Automation Engineer

About the role

This role focuses on designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software that integrates with robotics, machine vision, sensors, instrumentation, and automated equipment in industrial, scientific, and research environments. The Software Automation Engineer will build robust applications in C#, Python, MATLAB, C, or related technologies, and will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable automation and control solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for engineering, laboratory, and research systems.
• Develop applications using C#, Python, MATLAB, C, or related object-oriented technologies for automation and control.
• Integrate software with instrumentation, sensors, cameras, robotics, motion control platforms, and other automated equipment.
• Develop software interfaces between automation systems, databases, cloud platforms, and enterprise applications to enable reliable data exchange and system interoperability.
• Support the development, deployment, and maintenance of machine vision and image-processing software applications.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and technicians to gather requirements, define specifications, and deliver tailored software solutions.
• Troubleshoot software and system integration issues, including hardware-software interactions, communication problems, and performance bottlenecks.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including software specifications, interface definitions, and user guides.
• Follow and promote software engineering best practices, including the use of version control, software testing, cybersecurity considerations, and code reviews.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of automation architectures, control strategies, and development workflows in industrial, scientific, or engineering environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5 years of experience developing software for automation, industrial, scientific, or engineering systems.
• Strong programming skills in C#, Python, MATLAB, C, or similar object-oriented languages.
• Hands-on experience integrating software with hardware systems such as instrumentation, sensors, cameras, machine vision systems, robotics, or industrial control platforms.
• Knowledge of industrial automation architectures, control systems, and communication protocols.
• Experience with source control tools and workflows, including branching, merging, and version management.
• Experience with software testing practices, including unit testing, integration testing, and validation in hardware-in-the-loop environments.
• Familiarity with modern software engineering practices, including code reviews, modular design, and secure coding principles.
• Demonstrated analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities in complex automation or control environments.
• Ability to work full-time on-site at research facilities in St. Louis, Missouri.

Skills