Senior Python Software Engineer – Manufacturing Test & Automation

Red Oak Technologies Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Oak Technologies Inc. in San Francisco seeks a Senior Python Software Engineer to develop automated manufacturing test systems for high-volume production.

You will write clean, scalable Python code while collaborating closely with hardware, instrumentation, and data pipelines. Responsibilities include building HALs, designing scalable software, developing data pipelines, and ensuring robust fault tolerance with thorough testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/SE or related field.
• 3+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Experience interfacing with hardware using protocols such as SCPI, PyVISA, Serial (RS-232/485), TCP/IP, Modbus, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Develop Python-based software for automated manufacturing test systems.
• Build Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) and reusable software interfaces for test equipment and instrumentation.
• Design scalable, maintainable software using modern design patterns and software engineering best practices.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing data pipelines and database integrations.
• Build fault-tolerant software with retry logic, exception handling, and recovery mechanisms.
• Troubleshoot software, instrumentation, communication, and production test station issues.
• Develop automated multi-instrument test sequences and improve manufacturing throughput.
• Write unit tests and support software validation prior to production deployment.
• Participate in code reviews and maintain structured Git-based development workflows.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Test, Software, Product, and Operations teams to support production and NPI builds.

Skills

Python

OOP

Design patterns

Unit testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Git

Docker

PyVISA

PostgreSQL

SQLite

Job description

Senior Python Software Engineer – Manufacturing Test & Automation

$150,000 – $165,000 Base Salary DOE

Contract to Hire - 6 Months+

We're partnering with an innovative hardware technology company developing advanced sensing, robotics, and automation solutions used in industrial and autonomous systems.

We are seeking a Senior Python Software Engineer to develop and maintain automated manufacturing test systems that support high-volume production. This role is ideal for a software engineer who enjoys writing clean, scalable Python code while working closely with hardware, instrumentation, manufacturing systems, and data pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop Python-based software for automated manufacturing test systems.
• Build Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) and reusable software interfaces for test equipment and instrumentation.
• Design scalable, maintainable software using modern design patterns and software engineering best practices.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing data pipelines and database integrations.
• Build fault-tolerant software with retry logic, exception handling, and recovery mechanisms.
• Troubleshoot software, instrumentation, communication, and production test station issues.
• Develop automated multi-instrument test sequences and improve manufacturing throughput.
• Write unit tests and support software validation prior to production deployment.
• Participate in code reviews and maintain structured Git-based development workflows.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Test, Software, Product, and Operations teams to support production and NPI builds.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3+ years of professional software development experience.
• Strong Python programming skills with experience developing production-quality software.
• Solid understanding of object-oriented programming, design patterns, custom exceptions, decorators, and context managers.
• Experience interfacing with hardware using protocols such as SCPI, PyVISA, Serial (RS-232/485), TCP/IP, Modbus, or similar.
• Experience working in Linux/Unix environments.
• Experience with Git version control and Docker.
• Strong SQL and database experience (PostgreSQL, SQLite, MariaDB, or similar).
• Experience troubleshooting software and hardware integration issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting manufacturing, production test, NPI, or automation environments.
• Experience with test automation frameworks, TDD, unit testing, or software simulations.
• Exposure to optics, cameras, lasers, computer vision, or OpenCV.
• Experience in robotics, industrial automation, electronics, automotive, or other hardware-focused industries.
• Experience developing software that interacts directly with physical devices and test equipment.

Why Join?

• Work on cutting-edge sensing, robotics, and automation technologies.
• Build software that directly impacts product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and production scalability.
• Collaborate with highly skilled software, hardware, and manufacturing engineering teams.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and long-term career growth opportunities.

Compensation: $150,000 – $165,000 Base Salary DOE