At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture strategy for Agilent's AI-native lab platform and oversee a team of architects.
- Company: Agilent Technologies, a leader in scientific instrumentation and software innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on modernising instrument software for cloud and edge environments.
- Why this job: Shape the future of lab technology and drive impactful architectural decisions.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in software engineering with strong leadership and architecture governance experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Agilent Technologies is transforming its software portfolio into a unified, AI-native lab platform. The Instrument Software Architect is a senior architecture leadership role responsible for operationalizing architecture strategy, governance, and standards across Agilent's instrument software portfolio. This role owns the platform architecture domain at the organizational level, establishing the processes, standards, and decision-making frameworks that guide how Agilent's instruments and software integrate to the shared software platform. You will own the Architecture Council, drive architecture governance across the portfolio, and lead a team of domain architects.
Responsibilities
- Own and operationalize the architecture governance model for instrument software across the portfolio.
- Own the Architecture Council, the decision-making body for platform architecture, cross-domain standards, and design conflict resolution.
- Define and maintain software architecture standards, reference patterns, and Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
- Establish the processes and frameworks for architecture reviews, ensuring consistent quality and alignment across product teams.
- Define requirements and guardrails for instrument-facing architecture: interface patterns, acquisition design, performance, scalability, and testability.
- Partner with Engineering and QE leadership to ensure architecture standards translate into reliable, testable software delivery.
- Lead, develop, and coordinate a team of domain architects, enabling them to operate with clarity, autonomy, and alignment to platform strategy.
- Drive architecture modernization direction: from siloed, proprietary designs toward containerized, API-first approaches for cloud and edge.
Qualifications Required
- 15+ years of software engineering experience, with 5+ years in architecture leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience operationalizing architecture governance at scale, standards programs, Architecture Councils, design review processes, or equivalent.
- Strong understanding of instrument software architecture: real-time acquisition, hardware interfaces, connectivity, and non-functional requirements (performance, scalability, reliability).
- Proven ability to lead and develop senior technical teams (architects, staff/principal engineers).
- Experience owning decision-making frameworks and driving alignment across multiple product teams or business units.
- Strong executive communication, able to frame architecture strategy and tradeoffs in business terms for senior stakeholders.
Preferred
- Experience in scientific instrumentation, laboratory software, or regulated industries (life sciences, diagnostics).
- Familiarity with platform architecture patterns: shared services, API design, event-driven architectures, data streaming.
- Experience with containerized deployment models (Docker, Kubernetes) across edge and cloud environments.
- Exposure to AI/ML integration at the platform or instrument level.
Additional Details
This job has a full time weekly schedule. It includes the option to work remotely. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locations. Agilent Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
Travel Required: 25% of the Time
Shift: Day
Duration: No End Date
Job Function: R&D
Instrument Software Architect (M/F/D) in Harwell employer: Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of software architecture. With a strong commitment to employee growth, Agilent provides opportunities for professional development and leadership within a cutting-edge AI-native lab platform. The inclusive culture and flexible remote work options ensure that employees can thrive both personally and professionally, making it a rewarding place to build a career.
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We think this is how you could land Instrument Software Architect (M/F/D) in Harwell
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We think you need these skills to ace Instrument Software Architect (M/F/D) in Harwell
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Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Agilent Technologies.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Agilent Technologies
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For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
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Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Agilent Technologies uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
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While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
