Staff Engineer, Software
As the world leader in serving science, our work is more than something that fills our days – what we do has great purpose. Our industry-leading scale means unparalleled commercial reach, unique customer access and a global footprint. Our broad customer base, from research to clinical to commercial production means you can have a broad and meaningful impact here at Thermo Fisher Scientific. All while working in an environment where you will be supported, valued and rewarded for your performance.
Staff Engineer, Software
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of more than $20 billion and approximately 65,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services – we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive services
The Position
We are seeking a Tooling Engineer with strong Python expertise to develop, maintain, and enhance internal tooling solutions, with a primary focus on the Sherpa platform used for configuring camera systems in factory environments. This role is centered on enabling reliable and user-friendly interfaces between camera firmware, acquisition server software, and factory configuration tools.
The position involves developing and maintaining Python-based Sherpa plugins that interface with IOM and TSI components, ensuring seamless communication between hardware and software layers. The role requires a solid understanding of software development practices in Python, with sufficient knowledge of algorithms to support implementation and troubleshooting, without a primary focus on algorithm design.
In addition, the role includes supporting and maintaining other internal tools, which may involve basic to intermediate development in C#. These tools are typically lightweight but critical, requiring a pragmatic and quality-focused development approach.
You will work closely with cross-functional teams including firmware, acquisition software, and hardware engineers to ensure smooth integration and reliable operation of tooling solutions. Familiarity with camera systems, detectors, or experience in microscopy and metrology domains is highly beneficial.
This position requires a hands-on, detail-oriented engineer who can operate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment, ensuring tooling stability, usability, and alignment with production and engineering needs.
Key responsibilities include, but are not exclusively:
- Design, develop, and maintain Python-based Sherpa plugins to support configuration of camera systems in factory environments
- Implement and maintain interfaces with IOM and TSI components using Python to enable seamless communication between camera firmware and acquisition software
- Collaborate closely with camera firmware and acquisition server teams to ensure correct integration and functionality of tooling solutions
- Develop and maintain reliable, user-friendly tooling that supports factory configuration, calibration, and setup workflows
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to tool functionality, hardware-software interaction, and configuration workflows
- Support integration of camera and detector systems within tooling environments, ensuring correct parameter handling and data exchange
- Maintain and enhance existing tooling solutions, ensuring stability, performance, and ease of use
- Contribute to development and maintenance of additional internal tools, including basic to intermediate development in C#
- Ensure proper documentation of tooling functionality, interfaces, and usage guidelines to support factory and engineering teams
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (software, hardware, systems, and production) to align tooling with operational requirements
- Apply basic algorithmic understanding to support implementation, validation, and troubleshooting of tooling features
- Support testing and validation of tools in both development and production-like environments
- Participate in code reviews and follow best practices for maintainable, clean, and testable code
- Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement within factory tooling workflows
- Provide technical support to users of tooling solutions, including debugging and issue resolution
- Continuously improve tooling reliability, usability, and integration with upstream and downstream systems
Requirements:
The ideal candidate is a strong Python developer with experience in building and maintaining engineering tools, comfortable working close to hardware interfaces and within multidisciplinary environments.
- University degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 8+ years of Strong programming experience in Python, with a focus on maintainable, scalable, and clean code
- Experience developing and maintaining plugins or modular tooling solutions in Python
- Hands-on experience interfacing with external systems or hardware through Python APIs
- Experience working with or integrating IOM and TSI interfaces (or similar hardware/software communication layers)
- Basic understanding of algorithms and data processing, with the ability to apply them in practical implementations (no deep algorithmic expertise required)
- Experience developing or maintaining engineering or factory tooling solutions
- Familiarity with camera systems, detectors, or imaging technologies; experience in microscopy or metrology is a strong advantage
- Basic to intermediate programming experience in C#, with the ability to support and maintain simple tooling applications
- Experience troubleshooting issues across software and hardware interaction layers
- Strong debugging and problem-solving skills, particularly in integrated system environments
- Experience working in multidisciplinary teams, including software, firmware, hardware, and production
- Ability to understand and translate technical requirements into practical tooling solutions
- Experience writing documentation and maintaining technical knowledge bases
- Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and standard software development practices
- Experience working in Agile environments (Scrum/Kanban) is a plus
- Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in an international team
- Fluent in English (B2 level or higher)
