Python Developer - Windows Automation and Lab Instrumentation

Job Description

Python Developer – Windows Automation & Lab Instrumentation

Location : Raleigh, NC (On-site / Hybrid preferred)

Type : Contract

We are seeking a high-caliber Python Developer to lead the development of a modern, browser-based automation layer replacing legacy scheduling systems (Chronos). This is a mission-critical role at the intersection of software engineering and scientific instrumentation.

You will be responsible for building the Windows-based automation service that controls Thermo Fisher Xcalibur mass spectrometry software. Unlike standard web development, this role involves programmatically managing physical hardware, reverse-engineering vendor interfaces, and ensuring extreme reliability in a production laboratory environment. Your work will directly prevent sample loss and modernize complex scientific workflows.

Key Responsibilities

• Instrumentation Control : Develop Python services to interface with Thermo Xcalibur via Windows COM / ActiveX and Thermo Foundation libraries.
• Workflow Automation : Programmatically generate sequences, manage acquisition queues, and handle the lifecycle of ActiveX states and retries.
• Advanced Monitoring : Build logic to detect failures in real-time by analyzing .raw file growth, size patterns, and automation events.
• Fault-Tolerant Execution : Design "pause / resume / skip" logic for 96-well plate mappings to ensure failed samples are addressed without reprocessing completed data.
• System Integration : Connect the local automation service to a browser-based UI, robotic hardware signals, and job queues.
• Observability : Implement deep logging and Microsoft Teams alert integrations to maintain a 5–10 year software lifecycle.

Required Skill Set

Core Technical Expertise :

Domain Knowledge :

Preferred (Bonus) Skills :

Why This Role?

This isn’t a standard "CRUD" application. You will be building the "brain" of a laboratory, interacting with high-end scientific instruments and solving deep technical challenges involving hardware-software synchronization. Your code will have a tangible impact on the efficiency and accuracy of scientific testing.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.