Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer II

AbbVie; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie in Madison is seeking a Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer to advance peptide array synthesis technology. You will develop, enhance, and maintain software that operates laboratory instruments and synthesizers in a fast-paced biotech research environment.

You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, and science, using Linux-based C++ to interface with sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other devices, supporting instrument operation, data visibility, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience, master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. with no additional experience.
• Proficiency in C and C++ development in a Linux environment.
• Strong understanding of object lifecycles and manual memory management in C/C++, including: Pointers and dynamic memory allocation; Ownership and object lifetimes; Memory leaks; Dangling pointers and use-after-free errors; Deallocation and resource cleanup.
• At least 2 years of experience developing software for laboratory, scientific, medical, or other complex instrumentation.
• Understanding of software architecture and core technical concepts, including: Service-oriented architecture; Multithreading and concurrency; Semaphores, mutual exclusion, and synchronization; XML and JSON messaging.
• Familiarity with software development methodologies and demonstrated commitment to Agile practices.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment involving software, hardware, science, operations, and quality functions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, troubleshoot, and maintain Linux-based software for internally developed peptide array synthesizers and laboratory instrumentation.
• Develop and integrate machine-control software for sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other electronic devices.
• Apply software engineering expertise across system architecture, programming, data integration, machine control, data analysis, and visualization.
• Define and execute software testing and validation activities to ensure the quality, reliability, performance, and maintainability of instrument software.
• Support the deployment, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of software applications in a biotech research and manufacturing environment.
• May lead technical initiatives and mentor junior engineers, contributing to design decisions, technical direction, knowledge sharing, and team development.
• Design and conduct experiments, engineering studies, and system characterization activities to evaluate instrument behavior and inform design improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners, including scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, operations managers, quality personnel, and IT staff, to gather requirements and deliver effective solutions.
• Follow software development best practices, including version control, coding standards, code reviews, automated testing, documentation, Agile planning, and lifecycle management.
• Communicate technical information clearly through design documentation, engineering reports, presentations, status updates, and discussions with engineering leadership and project stakeholders.

Skills

C/C++ development

Linux development

Memory management

Multithreading

Agile practices

Python

Instrumentation software

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field

Tools

Git

GitHub

Job description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Join the Madison Peptide Therapeutics (MPT) Engineering team as a Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer and help advance cutting-edge peptide array synthesis technology. In this role, you will develop, enhance, and maintain software that operates internally developed laboratory instruments and synthesizers in a fast-paced biotech research environment.

You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, and science, applying your expertise in Linux-based C++ development to interface with sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other electronic devices. Your work will support instrument operation, system performance, data visibility, workflow efficiency, and product quality.

This role also contributes to workflow applications that enable operators to configure and run instruments, as well as software tools that support quality and compliance processes. As a senior member of an Agile engineering team, you will help solve complex technical challenges, lead initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and deliver reliable solutions that increase throughput, reduce cost, and advance scientific capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, troubleshoot, and maintain Linux-based software for internally developed peptide array synthesizers and laboratory instrumentation.
• Develop and integrate machine-control software for sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other electronic devices.
• Apply software engineering expertise across system architecture, programming, data integration, machine control, data analysis, and visualization.
• Define and execute software testing and validation activities to ensure the quality, reliability, performance, and maintainability of instrument software.
• Support the deployment, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of software applications in a biotech research and manufacturing environment.
• May lead technical initiatives and mentor junior engineers, contributing to design decisions, technical direction, knowledge sharing, and team development.
• Design and conduct experiments, engineering studies, and system characterization activities to evaluate instrument behavior and inform design improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners, including scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, operations managers, quality personnel, and IT staff, to gather requirements and deliver effective solutions.
• Follow software development best practices, including version control, coding standards, code reviews, automated testing, documentation, Agile planning, and lifecycle management.
• Communicate technical information clearly through design documentation, engineering reports, presentations, status updates, and discussions with engineering leadership and project stakeholders.

You will be accountable for delivering robust, maintainable, and compliant software solutions within your assigned technical scope while helping ensure that instrument systems meet operational, quality, safety, data-security, and business requirements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with10+ years of relevant experience, master’s degree with8+ years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. withno additional experience.
• Proficiency inC and C++ development in a Linux environment.
• Strong understanding of object lifecycles and manual memory management in C/C++, including:
• Pointers and dynamic memory allocation
• Ownership and object lifetimes
• Memory leaks
• Dangling pointers and use-after-free errors
• Deallocation and resource cleanup
• At least2 years of experience developing software for laboratory, scientific, medical, or other complex instrumentation.
• Understanding of software architecture and core technical concepts, including:
• Service-oriented architecture
• Multithreading and concurrency
• Semaphores, mutual exclusion, and synchronization
• XML and JSON messaging
• Familiarity with software development methodologies and demonstrated commitment to Agile practices.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment involving software, hardware, science, operations, and quality functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in one or more additional programming languages, such asPython, C#, or Java.
• Experience with electronics, embedded systems, or machine-control applications.
• Experience interfacing with devices usingRS-232, RS-485, TCP/IP, or similar communication protocols.
• Experience integrating withTecan, Hamilton, or comparable liquid-handling platforms.
• Experience with AI-assisted software development, machine learning, or data-driven engineering applications.
• Experience usingGit and GitHubfor source-code management and collaborative development.
• Experience with one or more database technologies, including:
• Windows software development
• Relational databases
• Graph databases
• Time-series databases

Additional Information

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this roleat the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolutediscretion, consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html