Software Engineer

At AST, we enhance the efficiency, productivity, and safety of flexible aseptic manufacturing processes for the worldwide Life Science Industry by offering innovative products, services, and solutions.

Do you want to contribute to a shared vision and mission? Would you like to bring your unique talents to have a significant impact at a growing company? At AST we strive to build a workplace that enables every team member to meet and exceed their capabilities. We set our expectations high and provide the environment and resources necessary to bring out the very best.

Competitive compensation range for onsite WA applicants is $125,000-140,000 annually. All applicants are welcome to apply.

Employee benefits include: Medical (HSA & PPO), Paid Dental, Vision, HSA account with employer contribution, (eligible the first of the month following your date of hire), Long/Short term disability, 401(K) (Traditional & Roth options) with up to 5% company match (eligible 90 days after date of hire), Education Assistance, Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holiday, and bonus potential. All benefits on this page are subject to change.

What can I expect in this role?
AST is looking for a driven Software Engineer to join our Research and Development team in Tacoma, WA. In this role, you won’t just write code, you’ll spearhead the evolution of our core software control systems and drive technological breakthroughs across the board.
Reporting directly to the Principal Software Engineer, you will collaborate cross-functionally to transform AST’s strategic vision into high-impact products and world-class customer experiences.

If you are passionate about R&D and your professional values align with AST’s Mission, Vision, and Key Behaviors, we want to meet you. Help us build the next generation of industry-leading technology.

Key Responsibilities:

• Overall responsible for all PC and Android-based machine automation control systems and platforms.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to define and deliver complete machine automation solutions.
• Develop and execute software functional and design requirement documents, scope of work documents, and project plans.
• Design, develop, and implement features for our Android and .NET applications controlling industrial devices using modern development tools.
• Ensure proper documentation and produce professional user operation manuals.
• Design, develop, and implement machine learning models using C# and Python, or other applicable and modern tools.
• Integrate machine learning models into machine automation software applications.
• Develop and maintain unit and integration tests to ensure code quality, reliability, and maintainability.
• Stay up to date on the latest advancements in machine learning and related technologies
• Up to 20% of travel may be required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years building production systems in C# using .NET Core/.NET 6+, including API design, dependency injection, and layered architecture, designed and maintained relational schemas in SQL Server or PostgreSQL, including migrations, indexing, and performance tuning
• Experience developing end-to-end machine learning pipelines, including data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, validation, and deployment.
• Practical knowledge of supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms (e.g., classification, regression, clustering) and their appropriate application.
• Experience with Scrum/Agile development methodologies
• A strong problem-solving mindset with the ability to think creatively and independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, in a very fast paced environment and with little supervision.
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing software within regulated industrial environments, including integration with PLC-based automation systems.
• Experience building modern desktop applications using Avalonia, WPF, or WinUI.
• Experience developing interactive 3D or simulation applications using Unity.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.
• Must be willing to take and successfully pass a drug test.

AST is proud of our team. Providing challenging and rewarding work, with opportunities for personal/professional development is our key to this longevity.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Tacoma.

AST is an equal opportunity employer.