Associate Director, Principal Data Engineer

virbiotechnologyinc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 247,000; Full time

Job summary

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. seeks an Associate Director, Principal Data Engineer to lead scalable data, cloud, software, and AI-enabled research platforms for scientific discovery and clinical analysis.

This role is based in San Francisco with three days per week in the office. You will build AI-powered workflows, partner with scientists and engineers, and ensure data quality, governance, and reliability across AWS and modern data platforms.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, scientific computing, cloud architecture, or scientific applications.

Responsibilities

• Build AI-enabled research workflows and agents for scientists to search, analyze, summarize, and connect Vir-generated data.
• Develop AI agents for TCE research insights, QC/QA review, and scientific/regulatory reporting.
• Design trusted LLM, RAG, knowledge-search, and agentic AI workflows with traceability, validation, governance, and human oversight.
• Lead development and integration of scientific platforms, including SeqAssembler, HPD/dAIsY, SASTRY, OPAL Miner, and related tools.
• Build scalable research and clinical data pipelines for bioinformatics, genomics, machine learning, and scientific decision-making.
• Architect and operate AWS cloud infrastructure for AI/ML, bioinformatics, clinical analysis, and large-scale data.
• Strengthen data quality, metadata, lineage, observability, security, governance, and platform reliability.
• Partner cross-functionally to align data, cloud, application, and AI solutions with program needs.
• Provide senior technical leadership across architecture, engineering practices, mentoring, and roadmaps.

Skills

Python

Java

AWS

Data pipelines

AI/ML

Collaboration

Leadership

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science or related

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

Redshift

Spark

Airflow

Nextflow

Job description

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on powering the immune system to transform lives by discovering and developing medicines for serious infectious diseases and cancer. Its clinical-stage portfolio includes programs for chronic hepatitis delta and multiple PRO-XTEN ® dual-masked T-cell engagers across validated targets in solid tumor indications. Vir Biotechnology also has a preclinical portfolio of programs across a range of infectious diseases and oncologic malignancies. Vir Biotechnology has exclusive rights to the universal PRO-XTEN ® masking platform for oncology and infectious disease. PRO-XTEN ® is a trademark of Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Sanofi company. We believe the success of our colleagues drives the success of our mission. We are committed to creating a company where everyone feels supported and encouraged to give their best.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Vir Biotechnology is seeking an Associate Director, Principal Data Engineer to lead scalable data, cloud, software, and AI-enabled research platforms that support scientific discovery, clinical data analysis, and program decision-making.This role will build the foundation for AI-powered research workflows, including AI agents for research, QC/QA, and scientific/regulatory reporting, while partnering across Research, Clinical, Data Science, TechOps, Competitive Intelligence, and IT.The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking technical leader who combines expertise in data engineering, scientific software, AWS cloud platforms, and practical AI implementation to transform complex scientific data into connected, searchable, and actionable insights. They excel at partnering with scientists, data scientists, and engineers to build trusted, scalable solutions that accelerate research while maintaining the highest standards of data quality, governance, validation, and reliability.Reporting to the Senior Director, Research, this role is based in San Francisco with an expectation of three days per week in the office

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Build AI-enabled research workflows and agents that help scientists search, analyze, summarize, and connect Vir-generated
• Develop AI agents for TCE research insights, Experimenta QC/QA review, and scientific/regulatory report
• Design trusted LLM, RAG, knowledge-search, and agentic AI workflows with traceability, validation, governance, and human
• Lead development and integration of scientific platforms, including SeqAssembler, HPD/dAIsY, SASTRY, OPAL Miner, and
• Build scalable research and clinical data pipelines for bioinformatics, genomics, machine learning, and scientific decision-making.
• Architect and operate AWS cloud infrastructure for AI/ML, bioinformatics, clinical analysis, and large-scale scientific data
• Strengthen data quality, metadata, lineage, observability, security, governance, and platform
• Partner cross-functionally to align data, cloud, application, and AI solutions with program
• Provide senior technical leadership across architecture, engineering practices, mentoring, and roadmap

WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BRING

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Engineering, or a related technical
• 12+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, scientific computing, cloud architecture, or scientific application
• Strong hands-on experience with Python and/ or Java, including scalable data pipelines, APIs, services, and production-grade data
• Experience building AI/ML-enabled scientific applications using leading LLMs such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar models, including RAG, knowledge search, agentic workflows, and governance
• Experience integrating LIMS, ELN, scientific data platforms, or experiment-management systems such as Experimenta to support data capture, analysis, quality review, and scientific
• Strong AWS cloud infrastructure experience, including compute, storage, networking, security, data processing, monitoring, automation, and operational
• Experience with modern cloud-based data platforms and workflow technologies such as Databricks, Snowflake, Redshift, Spark, Airflow, Nextflow, or similar
• Experience supporting bioinformatics, genomics, machine learning, clinical, healthcare, or other scientific data
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, metadata management, data quality, observability, governance, lineage, and platform
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including architecture ownership, roadmap development, mentoring, and cross-functional
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across Research, Clinical, Data Science, IT, and business

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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE OFFER

The expected salary range for this position is $176,500 to $246,500 per year. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors.

Vir Biotechnology's compensation and benefits are aligned with the current market and commensurate with