Staff Software Engineer- Machine Automation - Minneapolis, MN

IPG's Material Processing Systems Group is focused on integrating state-of-the-art IPG lasers into turn-key systems to be used in the semiconductor, medical and other industries. We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join the Material Processing Systems Group in the development of advanced laser-based manufacturing systems. This position serves as a staff-level technical contributor responsible for designing, implementing, testing, and supporting complex software solutions for IPG's laser processing equipment.

The successful candidate will leverage extensive experience in industrial automation, machine control, and software engineering to develop new machine capabilities, improve existing platforms, and support customer-driven enhancements. While working within established software architectures, this individual will lead technical execution for complex projects and subsystems, guide design and code reviews, mentor engineers, and collaborate with principal engineers to align implementation approaches and engineering standards.

In addition to software development responsibilities, the Staff Software Engineer will work closely with manufacturing, applications, service, and project teams to support machine builds, system integration, commissioning activities, and project execution on the production floor. This role requires strong system-level problem-solving skills and the ability to coordinate technical efforts across software, electrical, mechanical, and applications engineering disciplines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze machine requirements, customer requests, and engineering specifications to develop software solutions for laser-based material processing systems.
• Design, implement, test, and maintain complex software features and subsystems within established machine control architectures.
• Serve as the technical lead for assigned projects or subsystems, translating requirements into scalable designs, driving technical decisions, and coordinating engineering work to deliver high-quality software.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, code reviews, troubleshooting, and technical guidance.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, controls, and applications engineers to deliver integrated machine solutions.
• Support software integration, testing, validation, and commissioning activities for assigned areas during machine builds.
• Coordinate software deliverables for assigned projects from planning through machine acceptance, communicating technical status, dependencies, and risks.
• Diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues involving software, motion control, machine vision, communications, and hardware integration.
• Drive software quality through design and code reviews, testing practices, coding standards, and maintainability guidelines.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to machine architectures, software frameworks, reusable components, and development processes.
• Support field service teams and customers in resolving advanced software and machine performance issues.
• Participate in customer visits and occasional domestic or international travel to support installations and project execution.

Qualifications

• 12+ years professional software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading technically complex software features, subsystems, or projects and mentoring engineers.
• BSCE, BSCS, BSEE, or equivalent. MS, a plus.
• Demonstrated history of solving complex technical challenges in industrial automation, CNC, robotics, or manufacturing systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft C#/.NET development.
• Experience developing software for industrial automation, CNC, robotics, precision automation equipment, or other complex hardware-integrated systems.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, object-oriented design principles, multithreaded systems, and distributed systems.
• Demonstrated experience integrating motion control systems, machine vision systems, industrial hardware, or similar machine-control technologies.
• Ability to lead technical work while managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tools such as Microsoft Azure DevOps and Git.
• Ability to make sound technical decisions, communicate tradeoffs, and align implementation details with established architecture and engineering standards.
• Strong troubleshooting skills at an overall system level involving software, electrical, and mechanical components.
• Strong professional organization, communication, and task-prioritization skills.

Experience Desired (not required)

• Experience with advanced software testing technologies in .NET.
• Experience using a PC to interface with external sensors and control peripheral devices via vendor SDK, serial or TCP/IP communications.
• Experience with web services and APIs including ASP.NET, JSON, and RESTful interfaces.
• Experience developing automated manufacturing equipment, particularly factory-connected systems and Industry 4.0 solutions.
• Experience with databases (Microsoft SQL Server).
• Motion control systems (Aerotech A3200, Aerotech Automation 1, ACS).
• Machine vision (Dalsa/Sapera/Sherlock, Cognex, Matrox).

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