Staff Software Engineer

Illumina; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company in Cambridge seeks a Staff Software Engineer to join their software and test team. The role involves designing and developing software solutions for laboratory operations, with a focus on backend technologies like Python and REST APIs. The successful candidate will engage in full-stack development and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams. This hybrid position offers a dynamic environment and the chance to contribute to impactful healthcare innovations.

Benefits

Competitive employee benefits program

Inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience in back-end services and API development using Python.
• Knowledge of client-side frameworks like AngularJS.
• Proficient in packaging and deploying software with Docker and Kubernetes.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain full-stack applications and services.
• Lead technical discussions for architectural decision making.
• Ensure software compliance with quality management systems.

Skills

Backend development with Python

REST APIs

CI/CD pipelines

Containerization with Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

MySQL

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

GitHub

Job description

Overview

Staff Software Engineer – Cambridge (Granta Park), Hybrid.

Illumina Lab Services (ILS) has an exciting opportunity for an experienced software engineer to join the software and test team. This team builds software used by scientists to track and process large quantities of clinical genomic data and was instrumental in delivering the 100,000 genomes project. Building on this success, ILS is entering the next phase of the project and needs a Staff Software Engineer to help define the architecture and drive development of software that manages laboratory operations.

You’ll join a highly motivated team of software and test engineers that work closely with other teams across ILS, including bioinformatics and lab operations. Day-to-day activities span the entire development lifecycle and include both hands-on development and providing expertise to help define software architecture and design. This role also requires some technical leadership and would suit an experienced, proactive engineer who is looking for that next challenge. Most importantly you will have an opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary group that delivers software solutions to support cutting-edge sequencing operations that make a difference to peoples’ lives.

Why You

You’re a collaborative and detail-oriented software engineer who thrives in Agile teams and enjoys working across the full development lifecycle. You bring strong experience in backend development with Python and REST APIs, and ideally have worked with client-side frameworks like AngularJS. You’re comfortable with CI/CD pipelines, containerisation tools like Docker and Kubernetes, and have a solid grasp of relational databases such as PostgreSQL or MySQL. Experience with regulated environments, cloud services (AWS), and event-driven architectures (Kafka or RabbitMQ) would be a plus. You’re a natural communicator who documents and shares knowledge instinctively, and you’re motivated by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful healthcare innovation.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with software engineers, test engineers and product owners across a global team to design, develop, and maintain full-stack applications and services in Agile teams.
• Lead technical discussions across local and global teams and provide guidance during architectural decision making.
• Maintain software designs and implement code changes to ensure alignment with software requirements.
• Be an advocate for our SDLC and ensure that software is developed in compliance with our quality management system and medical device standards.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and evaluate suitability of new software technologies to platform development efforts.
• Provide technical assistance to escalated operational issues.
• Contribute to a shared responsibility for devops best practice.
• Scope to potentially broaden the role to include line-management in the future.

• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to articulate and communicate complex software concepts to different audiences.
• Team player who instinctively documents and shares information.
• Experience of developing back-end services and APIs in Python.
• Web development experience, preferably with client-side MVC Frameworks such as AngularJS.
• Packaging and deploying software using Docker, Kubernetes and Helm.
• Maintaining CI/CD pipelines for continuous software delivery.
• Designing and maintaining relational databases, preferably PostgreSQL and MySQL.
• Version control using Git and GitHub.
• Proficient at the Linux command line.

Desirable

• Software development within a regulated environment, ideally to medical device standards.
• Developing event-driven software using Kafka or RabbitMQ.
• Experience with LIMS development.
• Software development using AWS services.
• Experience with NoSQL, preferably MongoDB.
• Java and Golang experience.
• Dashboarding and alerting using Grafana.

Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree or higher in computer science, or a related engineering subject. Or equivalent experience

What Can You Expect

Our team members are bright, energetic, and dedicated – they are the driving force behind our innovation and impact. To attract the best and brightest, we offer a competitive employee benefits program. We view it as a smart investment in our people, one that recognises the tremendous value they bring to our business every day. At Illumina, we push boundaries. We think beyond the conventional. We dream big. With the energy of so many bright and accomplished people, the opportunities are endless.

INDEUR

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.