Robotics Software Engineer

UL Research Institutes is hiring a Robotics Software Engineer in Skokie, IL for an onsite role. In this position, you will design and maintain the software infrastructure that ties together laboratory automation, robotics, scientific instruments, data systems, and decision tools into coordinated autonomous workflows.

The work centers on scalable integrations and workflow orchestration, with an emphasis on sample tracking and traceability and on enabling reliable unattended operation across diverse systems and teams.

What you’ll do

• Develop and maintain software integrations for laboratory instruments, robotics, and automation platforms.
• Design and implement scalable APIs and reusable interfaces to connect heterogeneous systems.
• Build workflow orchestration for multi-step experimental processes covering synthesis, sample handling, characterization, and analysis.
• Develop and maintain sample tracking, metadata, and lineage capabilities to support experimental traceability.
• Implement scheduling, system-state management, error handling, and recovery to support reliable unattended operation.
• Integrate systems using APIs and industrial communication protocols including OPC-UA, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, and serial communication.
• Collaborate with the Data Science team on integration with scientific databases, data platforms, ML models, and decision tools.
• Support monitoring, logging, dashboards, and diagnostic tools in coordination with Data Science.
• Apply modern software engineering practices including Git, testing, CI/CD, documentation, and containerization.
• Troubleshoot and resolve software issues, and implement proactive improvements to enhance system stability.
• Partner with multidisciplinary teams to convert laboratory needs into scalable software solutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• 4+ years of experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Python and experience building production-quality software.
• Experience designing APIs and working with distributed systems, microservices, or event-driven architectures.
• Experience integrating software with hardware, robotics, instrumentation, or automation systems.
• Working knowledge of SQL/NoSQL databases and data integration.
• Knowledge of workflow orchestration, scheduling, state machines, and asynchronous systems.
• Experience with Git, automated testing, Docker, CI/CD, and software documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with an additional programming language or development framework such as C#, .NET, Java, Go, or TypeScript.
• Experience in scientific laboratories, robotics, controls, or autonomous systems is highly desirable.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, robotics, controls, or a related field.

Technologies you may work with

• Python, C#, .NET, Java, Go, TypeScript
• APIs, OPC-UA, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, serial communication
• Git, testing, CI/CD, Docker, containerization
• SQL, NoSQL, ML models

Compensation and benefits

• Salary: USD 89,602 - 123,202 per year
• Bonus compensation
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay
• Additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment
• Flexible working arrangements may be available with your manager (depending on role)
• Paid time off including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days

Pay type: Salary