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.
The PositionAdvances in AI, data, and computational sciences are transforming drug discovery and development. Roche’s Research and Early Development organisations at Genentech (gRED) and Pharma (pRED) have demonstrated how these technologies accelerate R&D, leveraging data and novel computational models to drive impact. Seamless data sharing and access to
models across gRED and pRED are essential to maximising these opportunities. The newComputational Sciences Center of Excellence (CoE) is a strategic, unified group whose goal is to harness this transformative power of data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist our scientists in both pRED and gRED to deliver more innovative and transformative medicines for patients Worldwide.
Within the CoE organisation, the Data and Digital Catalyst (DDC) organisation drives the modernisation of our computational and data ecosystems and integration of digital technologies across Research and Early Development to enable our stakeholders, power data-driven science and accelerate decision-making.
As a senior lab automation software engineer, you will be the essential link to the automation scientists in the lab. Using your background in both software development and hardware integration, you will work with a team of software-focused engineers to build, test and do what is needed to bring the software and hardware layers into production.
The OpportunityTo excel in this role, you will bridge the gap between complex software engineering and laboratory research in drug discovery through the following responsibilities:
Design, program and troubleshoot high-throughput lab workflows.
Build orchestration systems, hardware abstraction layers, and instrument drivers that manage retries and allow unattended operation.
Implement logging, metrics, and alerts across hardware and software to identify failures. Fix root causes using software or vision models instead of relying on manual workarounds or vendor support.
Build systems to maintain a digital representation of the lab, including sample identity, instrument state, and resource availability. Connect instruments via APIs and integrate with LIMS and ELNs.
Manage hardware requirements, site constraints, reagent selection, and work cell integration from initial design to deployment.
Work directly with software engineers, automation scientists, and hardware engineers to turn scientific processes into technical architectures.
You have 5+ years of experience in software engineering and hardware integration.
Experienced in programming commercial liquid-handling or laboratory automation platforms and integrating robotic manipulators.
Proficient in C# or Python for building software and integration frameworks.
Familiar with molecular biology, biochemistry, or wet lab workflows to help translate scientific needs into engineering solutions.
Prototyping design experience, including CNC milling, laser cutting, and CAD.
A clear communicator who collaborates with scientists and multidisciplinary teams to build complete solutions.
Skilled at using APIs and SDKs to interact with complex laboratory software ecosystems.
Experienced in designing workflow orchestration or scheduling systems that manage shared resources, dependencies, and priorities.
Skilled with computer vision models (such as OpenCV, YOLO, or SAM) for automated error handling and object or anomaly detection.
Experienced in training, evaluating, or adopting AI/ML models, including reinforcement or imitation learning for robotics.
Capable of building and evaluating AI-enabled systems, defining evals, establishing guardrails for determinism versus nondeterminism, and measuring reliability.
Knowledgeable about sensors, microcontrollers, and task-and-motion planning.
Familiar with cloud infrastructure and digital twin simulation.
A cover letter is not necessary, you will be required to fill a questionnaire.
Ready to take the next step? We'd love to hear from you. Apply now to explore this exciting opportunity! #ComputationCoE
Where pay transparency applies, details are provided based on the primary posting location. For this role, the primary location is Basel. If you are interested in additional locations where the role may be available, we will provide the relevant compensation details later in the hiring process.Who we are
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.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in software engineering and hardware integration
- Experience programming commercial liquid-handling or laboratory automation platforms
- Experience integrating robotic manipulators
- Proficiency in C# or Python
- Familiarity with molecular biology, biochemistry, or wet-lab workflows
- Prototyping experience including CNC milling, laser cutting, and CAD
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with multidisciplinary teams
- Experience using APIs and SDKs with laboratory software ecosystems
- Experience designing workflow orchestration or scheduling systems
- Experience with computer vision models such as OpenCV, YOLO, or SAM
- Experience training, evaluating, or adopting AI/ML models, including reinforcement or imitation learning for robotics
- Experience building and evaluating AI-enabled systems, defining evaluations, guardrails, and reliability measures
- Knowledge of sensors, microcontrollers, and task-and-motion planning
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and digital twin simulation
Roche Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Roche and has not been reviewed or approved by Roche.
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Retirement Support — U.S. materials describe a 401(k) with both matching and an additional company contribution, supported by formal plan documents and true‑up features. This structure is positioned as a standout element of the total package, particularly at Genentech.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time‑off provisions include substantial vacation, a year‑end shutdown, and a paid six‑week sabbatical after six years. These elements indicate a recharge‑oriented approach within the U.S. offering.
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials emphasize comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and mental‑health resources alongside well‑being programs. Benefits pages consistently highlight breadth across core health coverage elements.
Roche Insights
What We Do
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry ten years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
