Principal Software Development Engineer

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche.

At Roche, we are working to make next-generation sequencing simple and accessible enough for routine use. By accelerating clinical research, streamlining workflows, and expanding assay menus, we are broadening access to genomic data and lowering barriers to adoption. From robust sample isolation and preparation tools to novel sequencing technology and advanced bioinformatics, we are developing differentiated, highly integrated end-to-end solutions for next-generation sequencing, resulting in a sample in, result out workflow.

Our Verification and Validation team, a part of Roche Sequencing Solutions, is responsible for ensuring a software product meets its specified requirements and performs as intended by rigorously testing and analyzing the software throughout its development lifecycle. 

As a Principal Software Developer in Test, you will be responsible for test design, development, automation, deployment, execution, and reporting. Specifically, you will develop an integrated hardware-software framework for end-to-end test automation that leverages a third-party Hardware-in-the-Loop solution. In this role, you will represent quality engineering and verification on behalf of your team in all events and activities related to this effort, working closely with software and hardware engineers across multiple global locations.

The Opportunity

• You develop solutions for Hardware-in-the-Loop testing for end-to-end testing of embedded instrument software

• You author and confirm correctness of requirements-driven tests, covering aspects including:

  • Testing approaches (exploratory, white box, black box, etc.)

  • Testing level (end-to-end, system, integration, unit, etc.)

  • Testing types (functional, performance, scalability, etc.)

• You automate and execute front-end and back-end tests, covering for:

  • Instrument software

  • Web applications

• You automate deployment and testing pipelines across branches and stages

• You report quality metrics and enhancing quality dashboards

• You perform root cause analysis of defects and discoveries

• You develop automation frameworks and validate automation toolchains

• You ensure regulatory compliance of quality engineering deliverables

• You partner with Test Architects, Test Leads, and Verification & Validation Leads on practices

• You collaborate with designers, architects, developers, system engineers and testers on product development

• You participate in all development events, and activities and guide junior testing team members as needed

• Technologies which may be utilized: C++, Java, Cucumber (Behavior-Driven Development), Gherkin, Playwright, Windows, Cypress/JDI/Selenium/WebDriver/TestNG, Typescript/Javascript, Angular, Docker, Jenkins, Groovy, Bash, Jira, Github, Confluence, Google Suite, macOS/Linux, MS SQL, Vector HIL Solutions

Who You Are

• You have a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related. Advanced degree preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, with three years of experience for each year of missing education

• You have 10+ years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience with Java, Javascript, C++/Object-oriented programming, software architecture, networking, and distributed systems, and/or UNIX/NT development

• You have a minimum of 5 years of software development experience with exposure to instrument control programming

• You have 4+ years of experience in quality engineering or similar field

• You have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to debug complex issues at the software/hardware interface

• You have expert knowledge of core software engineering concepts, object-oriented programming, and the software development life cycle

• You have experience in regulated industries, specifically Medical Devices/Digital Health/Lifesciences (preferred)

• You have strong experience or exposure to technical capabilities such as: 

  • Programming proficiency in C++, Java, and Python

  • Multi-threaded programming, real-time control algorithms, and concurrent systems

  • Message passing design patterns

  • Automating front-end and back-end applications, automation frameworks and corresponding languages

  • Development and deployment on Unix derivatives

  • Behavior-Driven Development and Gherkin specifications

  • Agile methodologies including Scrum and Scaled Agile Framework

  • Experience with databases including writing queries

• You have excellent communication skills, both written and oral

Work Environment and Role Expectations
This role combines software testing responsibilities with hands-on interaction in a lab environment where our medical device systems are built, integrated, and verified. While many tasks—such as test planning, automation development, and documentation—are completed in an office setting, a significant portion of the work involves executing and troubleshooting software tests directly on physical hardware in a lab.

Candidates should be comfortable working around electromechanical systems, automated instruments. Lab work may include initiating test runs, collecting data from real devices, analyzing system behavior, and collaborating closely with software, hardware, systems, and manufacturing teams.

Locations

This position is based in Santa Clara, CA.

Relocation benefits are not available.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Santa Clara is $165,800 to $307,900.  Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.  A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.  This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.