Software Development Engineer IV – Windows Instrumentation, Automation

Jobtailor; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking an experienced software engineer to architect, design, implement, test, and deploy production software for automated scientific instruments and semiconductor metrology systems. You will develop responsive Windows applications using C#, .NET, WPF, and modern C++/STL, and integrate with hardware subsystems.

You will own architecture for new capabilities, lead cross-functional teams, and apply rigorous engineering judgment across the full software

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 3+ years Windows app development using C#/.NET/WPF and modern C++/STL.
• Experience designing multithreaded, asynchronous, and performance-sensitive Windows software.
• Experience integrating software with hardware, instruments, robotics, automation equipment, or other physical systems with timing and reliability constraints.
• Experience building interactive desktop user interfaces and the underlying application, data, and device-control layers.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, implement, and deploy production software for automated instruments.
• Own architecture for new capabilities and guide integration into a mature product codebase.
• Diagnose complex behavior across software and hardware boundaries; lead investigations and drive issues to resolution.
• Lead software integration and product deployments with cross-functional teams.
• Remain hands-on while providing technical direction to a small cross-functional team.

Skills

C# Application Development

Windows App Development

Multithreaded Design

Software-Hardware Integration

Technical Leadership

Tools

VS Code

GitHub Copilot

AI Coding Agents

Data-Acquisition Systems

Automation Equipment

Job description

• Architect, design, implement, debug, test, and deploy production software for automated scientific instruments and semiconductor metrology systems
• Develop responsive, multithreaded Windows applications using C#, .NET, WPF, and modern C++/STL
• Integrate desktop software with precision motion, nano-positioning, vision, data-acquisition, control, and automation subsystems
• Design low-latency software that coordinates real-time hardware behavior with non-real-time workflows, data persistence, and intuitive interactive controls
• Own architecture for new capabilities and guide their integration into a mature product codebase through sound interfaces, layering, refactoring, and incremental delivery
• Diagnose complex behavior across software and hardware boundaries; lead technical investigations, articulate options and risks, and drive issues to resolution
• Lead software integration and product deployments in partnership with applications, systems, hardware, test, and manufacturing engineering teams
• Remain deeply hands-on while providing technical direction and raising engineering quality across a small cross-functional team
• Use VS Code and AI coding agents as core engineering tools across the software development lifecycle while applying rigorous technical judgment to all generated work

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience developing complex production systems
• 3+ years of hands-on Windows application development using both C#/.NET/WPF and modern C++/STL
• Strong object-oriented design, API design, debugging, and refactoring skills in a substantial existing codebase
• Demonstrated experience designing and debugging multithreaded, asynchronous, and performance-sensitive Windows software
• Experience integrating software with hardware, instruments, robotics, automation equipment, or other physical systems with timing and reliability constraints
• Experience building interactive desktop user interfaces and the underlying application, data, and device-control layers
• Demonstrated architecture ownership and technical leadership across subsystem or product boundaries
• Meaningful, regular use of GitHub Copilot or comparable AI coding agents on production software
• Ability to collaborate clearly with engineers and domain experts, communicate designs and risks, and lead technical work without direct authority

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in architecting and developing complex production software for automated scientific instruments and semiconductor metrology systems, with a strong focus on multithreaded Windows applications using C#, .NET, WPF, and modern C++/STL. Proven ability to integrate software with hardware systems while leading technical investigations and providing direction across cross-functional teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• C# Application Development
• Windows Application Development
• Multithreaded Software Design
• Software Integration with Hardware
• Technical Leadership

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• C#
• .NET
• WPF
• Modern C++
• STL
• Object-Oriented Design
• API Design
• Debugging
• Refactoring
• Asynchronous Programming

Soft Skills

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Technical Direction
• Problem-Solving
• Leadership

Industry Keywords

• Automated Scientific Instruments
• Semiconductor Metrology
• Real-Time Systems
• Interactive User Interfaces
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Tools & Technologies

• VS Code
• GitHub Copilot
• AI Coding Agents
• Data-Acquisition Systems
• Automation Equipment