Senior R&D Software Architect - Ion Chromatography

Thermo Fisher Scientific's Ion Chromatography and Sample Preparation (ICSP) team is seeking a Senior R&D Software Architect to provide technical leadership in the architecture of embedded software for next-generation ion chromatography laboratory instruments.

This role is part of a strategic NPI (New Product Introduction) initiative focused on developing a new generation platform for chromatographic instruments. This is not about maintaining or incrementally improving existing solutions, but a complete redesign of a system currently built on approximately 15-year-old electronics.

The goal is to create a modern, scalable platform by leveraging new technologies to significantly improve performance, functionality, and overall system architecture. The work involves developing software for high-precision analytical instruments, combining advanced hardware, reliability, and complex system integration.

This is a multi-year program, offering long-term stability and the opportunity to shape architecture across multiple phases of development—from early design through to commercialization.

What will you do?

You will define and drive the software architecture for embedded and distributed systems, establishing a scalable, secure, and maintainable foundation for next-generation analytical instruments.

Architecture Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the definition and evolution of software architecture across firmware, device drivers, middleware, and embedded UI/backend components
• Evaluate architectural alternatives and trade-offs (performance, security, maintainability, regulatory impact) and drive decision-making across cross-functional teams
• Define and enforce architectural principles, design patterns, interface contracts, and coding standards aligned with long-term platform strategy

System Design & Integration

• Translate system-level requirements into scalable and maintainable architectures in collaboration with Product Management, Systems Engineering, Hardware, and UI/UX teams
• Ensure end-to-end system design covering data flows, interfaces, deployment models, and integration across hardware and software layers
• Design for robustness and reliability, including deterministic behavior, fault tolerance, and uninterrupted instrument operation

Security, Compliance & Quality

• Design secure-by-default systems, including authentication, encrypted communication, and secure update mechanisms
• Ensure alignment with regulatory and cybersecurity requirements through traceability, documentation, and design controls
• Define architecture approaches that support testability, maintainability, and long-term product quality

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to software and firmware engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and problem-solving
• Partner with global R&D teams to align architectural strategy across sites and products
• Influence technical direction across teams without direct authority

DevOps & Engineering Productivity

• Collaborate with DevOps to define CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, static analysis, and reproducible builds for embedded systems
• Leverage modern development tools, including AI-assisted approaches, to improve design exploration, code quality, and engineering efficiency

Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience); MS preferred
• Extensive experience in software development with strong focus on embedded systems, including architectural design and technical leadership
• Proven experience designing and delivering complex, multi-layered systems spanning embedded and application layers
• Strong expertise in Embedded Linux, including user space, system services, and hardware interaction
• Proficiency in C/C++ and/or modern systems programming languages
• Solid understanding of networking and communication protocols (TCP/IP, REST, secure transport)
• Experience designing modular, scalable, and maintainable architectures for resource-constrained systems
• Experience with secure development practices, including authentication, encryption (e.g., TLS), and secure update mechanisms
• Familiarity with modern development practices and toolchains (Git, code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD, cross-compilation environments)
• Experience in regulated, safety-critical, or quality-driven environments (e.g., medical devices, laboratory instruments, industrial systems) preferred
• Strong ability to translate requirements into architecture and clearly document system design (e.g., diagrams, models, interfaces)
• Proven ability to influence technical decisions across teams without direct authority
• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
• Analytical, systems-thinking mindset with strong problem-solving skills
• Interest in leveraging AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering productivity and quality