Software Development Engineer IV - Algorithms and Scientific Data

Bruker is a leading analytical instrumentation company that enables scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve human life. The company is seeking a hands-on Staff Software Engineer to design, implement, validate, and productize algorithms for scientific data analysis in production Windows software for atomic force microscope systems. This role combines algorithm development, instrument integration, and technical leadership across a cross-functional engineering team.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, validate, optimize, and deploy algorithms that turn AFM, image, sensor, and metrology data into robust measurements and insights
• Develop production algorithm and application software using modern C++/STL, C#, .NET, WPF, and Python where appropriate
• Apply signal processing, image processing, numerical methods, statistical analysis, pattern recognition, and machine learning to challenging real-world measurement problems
• Translate research concepts and prototypes into maintainable, testable, high-performance product software with clear requirements and measurable performance
• Build validation strategies using representative datasets, quantitative metrics, uncertainty analysis, and regression tests; clearly communicate algorithm limits and tradeoffs
• Integrate algorithms into multithreaded Windows applications and instrument workflows spanning data acquisition, hardware control, processing, persistence, visualization, and automation
• Own architecture for new analysis capabilities and guide their integration into a mature product codebase through sound interfaces, layering, refactoring, and incremental delivery
• Lead technical investigations and collaborate with applications scientists, systems, hardware, test, and software engineers throughout the product development cycle
• Remain deeply hands-on while providing technical direction and raising algorithm and software 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 and scientific judgment to all generated work

Requirements:

• Santa Barbara, California, or fully remote
• Remote employees must be able to collaborate effectively with a Santa Barbara-based team with no more than a three-hour time difference
• Remote employees may be asked to travel to Santa Barbara up to two times per year
• This is a scientific algorithms, Windows desktop, and instrumentation software position
• It is not a web, mobile, data-platform, or cloud application development role
• Candidates whose experience is primarily web application development or cloud data engineering will not meet the core requirements
• The successful candidate will bring meaningful production experience with AI coding agents and will be expected to use and advance these workflows responsibly
• • 5+ years of professional experience developing production software, scientific algorithms, or data-analysis systems
• • 3+ years of hands-on Windows application development using both C#/.NET/WPF and modern C++/STL
• • Strong foundation in at least two of the following: signal processing, image processing, numerical methods, statistical analysis, pattern recognition, computer vision, or machine learning
• • Demonstrated ability to implement algorithms in C++, C#, or Python and to move them from exploration into tested, maintainable production software
• • Experience defining quantitative validation methods and evaluating algorithm accuracy, robustness, performance, and failure modes using real-world data
• • Strong object-oriented design, API design, debugging, data-structure, and performance-optimization skills
• • Experience with multithreaded or asynchronous software and computationally intensive data processing
• • Demonstrated architecture ownership and technical leadership across algorithm, application, or product boundaries
• • Meaningful, regular use of GitHub Copilot or comparable AI coding agents on production software. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples spanning multiple development activities and how they ensure technical correctness and maintainability
• • Ability to collaborate clearly with engineers and scientists, communicate complex technical ideas and risks, and lead technical work without direct authority
• • A BS in a related field combined with significant relevant industry, instrumentation, algorithm-development, or research experience will be considered
• • When working onsite, ability to lift and move equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation
• • Ability and willingness to work periodically in a Class 1000 cleanroom using full gowning protocol and laboratory-appropriate attire. These requirements also apply to remote employees during onsite visits
• • MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field is strongly preferred
• • Experience with scientific instrumentation, semiconductor metrology, atomic force microscopy, optical spectroscopy, robotics, machine vision, motion control, nano-positioning, or automated test equipment
• • Experience developing algorithms for noisy sensor data, microscopy images, surface measurements, anomaly detection, feature extraction, classification, segmentation, reconstruction, or calibration
• • Experience applying machine learning to physical measurements and working with limited, imbalanced, or imperfectly labeled scientific datasets
• • Knowledge of control systems, estimation, system identification, experimental design, or measurement uncertainty
• • Experience with C++/CLI, managed/native interoperability, MFC, or integrating Python-based research code with production C++ or .NET applications
• • Experience using architectural layering across hardware interfaces, acquisition, analysis, persistence, and desktop presentation layers
• • Experience with Scrum or another Agile development approach and a record of improving practical engineering processes
• • Experience making effective use of both VS Code and Visual Studio in a Windows development environment