Staff Engineer, Software Test

Thermo Fisher Scientific • South San Francisco, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

As part of the Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing software team, the Staff Engineer, Software Test helps ensure the quality, reliability, and compliance of software used in Ion Torrent semiconductor DNA sequencing product lines. The role focuses on testing embedded instrument control software and its integration with server and web applications, including system-level and integration testing across instrument software, backend services, web applications, databases, and connected workflows.

The position participates in requirements reviews, risk analysis, test planning, defect investigation, and verification activities for research-use-only (RUO) and diagnostic products. Its work supports ensuring software is fit for intended use, mitigates identified risks, and meets applicable quality and regulatory expectations. The position is in the Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing division in South San Francisco, California, and has a standard Monday–Friday schedule in a laboratory setting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of software testing experience, or a Master’s degree and 6+ years of software testing experience.
• Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of the software development life cycle and software testing life cycle.
• Good understanding of testing methodologies, including regression, sanity, performance, and feature verification testing.
• Good understanding of software testing best practices.
• Experience writing test plans and test cases and simulating test data for software verification of medical devices.
• Experience in new product development from product realization through product launch.
• Prior experience with Agile software development methodology.
• Experience using HP ALM and Jira.
• Strong expertise in Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Self-motivation, problem-solving ability, organizational skills, and a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to deliver quality results on time in a highly ethical and professional manner.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience testing embedded instrument control software.

Responsibilities

• Define the scope of testing for each software release involving web applications and embedded instrument control software.
• Participate in writing EPICs and user stories in JIRA by gathering requirements from Product Management, System Engineering, Molecular Biology, and global support teams.
• Write test plans covering objectives, phases, scenarios, and test environments after analyzing business rules.
• Estimate testing effort.
• Plan, deploy, and manage sanity, regression, system, integration, and installation testing of embedded instrument control and web application software throughout development and verification.
• Write and review test cases, test strategy, test data, reports, and trace matrices to support design compliance and test coverage.
• Generate and maintain test summary reports, bug reports, traceability matrices, and risk analyses.
• Initiate and support product quality improvements.

Benefits

• Choice of national medical and dental plans and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
• At least 120 hours of paid time off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays annually.
• Paid parental leave, including 3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave.
• Accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
• Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), offering eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
• May be eligible for a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior