HRL Laboratories

Senior Software Engineer - Experiment Control

HRL Laboratories · Malibu, CA
Malibu, CA $140K–$175K Posted 2026-08-07
Salary
$140K–$175K
Type
Full-time
Experience
5+ yr

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.
HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.
Position Summary:
We are looking for a software engineer to help us develop the future of quantum information technologies. Scientists and engineers at HRL use our quantum software development kit every day to operate, understand, and advance our quantum devices, which includes state-of-the-art developments featured in top scientific journals. As a software engineer on the experiment control software team, you will be responsible for developing software that directly enables experiments driving our device roadmap.
Essential Duties:

  • Develop software for the execution of complex sequences of experiments, measurements, and calibrations
  • Develop device drivers for custom hardware and scientific instruments
  • Work closely with experimental physicists to understand requirements and ensure software designs enable all required laboratory capabilities
  • Work closely with data engineers to define how to organize and store quantum device data
  • Mentor junior engineers and help instill best practices across programming, version control, CI/CD, and documentation

Required Qualifications:

  • 5+ years relevant software engineering experience
  • Proficiency in Python
  • Familiarity with C++
  • Experience with one or more relational database systems
  • Solid understanding of core computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and computer architectures
  • Familiarity with scientific test instrumentation (e.g., waveform generators, oscilloscopes) and communication protocols (e.g. VISA, TCP/IP)

Special Requirements:

  • U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance

Compensation and Benefits:
Pay Range: $140,700 - $175,950
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy

PythonC++
$110K — 10th pctl $265K — 90th pctl
This role’s midpoint $158K vs. market median $180K for Engineering roles
-10%
below median
Based on 22,000+ Engineering roles with disclosed salary ranges tracked on NewJob.
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