control logic (state models/events), exception handling, recovery/rollback, and scheduling for automated work cells and instruments.
• Develop reusable drivers/adapters and interface modules aligned to documented contracts, coding standards, and versioning, review code, and tests for quality.
• Integrate instruments/robots with schedulers and data services using interfaces and SDKs; partner with data engineering experts to define schemas and event models to support analytics and ML features.
• Apply configuration-as-code, CI/CD, automated testing, and secure development practices; ship documented releases and migration guides.
• Instrument workflows with telemetry/logs/alerts; define service level indicators and objectives for orchestration software; participate in postmortems and reliability exercises.
• Produce onboarding artifacts (connectivity patterns, validation checklists, example configurations) and support operator UAT and day‑2 enablement.
• Support commissioning, cutovers, and hypercare for priority workflows; track reuse, commissioning time, error/rerun reduction, and uptime.

You will be responsible for:

• Orchestration software components that meet reliability and usability targets across instruments and work cells.
• Audit‑ready data trails for setpoints, states, recipe steps, and analytical outputs; alignment to validation and security expectations.
• High‑quality documentation, release notes, and onboarding kits that enable repeatable adoption.
• Continuous improvement of orchestration software reliability using telemetry and corrective actions.

You will need to have:

• Education/experience: PhD + 0 years, or MS + 4 years, or BS + 8 years in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)—including 4+ years building software for lab or industrial automation or robotics, with hands on orchestration or controls integration.
• Proficiency in one or more languages common in automation (for example, Python, C#, or Java) and experience with event‑driven patterns and state machines.
• Experience with interfaces, SDKs, and message buses; integrating with schedulers and data services; familiarity with schema design, data contracts, and basic SQL.
• Collaboration with scientists/operators, mechatronics/controls, and data engineers; clear, user‑focused documentation.
• The duties of this role may require periodic work in a laboratory or manufacturing environment. As is typical of such roles, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to: lift/carry 15/30 pounds unassisted/assisted; work comfortably in a controlled environment with and around hazardous materials; gown/degown PPE; use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving and non‑linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Experience with biologics workflows (cell culture, purification, analytics) and integrating with ELN/LIMS/SDMS systems.
• Hands‑on work with robotics SDKs, verification via vision/sensors, barcode or RFID, or material‑handling subsystems.
• Familiarity with observability tooling (metrics/logs/alerts), defining service levels, and structured postmortems.

In person working statement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace, and challenge perceptions. That is why we work, on average, a minimum of four days per week from the office. We balance this expectation while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.