Job Details

Primary Skills

Rate - $60/hr

Client is Arconic

Davenport, IA

Legacy LIMS Application Support Engineer 

Technology-focused role |LIMS experience is a plus, not a requirement 

Role Summary 

Support, troubleshoot and document a long-established laboratory information management system (LIMS) that tracks samples, schedules tests, collects results and integrates with laboratory instruments. The immediate need is operational continuity and knowledge transfer; modernization will follow once the current system is understood. 

System Overview 

The LIMS supports laboratory operations by tracking samples, scheduling testing activities, collecting test results, and integrating with laboratory instruments. It is used to ensure product quality compliance and support customer specifications. 

Technology Environment 

• VB.NET application on Windows 7 (Windows-based desktop application) 

• Visual Studio 2019 development environment 

• C programs for laboratory instrument communication and integration 

• PHP reporting and dashboard layer, including generation of consolidated PDF reports 

• SQL data store used for application data, reporting and troubleshooting 

• Interfaces to laboratory instruments and to enterprise systems 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues across the application, instrument interfaces, reports and database. 

• Investigate data discrepancies, such as a report that does not match the database, and find the root cause. 

• Document the system: architecture, code, integrations, workflows and operating procedures. 

• Capture and share knowledge from the long-tenured support resource. 

• Support laboratory and quality users directly. 

• Test and release changes with proper change management. 

Required Skills 

Technical Skills (primary) 

• Hands-on C programming, including reading, debugging and maintaining legacy code (instrument communication such as serial or network interfaces is a strong plus) 

• VB.NET application development and support using Visual Studio 

• PHP development for reporting and dashboards, including PDF report generation 

• SQL query development and database troubleshooting, including data validation and reconciliation 

• Windows-based application support, debugging and troubleshooting 

• Data exchange and interface development between instruments, applications and enterprise systems 

• Ability to understand and reverse-engineer poorly documented systems 

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills 

• Root cause analysis and incident investigation 

• Defect resolution and data analysis 

• Process improvement 

Documentation and Governance 

• Technical documentation, including architecture, data flow and integration diagrams 

• Process and operational documentation (runbooks, support procedures) 

• Incident documentation & Change Management 

Testing and Quality Assurance 

• Regression testing and integration testing 

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) 

• Test planning and documentation 

Good to Have 

• Experience with a LIMS or similar laboratory or quality system (any platform) 

• Understanding of laboratory business processes: sample management, testing workflows, quality testing procedures and test result management 

• Familiarity with customer specification requirements and laboratory compliance processes 

• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment 

• Experience with legacy modernization, system discovery or knowledge-transfer engagements 

• Experience working in environments with government contracts or protected, proprietary information