Senior Software Engineer

Location: Santa Clara, CA (primarily onsite, occasional remote flexibility) 

Group: Analyzer Product Group (APG), Engineering

Role Summary

Picarro is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to architect and build software for our advanced Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) instrumentation. You'll own major components of our software stack, work closely with hardware and firmware teams, and drive technical decisions that impact product performance and reliability.

This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving complex problems across the full software stack and want to work on scientific instrumentation used worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

Software Architecture & Development

• Design and implement software systems, APIs, and services for CRDS instrumentation
• Own system architecture decisions and drive technical direction
• Write clean, testable, production-ready code in Python, C++, or related languages
• Build data pipelines and analysis tools for instrument calibration and performance

Integration & Collaboration

• Collaborate with firmware, hardware, and systems engineering teams
• Implement interfaces between high-level software and embedded systems
• Work with QA to ensure comprehensive test coverage

Engineering Process & Quality

• Implement CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and code quality checks
• Lead code reviews and mentor junior engineers
• Drive adoption of modern development practices and tools

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of software development experience shipping production systems
• Track record of owning and delivering major software components

Technical Expertise

• Strong proficiency in Python; experience with C/C++ or similar systems languages
• Experience with system design, APIs, and service architectures
• Solid understanding of testing practices (unit, integration, system)
• Familiarity with CI/CD, Git, and modern development workflows
• Experience with databases, data processing, and analysis tools

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration across technical teams
• Ability to balance technical excellence with practical delivery
• Self-directed with good judgment on technical trade-offs

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in instrumentation, scientific software, or embedded systems
• Knowledge of software-hardware interfaces
• Experience in regulated environments (FDA, ISO)
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools

Salary & Benefits

The base salary range for this full-time position is $140K to $180K. Our total compensation packages include base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
• Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• 401K
• Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
• On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)

About Picarro

We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.

At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.

At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at [email protected] for assistance.