Senior Staff Engineer, Middleware and Orchestration
About The Position
We are a venture-backed, stealth-stage biotechnology company based in San Diego, focused on developing novel technologies that will redefine how disease is detected, characterized, and managed with a novel approach to clinical genomics. Our mission is to fundamentally transform healthcare through a convergence of innovation across multiple scientific disciplines. Founded by industry veterans with decades of experience in life sciences tools and diagnostics, our leadership team brings a proven track record of translating scientific insight into successful commercial products. Our investors include some of the most respected names in healthcare and deep tech. We are looking for a Senior Staff Middleware & Orchestration Engineer to design and implement the orchestration layers that coordinate this system reliably and deterministically. This role overlaps low-level embedded control and high-level application software. You will own middleware responsible for system orchestration, workflow management, and EtherCAT-based real-time coordination, enabling higher-level teams to build features without needing to understand the full complexity of the underlying hardware. This is a deeply technical, hands-on role that combines real-time distributed systems, fieldbus technology, and software architecture. You will work closely with embedded firmware, controls, robotics, and systems engineers.
Requirements
- BS/MS in Computer Science or Engineering
- 7+ years of experience in middleware, embedded systems, robotics, or distributed control software
- Hands-on experience with EtherCAT master and EtherCAT stack development or other similar fieldbus technologies (required)
- Proven experience bringing up and managing EtherCAT networks or similar fieldbus networks on real hardware
- Strong experience designing orchestration or coordination layers for distributed systems
- Expertise in C/C++ and Python
- Deep understanding of real-time constraints and synchronized systems
- Experience with distributed clocks, deterministic scheduling, and bus timing
- Strong background in designing and implementing complex state machines
- Familiarity with robotics, industrial automation, or medical device platforms
- Comfortable debugging across software, firmware, and physical bus layers
- Ability to reason from logs, bus traces, and hardware behavior
- Experience working cross-functionally with firmware, hardware, and application teams
Nice To Haves
- Experience with ROS, ROS2, or similar robotics frameworks
- Familiarity with safety-critical or regulated systems
- Experience building simulation or test frameworks for distributed systems
- Background in controls or motion systems
Responsibilities
- Orchestration & Middleware Architecture
- Design and implement orchestration middleware for a complex distributed embedded system
- Develop high-level scheduling, workflow management, and coordination layers
- Define clear abstractions that bridge real-time embedded systems and higher-level application logic
- Ensure deterministic behavior, synchronization, and fault handling across many nodes
- Architect middleware that scales as system size and complexity grow
- EtherCAT Master & Bus Management
- Own EtherCAT master integration and development
- Bring up, configure, and manage EtherCAT chains in real hardware
- Implement and maintain EtherCAT stack components, including:
- Device discovery and configuration
- Hot-connect/hot-group management
- Troubleshoot EtherCAT timing, synchronization, and communication issues
- Work directly with hardware, firmware, and field wiring during system bring-up
- System Bring-Up & Debugging
- Lead EtherCAT chain bring-up from first connection through stable operation
- Diagnose and resolve issues involving distributed clocks, topology, and bus errors
- Develop tooling and diagnostics for EtherCAT visibility and debugging
- Collaborate closely with firmware and hardware engineers during integration
- State Machines & System Control
- Design and implement robust state machines for complex systems
- Coordinate transitions across multiple distributes subsystems
- Handle error states, recovery paths, and partial system availability
- Apply best practices from robotics, automation, and medical Platforms
- APIs & Cross-functional Enablement
- Develop Python APIs that expose orchestration in a usable, intuitive way
- Implement performance-critical middleware layers in C/C++, with Python bindings where appropriate
- Enable application, test and automation teams to interact with the system safely and effectively
- Balance usability, performance, and determination in API design
Benefits
- Work in a dynamic, collaborative environment where innovation and scientific rigor are deeply valued.
- Join a seasoned and multidisciplinary team tackling high-impact problems at the intersection of science and engineering.
- Competitive compensation and equity package, comprehensive benefits, and flexibility to support work-life integration.
- We are an equal opportunity employer. We thrive on diversity and collaboration.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
