Software Quality Engineer

Agilent Technologies•Santa Clara, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Agilent is seeking a Software Quality Engineer (QA Engineer / Software Test Engineer) to join the Software Quality organization supporting the Automation Productivity Solutions team. This team develops integrated software‑hardware systems, laboratory automation platforms, and instrument control applications used in life science and analytical laboratories. Join our team as a Software Quality Engineer and play a vital role in developing reliable laboratory automation and instrument control solutions. Work closely with our talented software, firmware, and hardware R&D teams throughout the entire software development lifecycle. Enjoy hands-on testing in a regulated, quality-focused environment and make a direct impact on product quality. We value industry experience, but strong transferable QA and software testing skills from related technical fields are also encouraged.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (e.g., computer science, systems engineering, mechanical engineering) or life sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics), or equivalent experience in biotech, biopharma, diagnostics, or life science tools.
4+ years of experience working with laboratory equipment, scientific devices, analytical instrumentation, or complex software‑hardware systems.
Understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and quality best practices.
Experience creating and executing manual test cases based on requirements and specifications.
Familiarity with defect tracking and requirements management tools such as JIRA or similar.
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in cross‑functional, Agile or matrixed environments.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience in software quality, software testing, QA, or test engineering.
Experience testing integrated systems involving software, hardware, and firmware.
Experience with test automation tools or frameworks.
Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality standards and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.
Familiarity with scripting languages such as JavaScript, VBScript, or similar.

Responsibilities

Represent Software Quality / Quality Assurance (QA) on assigned software development projects.
Collaborate with software developers, firmware engineers, product managers, and cross‑functional teams.
Review product requirements and design documentation to ensure clarity, testability, and traceability.
Develop and maintain test plans and test cases aligned with requirements and design specifications.
Execute functional testing, integration testing, and regression testing of for instrument control software.
Perform hands-on testing of laboratory automation systems, including sample preparation, microplate handling, and liquid handling devices, as well as integration with mass spectrometers.
Identify, document, and track software defects / bugs using a defect tracking system (e.g., JIRA or equivalent).
Support software, firmware, and hardware releases, including through verification and validation activities.
Contribute to continuous improvement of quality processes, testing practices, and QA standards.