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Biotech Research Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer II

Madison, WI · On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

In this role, you will develop, enhance, and maintain software that operates internally developed laboratory instruments and synthesizers in a fast-paced biotech research environment. You will work ...

New

Research Specialist Job Summary: The Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center (WCIC) at the University of ... WCIC is a ~100,000 square foot state-of-the-art agricultural biotechnology center dedicated to ...

WI · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Synergy Bioscience is a bioscience CRDMO serving pharmaceutical and biotech organizations across ... Working at the intersection of scientific rigor and applied research, the company supports ...

New

WI · On-site

$70 - $90/hr

This role involves serving as a scientific and business ambassador while managing large research ... The ideal candidate will have experience in plant biotechnology techniques, supervising teams, and ...

New

Position OverviewLead Research & Development (R&D) organization to execute on business strategies ... biotech leadership, and access to world-class academia.Fujifilm is globally headquartered in Tokyo ...

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Showing results 1-20

Biotech Research information

See Wisconsin salary details

$26K

$70.5K

$126.5K

How much do biotech research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for biotech research in Wisconsin is $70,470.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,113.00 and $91,313.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is biotech research?

Biotech research involves the use of biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop new products or processes for a variety of fields, including medicine, agriculture, and environmental management. Researchers in biotechnology explore genetic engineering, drug development, and diagnostic technologies to solve complex biological problems. This work often requires interdisciplinary knowledge in biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science. The outcomes of biotech research can lead to innovations such as new medical therapies, sustainable crops, and cleaner industrial processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in biotech research?

To thrive in Biotech Research, you need a strong background in biological sciences, laboratory techniques, and data analysis, typically supported by a degree in biotechnology, biology, or a related field. Proficiency with molecular biology tools, bioinformatics software, and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is highly valued. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills that enable success in research environments. These competencies ensure accurate experimentation, innovative problem-solving, and effective collaboration, which are crucial for advancing scientific discoveries and applications.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in biotech research, and how can they be addressed?

Biotech research professionals often encounter challenges such as managing complex experiments, meeting strict regulatory requirements, and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies. Collaboration across multidisciplinary teams can also present communication hurdles, especially when coordinating between scientists, engineers, and regulatory experts. To address these challenges, it's important to develop strong project management skills, stay updated on industry regulations, and foster open communication within the team. Many organizations also provide ongoing training and mentorship to help researchers continually build their technical expertise and collaborative abilities.

What is the difference between Biotech Research vs Biotech Laboratory Technician?

AspectBiotech ResearchBiotech Laboratory Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Biology, Biotechnology, or related fields; often requires research experienceAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, Biology, or related fields; technical training
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, biotech companies; focus on experimental design and data analysisLaboratories within biotech or pharmaceutical companies; focus on sample preparation, testing, and data recording
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in research and development, academia, biotech firmsCommon in manufacturing, quality control, and clinical testing within biotech and pharma industries

Biotech Research involves designing and conducting experiments to develop new products or understand biological processes, requiring advanced degrees and research skills. In contrast, Biotech Laboratory Technicians perform routine testing and sample analysis, often with technical diplomas. Both roles are essential in the biotech industry but differ in responsibilities, education, and work environment.

Is biotech research a stable career path?

Biotech research is generally considered a stable career due to ongoing advancements in healthcare and biotechnology industries. Job stability can depend on factors such as industry funding, technological developments, and individual skills like laboratory techniques and data analysis. Professionals with advanced degrees and specialized expertise tend to have better job security in this field.

What does a biotech research do?

A biotech researcher conducts experiments and analyzes data to develop new products or improve existing ones in fields like medicine, agriculture, or environmental science. They often work in laboratories using techniques such as DNA sequencing, cell culture, and molecular analysis, requiring strong scientific knowledge and attention to detail.

What jobs can I get after studying biotechnology?

Graduates with a background in biotechnology can pursue roles such as research scientist, quality control analyst, bioprocess technician, laboratory manager, or regulatory affairs specialist. These positions often require knowledge of laboratory techniques, data analysis, and familiarity with biotech tools and regulations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Biotech Research jobs in Wisconsin?

The most popular types of Biotech Research jobs in Wisconsin are:

What are popular job titles related to Biotech Research jobs in Wisconsin?

