The
Backend & AI Platform Engineer is responsible for creating the backend platform that powers intelligent automation across scientific workflows. By enabling AI agents to securely access data, orchestrate experiments, and integrate with complex instrument ecosystems, this role directly drives platform scalability, customer value, and the company's ability to deliver next generation AI-enabled laboratory operations.
This position reports to the Senior Manager, Software Engineering - Automation and is part of the R&D Software team located in San Jose, California and Indianapolis, Indiana.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:- Architect and develop event-driven backend services and APIs that connect laboratory instruments, cloud infrastructure, and AI agents into a unified platform.
- Design scalable data and context management solutions for LLM-powered systems, including retrieval pipelines, memory, state management, and tool integration frameworks.
- Build and maintain orchestration services that coordinate planning, execution, monitoring, and recovery across heterogeneous AI agents, devices, and software systems.
- Define and govern data contracts, integration standards, and observability practices to ensure reliable, secure, and resilient communication across instrument fleets and platform services.
- Rapidly prototype and evaluate emerging AI and agent technologies, then mature successful solutions into production ready capabilities that meet the performance, reliability, and compliance requirements of regulated customer environments.
The essential requirements of the job include:- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field
- 7+ years of experience designing, building, and supporting distributed backend systems and APIs
- Proven experience developing and operating event driven architectures, microservices, and cloud native applications using platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Hands-on experience building LLM-powered applications or multi-agent systems, including orchestration, tool integration, retrieval architecture, and context management
- Strong expertise in API design and scalable backend architecture, with demonstrated ability to rapidly prototype new solutions while maintaining a clear path to production quality enterprise ready implementations
Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements:- Ability to travel up to 15% domestically and internationally
It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:- Laboratory informatics platforms and standards such as LIMS, ELN, and SiLA 2, including integration with scientific instruments and laboratory workflows.
- Working in regulated or compliance driven environments, including GxP, HIPAA, SOC 2, or similar frameworks
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it's a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.
The annual salary range for this role is $150,000 - $200,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.
We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.
