Software Platform Engineer

This is a high-ownership role with significant opportunity to shape the long-term direction of software systems at Prolific. As a foundational Software Engineer within the organization, you will have substantial influence over architecture, tooling, and long-term technical direction., We’re looking for a Software Engineer to help define and build the next-generation software and controls platform underlying Prolific’s illumination systems. This role will serve as a foundational software hire within a multidisciplinary illuminator technology team, helping define software architecture across device control, cloud-connected infrastructure, internal tooling, and future customer-facing systems.

This individual will work closely with Firmware, Hardware, Data, and Bioprocess Engineering teams to develop scalable, production-ready control systems for next-generation illumination products. Over time, this role is expected to help define software architecture, interfaces, and development strategy as Prolific expands both internal software capabilities and external development partnerships.

This is not a traditional consumer web or SaaS role. Success in this position requires strong systems thinking and comfort operating across the hardware/software boundary. The ideal candidate enjoys working in-person, operating close to real-world systems and hardware, and is comfortable working across abstraction layers rather than specializing narrowly in frontend or backend development.

This role will be primarily based on-site in Emeryville, CA with some hybrid flexibility depending on current project needs.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop the software platform connecting Prolific illumination hardware, firmware, cloud infrastructure, internal tooling, and future operational and customer-deployed systems
• Define software interfaces, communication layers, and subsystem boundaries across distributed control systems
• Collaborate closely with firmware and hardware engineers to design robust hardware/software interactions
• Establish scalable software infrastructure and engineering practices suitable for long-term productization
• Help define technical scopes, interfaces, and development strategy for external software development partners and contractors where appropriate
• Contribute hands-on across the stack while helping shape longer-term software technical direction

• MS with 5+ years or BS with 7+ years of professional software development experience. Degree in Software Engineering , Computer Science, or a related field preferred.
• Strong systems-level thinking and ability to reason across software, firmware, hardware, and operational workflows
• Ability to balance rapid prototyping with long-term architectural scalability
• Experience decomposing complex systems into modular, maintainable subsystems
• Fluency in Python and proficiency in at least one other general-purpose language (e.g. TypeScript, Go, Rust)
• Experience defining requirements, designing, implementing, and deploying software
• Experience designing software for reliability, maintainability, and operational robustness in mission-critical systems
• Experience deploying and maintaining cloud-connected applications or services
• Experience working with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.)
• Experience working closely with end users to iteratively improve software usability and workflows
• Experience setting up and owning their own development environment (incl. unit/integration/end-to-end testing, continuous integration, etc.)
• Experience interfacing software with hardware systems (serial, TCP/IP, etc.) and ability to debug issues across the software/hardware boundary
• Comfort working in Linux environments

Nice to Haves

• Experience leading technical projects involving external vendors, contractors, or distributed development teams
• Exposure to the Industrial IoT / Industry 4.0 stack, e.g. protocols (MQTT Sparkplug B, OPC UA), system layers (HMI/SCADA, MES), and architectural patterns like Unified Namespace (UNS).
• Experience with electronic records, audit trails, and data integrity principles for industrial or regulated settings
• Experience developing software in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries where 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, or ALCOA+ or similar regulations are relevant
• Experience modernizing or replacing ad-hoc operational tooling (e.g. Airtable-based workflows)
• Experience developing custom dashboards and data visualizers
• Expertise in defining and building out devops, development workflows, and selecting toolchains
• Embedded C/C++ development experience or knowledge about the limitations of firmware and embedded systems
• Experience with Ignition, AirTable or the Particle Cloud systems.

About You

• Enjoys taking projects all the way from concept to deployment
• Comfortable in a dynamic startup environment with evolving requirements
• Thrives in multidisciplinary environments alongside scientists, engineers, and operators
• Comfortable making pragmatic technical decisions in an ambiguous, rapidly evolving environment
• Excited to enable a technology and end product that will have a positive impact on people’s lives, Advertising Operations, Biology, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, C Programming Language, C++ Programming Language, Cloud Computing, Code of Federal Regulations, Communication Systems, Computer Engineering, Computer Firmware, Computer Science, Continuous Integration, Control Systems, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Data Quality, Data Visualization, DevOps, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Embedded Systems, Environmental Sciences, Hardware Design, Integration Testing, Leadership, Linux Operating System, Machine Tool, Manufacturing, Medical Genetics, Medical Products, Military, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Production Control, Quality Management, Regulations, Reporting Dashboards, Requirements Management, SQL Databases, Scalable System Development, Software Architecture, Software Design, Software Development, Software Engineering, Software as a Service (SaaS), Strategic Planning, Technical Leadership, Usability Engineering, User Interface/Experience (UI/UX)

$160,000 - $210,000 a year

This role is salaried, exempt, and paid semi-monthly. Starting salary will be dependent upon specific experience, knowledge, and skillset. The range depending on exact level will typically fall between $160k-$210k.

Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events!

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our mission is to make next-generation therapies broadly available to patients. Our first-of-its-kind Photomolecular Platform uses light to precisely guide how cells produce complex biologics, enabling higher titers, improved quality, and faster development timelines. By helping partners overcome today’s manufacturing bottlenecks, we’re accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield, and SOSV.

Help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. We’re looking for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to join our team.