Laboratory Application Automation Engineer

Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic, and labelling is accurate. Eurofins is dedicated to delivering testing services that contribute to the health and safety of society and the planet, and to its corporate responsibility to protect the environment and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire network of Eurofins companies. The Laboratory Automation Software Engineer will design and develop software applications that power laboratory automation systems, robotic work cells, collaborative robots (cobots), laboratory instruments, and connected industrial devices. This role is focused on building the software layer that enables communication, orchestration, monitoring, and control of automated laboratory operations. The engineer will develop user interfaces, device drivers, APIs, and integration services that connect robotic platforms, instruments, ovens, scanners, sensors, actuators, PLCs, and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). The ideal candidate combines software engineering expertise with industrial automation experience and enjoys solving complex integration challenges in laboratory environments. Key Responsibilities Application Development: Design, develop, test, and maintain software applications used to operate laboratory automation systems. Build modern web-based and desktop user interfaces for laboratory operators, technicians, and engineering staff. Develop software solutions for workflow management, instrument control, sample tracking, and process monitoring. Create dashboards, status monitoring tools, alarm handling, and reporting applications. Device & Robotics Integration: Develop and maintain communication interfaces for: Collaborative robots (cobots) Robotic systems Laboratory instruments Ovens and environmental chambers Barcode and QR code scanners Sensors and actuators PLC-controlled equipment Vision systems Create and maintain device drivers, APIs, and middleware connectors. Integrate automation systems with laboratory and enterprise software platforms. System Architecture & Connectivity: Design scalable software architectures that support laboratory automation ecosystems. Develop integrations with: LIMS Instrument data systems Manufacturing and laboratory databases Cloud-hosted applications Enterprise applications Implement communication protocols such as: REST APIs OPC-UA MQTT TCP/IP Serial communications Modbus Workflow Automation: Develop applications supporting: Instrument maintenance tracking Digital work instructions QR/barcode-based workflows Equipment utilization monitoring Sample lifecycle management Automated data collection and reporting Improve traceability and data integrity through automation solutions. Testing, Validation & Support: Perform software testing, debugging, and validation activities. Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues. Support deployment, commissioning, and production startup activities. Participate in root cause investigations and continuous improvement initiatives. Documentation: Create and maintain technical documentation including: Software architecture documents Interface specifications Device communication standards User guides Installation and troubleshooting procedures Education Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering or Automation Engineering.  Equivalent professional experience will also be considered. Experience 3+ years of software development experience in automation, robotics, industrial systems, laboratory systems, or related fields. Experience developing user interfaces for equipment, industrial systems, or laboratory applications. Experience creating hardware communication interfaces, device drivers, or system integrations. Experience integrating software with robotic systems, industrial equipment, laboratory instruments, or PLCs. Technical Skills Strong experience with several of the following: Programming Languages Python C# .NET JavaScript / TypeScript C++ Application Development Web application frameworks (Django, Blazor, Angular) Desktop application development REST API development Database design and SQL Automation & Integration Robotics integration Device communications Industrial network protocols PLC communications Machine-to-machine communications Database & Data Systems Microsoft SQL Server PostgreSQL MySQL SQLite Data collection and reporting systems Problem Solving Ability to diagnose and resolve complex software, integration, and automation issues. Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities. Communication Ability to work effectively across software, automation, laboratory, operations, and engineering teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Secure Development Practices Secure application development following established software security best practices. Input validation, data sanitization, authentication, authorization, and role-based access control. Secure handling of credentials, secrets, configuration, and sensitive data. Awareness of common application security vulnerabilities, including injection, broken access control, and insecure data handling. Use of dependency management, code reviews, and security-focused testing to reduce software vulnerabilities. Preferred Qualifications Experience with one or more of the following: Universal Robots (UR) ABB robotics Vision systems and machine vision Laboratory automation systems LIMS integra