Development Engineer - Software

Materials Analysis is an Oxford Instruments Business Unit that manages our Electron Microscopy and Mechanical Microscopy products, Atomic Force Microscopes, Raman Microscopes and Benchtop NMR Products. We are part of the wider Oxford Instruments Group that also includes Andor Technology, NanoScience, Plasma Technology and X-Ray Technology. With a sixty-year history, and fourteen Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, our world-class products and technologies are helping our customers to address the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

We are hiring a Software Development Engineer to join our nanoindenter team in Buchs, Switzerland. This role will appeal to someone who enjoys combining hands-on science with creative software engineering. You’ll thrive here if you love designing intuitive user interfaces, writing and testing control and analysis software, and seeing your code come to life in precision instruments. It’s a great fit for someone who values variety—one day you might be coding in LabVIEW or C, the next refining a user manual or taking real measurements on nanoindenters to validate your work. If you’re motivated by innovation, collaboration across disciplines, and the satisfaction of building tools that advance materials science at the nanoscale, this is the perfect opportunity.

Key responsibilities:

• Design and develop user-friendly control and data analysis software for our nanoindentation and mechanical testing systems.
• Develop and maintain software using NI LabVIEW and potentially C++ and C#.
• Develop and maintain embedded firmware using C.
• Debug software, write and execute test plans, and ensure solutions meet quality standards.
• Create concepts for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to improve the user experience and ease of use.
• Collaborate with electronics and hardware engineering teams to ensure smooth system integration.
• Document software designs, processes, and test results, ensuring clarity for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support production teams and customer support engineers in resolving technical issues related to software.
• Contribute to the creation and refinement of software user manuals.

What we are looking for:

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, with a strong focus on experimental work.

• Expertise in software development using NI LabVIEW and C.
• Expertise in metrology and familiarity with scientific instrumentation.
• Proficiency in software debugging and testing methodologies.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

• Desired (optional): Experience with C++ or C#; Experience with embedded software development for mechatronic systems; Expertise in electronics design, soldering, and testing.

Next steps:

Please submit your application to include your CV and a covering letter. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an exploratory call to find out more about the role and the interview process. If you would like any additional information before applying, please reach out to abby.gelder@oxinst.com

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