R&D Software Engineer

Job description

Keysight is at the forefront of technology innovation, delivering breakthroughs and trusted insights in electronic design, simulation, prototyping, test, manufacturing, and optimization. Our ~15,000 employees create world-class solutions in communications, 5G, automotive, energy, quantum, aerospace, defense, and semiconductor markets for customers in over 100 countries. Learn more about what we do.

Our award-winning culture embraces a bold vision of where technology can take us and a passion for tackling challenging problems with industry-first solutions. We believe that when people feel a sense of belonging, they can be more creative, innovative, and thrive at all points in their careers.

This position is with Keysight’s Semiconductor Infrastructure Solutions (SIS) organization. We design and manufacture laser interferometry systems, precision optical components, monolithic optics (CMOs), and advanced electronic test & measurement solutions. Our systems offer high precision in a wide dynamic range, the ability to simultaneously measure positions with multiple degrees of freedom, and the highest accuracy available in both air and vacuum environments.

This position offers a unique and high-impact opportunity for a software engineer to work at the intersection of software development, metrology, and advanced optical manufacturing. The role provides hands-on experience developing, deploying, and sustaining production‑critical software systems that directly support manufacturing ramp, yield improvement, and inspection throughput. The engineer will create tools that are immediately used on the factory floor, with clear value-added results that influence day‑to‑day operations and long‑term manufacturing scalability. Work will span greenfield development, legacy system support, and modernization of fragile or undocumented workflows into robust, maintainable solutions.

Primary responsibilities include designing, developing, and supporting software for metrology systems and inspection automation across the factory. This includes full‑stack application development, hardware and instrument integration, scripting and automation for measurement tools, and construction of data pipelines for automatic data capture, parsing, reporting, and yield visibility. The engineer will work closely with metrology engineers, manufacturing engineers, and hardware designers to interface with custom instrumentation, cameras, microcontrollers, CNC equipment, and legacy systems. Many projects require development against hardware still under design, demanding strong problem‑solving skills, structured testing approaches, and close cross‑functional collaboration.

In addition to metrology and inspection support, this role is responsible for modernizing engineering workflows, replacing manual and highly technical engineering tools with intuitive, user‑friendly software that enables non‑programmers to perform critical tasks reliably and consistently. Significant emphasis is placed on documentation, code quality, and long‑term maintainability to ensure sustainability beyond initial deployment. Clear communication, careful working methods, and ownership through early production releases are essential.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong foundation in software engineering principles, including data structures, algorithms, version control, and debugging.
• Demonstrated proficiency in multiple high‑level programming language commonly used for engineering tools and automation (e.g., Python, C#, JavaScript).
• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one low-level capable language commonly used for engineering tools and automation (e.g. Rust, C++)
• Experience developing maintainable, production‑quality code through coursework, internships, co‑ops, or project work.
• Basic understanding of software interaction with hardware or external systems (e.g., instrumentation APIs, IPC, device I/O, or sensor data).
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce technical documentation.
• Careful, structured working methods suitable for production and manufacturing environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internship, co‑op, or project experience supporting manufacturing, metrology, instrumentation, robotics, or industrial automation.
• Experience with full‑stack or application development.
• Familiarity with instrument interface programming with NI Lab-View or Keysight Vee.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, measurement equipment, or scientific/engineering data workflows.
• Exposure to image processing or computer vision concepts.
• Experience working with legacy codebases or refactoring partially documented software.
• Experience interfacing software with CNC machines, lasers, cameras, microcontrollers, or similar hardware is a strong plus.
• Self‑starter mindset with demonstrated ability to take ownership of tools from development through deployment and sustainment.

Careers Privacy StatementKeysight is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The level of role will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below.

California Pay Range MIN $122,580.00 MIDPOINT $141,570.00 MAX $176,970.00

Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region

US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Health Savings Account
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life, Accident, Disability insurance
• Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
• 401(k) Plan
• Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
• Paid Family Leave
• Discounts, Perks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)