Instrumentation Software Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Staff Software Engineer

Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)

Group: Analyzer Product Group (APG), Engineering

Role Summary

Picarro is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to take a leading role in architecting and developing the low-level software that powers our advanced Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) instrumentation.

In this role, you'll serve as a hands-on technical leader-defining system architecture, driving implementation of software on multi-compute platforms, and ensuring seamless integration between FPGA and microcontroller firmware and higher-level software. Your focus will be on PCIe driver development to enable communication between the Linux operating systems and Picarro's proprietary mixed analog and digital hardware devices, utilizing Linux kernel-level tools to manage hardware registers, DMA, and interrupts, to enable highly performant continuous spectrometer operation. You'll influence design decisions across teams, mentor engineers, and help shape the future of Picarro's firmware and software stack.

This position is ideal for an experienced engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and software-someone who brings both strategic vision and strong technical execution.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of Linux-based systems, including device drivers, services, and communication interfaces
• Define and maintain system-level interfaces between firmware, FPGA modules, and high-level applications
• Drive platform-level decisions related to performance, reliability, scalability, and maintainability
• Champion best practices for software design, code quality, and modular architecture

Hands-On Software Development

• Develop robust, high-performance C/C++ code for Linux.
• Experience with real-time operating systems is desirable.
• Contribute to board bring-up, hardware abstraction layers, and low-level device integration
• Troubleshoot complex system-level issues spanning hardware, firmware, and software boundaries
• Implement comprehensive unit and system-level testing to ensure high product reliability

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with hardware, firmware, and application teams to deliver cohesive system solutions
• Partner with product and systems engineering teams to evaluate trade-offs and optimize designs
• Engage with external vendors or consultants for specialized firmware and driver components

Mentorship & Technical Influence

• Mentor engineers in advanced embedded development techniques and system design principles
• Serve as a subject matter expert and thought leader within the embedded systems domain
• Influence technical direction and elevate engineering standards across the organization

Engineering Process & Quality

• Drive adoption of modern embedded development practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and version control
• Participate in and lead technical reviews-ensuring architectural integrity and alignment with long-term goals
• Ensure compliance with internal quality metrics and external regulatory standards

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• BS/MS in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 12+ years of experience in embedded systems software design and development, with proven success delivering complex, production-grade systems
• Demonstrated experience leading major technical initiatives or system architectures within embedded platforms or instrumentation

Technical Expertise

• Expert in C/C++ programming for embedded Linux and/or real-time systems
• Deep understanding of Linux kernel, device drivers, and hardware bring-up
• Experience with communication with embedded HW and FW, including microcontrollers and FPGAs
• Experience with Python, including bindings to C / C++, middleware development, and  scripting for automation and testing
• Extensive experience with PCIe device driver development, including FW integration, register mapping, DMA, and interrupts.
• Experience with system-level performance tuning, debugging, and optimization
• Proficient with modern tools: Git, Jira, CI/CD pipelines, and embedded debugging environments

Soft Skills & Leadership

• Strong ability to lead by influence-aligning teams around technical direction without formal management authority
• Excellent communication and documentation skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to problem-solving

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software for laser-based systems, analytical instrumentation, or similar complex hardware platforms
• Knowledge of software compliance and regulatory requirements
• Prior experience improving system-level design processes and mentoring teams on scalable low-level and mixed firmware/software architectures

The base salary range for this full-time position is $200K to $220K. 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, qualifications, 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.)

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 disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.