Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

PerkinElmer is a global analytical services and solutions provider with offerings including the leading OneSource Field and Laboratory services business that serve the biopharma, food, environmental, safety and applied end markets to accelerate scientific outcomes. Since 1937, PerkinElmer has served as a trusted partner in laboratory analysis and management and today complements its service offerings with a broad portfolio of analytical solutions and OneSource services.

We are seeking a strong technical leader to drive the development of next-generation scientific instrumentation. This role requires a unique individual who can bridge the gap between complex physical principles and robust software architecture.

The Principal Software Engineer will lead the technical direction for Software, Firmware, and ideally Electronics within the R&D group. You will be responsible for translating high-level user requirements and physical phenomena into technical specifications, architectural designs, and production-ready code. You will operate within a multidisciplinary project team, extending existing platforms and creating new product designs that aim to drive significant market growth. This position demands more than just data science capabilities; it requires a fundamental understanding of physics to model instrument behavior, control opto-mechanical systems, and interpret scientific data correctly.

This role is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week at our offices in High Wycombe.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Lead the architecture and design of software systems across the full stack—from embedded firmware (C/C++) controlling hardware to high-level application software (C#/.NET).
• Team Leadership: Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and leadership to a team comprising Software, Firmware, and Electronics Engineers.
• Physics-Based Development: Apply a strong understanding of physics to develop algorithms that turn raw sensor data into actionable scientific insight. This involves signal processing, instrument control loops, and physical modeling rather than purely statistical data analysis.
• System Integration: Work closely with hardware engineers to bring up new boards, debug complex opto-electronic systems, and ensure seamless integration between hardware and software.
• Innovation: Propose technology concepts involved in next-generation product development, specifically focusing on thermal analysis and materials characterization.
• Collaboration: Responsible for the low-level software coding and algorithms and manufacturing support and collaborate with cross-functional for high level application coding

Qualifications Required:

• Education: Honors degree in Physics, Mathematics, or Engineering (with a strong Physics component) is strictly required. Note: A pure Computer Science degree without a strong scientific/physics background will not be sufficient.
• Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of commercial software experience, with a proven track record in comprehensive system development
• Tech Stack: Expert-level proficiency in C# /.NET and strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems/firmware.
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring multi-disciplinary technical teams (Software and Firmware/Electronics).
• Domain Knowledge: Experience in scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, or a similar high-technology environment where software interacts physically with hardware.

• Hardware Interface: Deep understanding of communication protocols (I2C, SPI, USB, Ethernet) and the ability to read schematics/datasheets to aid in firmware development and hardware debugging.
• Strategy & Process: Define software development standards, drive Agile/Scrum processes, and implement CI/CD pipelines to ensure operational excellence and product quality.

Desirable:

• Experience running a multi discipline team
• Experience with signal processing (FFT, digital filtering) and image processing.
• Knowledge of MATLAB or Python for algorithm prototyping.
• Experience with mobile cross-platform tools (Xamarin/MAUI) or cloud connectivity (Azure/AWS) for IoT-enabled instruments.
• AI champion

Preferred Characteristics

• Strong Leader: Ability to inspire confidence and drive technical decisions within a complex engineering environment.
• Physicist Mindset: A "first principles" thinker who understands why the data looks the way it does, not just how to process it.
• Analytical thinking driven by data.
• Ability to see both the small and the big picture.
• Possessing strong organizational skills.
• Problem solving aptitude involves both creative and pragmatic resolutions.
• Adaptable to change.