For Biotech Research jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Biotech Research job openings in Wisconsin as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,470 per year, or $33.9 per hour.

Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer II

AbbVie

Madison, WI • On-site

$123K - $162K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New


AbbVie rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 101 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Join the Madison Peptide Therapeutics (MPT) Engineering team as a Senior Software Instrumentation Engineer and help advance cutting-edge peptide array synthesis technology. In this role, you will develop, enhance, and maintain software that operates internally developed laboratory instruments and synthesizers in a fast-paced biotech research environment. 

You will work at the intersection of software, hardware, and science, applying your expertise in Linux-based C++ development to interface with sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other electronic devices. Your work will support instrument operation, system performance, data visibility, workflow efficiency, and product quality. 

This role also contributes to workflow applications that enable operators to configure and run instruments, as well as software tools that support quality and compliance processes. As a senior member of an Agile engineering team, you will help solve complex technical challenges, lead initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and deliver reliable solutions that increase throughput, reduce cost, and advance scientific capabilities. 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Design, develop, test, troubleshoot, and maintain Linux-based software for internally developed peptide array synthesizers and laboratory instrumentation. 
  • Develop and integrate machine-control software for sensors, actuators, pumps, motors, cameras, and other electronic devices. 
  • Apply software engineering expertise across system architecture, programming, data integration, machine control, data analysis, and visualization. 
  • Define and execute software testing and validation activities to ensure the quality, reliability, performance, and maintainability of instrument software. 
  • Support the deployment, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of software applications in a biotech research and manufacturing environment. 
  • May lead technical initiatives and mentor junior engineers, contributing to design decisions, technical direction, knowledge sharing, and team development. 
  • Design and conduct experiments, engineering studies, and system characterization activities to evaluate instrument behavior and inform design improvements. 
  • Collaborate with cross-functional partners, including scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, operations managers, quality personnel, and IT staff, to gather requirements and deliver effective solutions. 
  • Follow software development best practices, including version control, coding standards, code reviews, automated testing, documentation, Agile planning, and lifecycle management. 
  • Communicate technical information clearly through design documentation, engineering reports, presentations, status updates, and discussions with engineering leadership and project stakeholders. 

You will be accountable for delivering robust, maintainable, and compliant software solutions within your assigned technical scope while helping ensure that instrument systems meet operational, quality, safety, data-security, and business requirements. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree with10+ years of relevant experience, master's degree with8+ years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. with4+ years of relevant experience. 

  • Proficiency inC and C++ development in a Linux environment. 

  • Strong understanding of object lifecycles and manual memory management in C/C++, including: 

  • Pointers and dynamic memory allocation 

  • Ownership and object lifetimes 

  • Memory leaks 

  • Dangling pointers and use-after-free errors 

  • Deallocation and resource cleanup 

  • At least2 years of experience developing software for laboratory, scientific, medical, or other complex instrumentation. 

  • Understanding of software architecture and core technical concepts, including: 

  • Service-oriented architecture 

  • Multithreading and concurrency 

  • Semaphores, mutual exclusion, and synchronization 

  • XML and JSON messaging 

  • Familiarity with software development methodologies and demonstrated commitment to Agile practices. 

  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and collaboration skills. 

  • Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment involving software, hardware, science, operations, and quality functions. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Proficiency in one or more additional programming languages, such asPython, C#, or Java. 

  • Experience with electronics, embedded systems, or machine-control applications. 

  • Experience interfacing with devices usingRS-232, RS-485, TCP/IP, or similar communication protocols. 

  • Experience integrating withTecan, Hamilton, or comparable liquid-handling platforms. 

  • Experience with AI-assisted software development, machine learning, or data-driven engineering applications. 

  • Experience usingGit and GitHubfor source-code management and collaborative development. 

  • Experience with one or more database technologies, including: 

  • Windows software development 

  • Relational databases 

  • Graph databases 

  • Time-series databases 

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: 

  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this roleat  the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors  including  geographic location, and we may ultimately  pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be  modified in the future. 

  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

  • This job is eligible to  participate in our short-term incentive programs. 

Note: No amount of pay is  considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned,  vested,  and determinable. The amount and availability of  any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable to a   particular employee  remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be  modified at the Company's sole and absolutediscretion,  consistent with applicable law. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html


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About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013