Director, Software and Data Engineering

Profluent; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 268,000 - 355,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

401(k) with employer match

Health/dental/vision insurance

Generous PTO

Job summary

Profluent, a frontier AI biology lab, seeks a Director of Software and Data Engineering to lead software and data architectures connecting computational design, lab automation, and ML-driven analysis. You will mentor a small team, shape platform strategy, and drive scalable data systems for experimental data and provenance.

The role requires deep experience building data-intensive platforms, strong Python/backend skills, and collaboration across science and ML teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience.
• 3+ years managing or leading engineers.
• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Track record of delivering production-quality, data-intensive software platforms.
• Strong Python, backend, databases, APIs, cloud infrastructure knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow Profluent’s software engineering team and set technical direction.
• Own the roadmap for software and data engineering balancing scientific impact and scalability.
• Define software/data architecture and data flows across computational design to ML.
• Architect scientist-facing apps and data systems for design, tracking, and analysis.
• Establish scalable data models, provenance, lineage, and access controls.
• Partner across science, automation, data science, and ML to drive delivery and adoption.

Job description

Profluent is the frontier AI lab for biology. Profluent builds powerful foundation models for all of life's molecules, unlocking solutions that transform medicine, agriculture, and beyond. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Profluent is backed by leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Insight Partners, Air Street Capital, AIX Ventures, and Convergent Ventures and has raised over $150M to date.

We’re looking for a Director of Software and Data Engineering to lead Profluent’s software engineering function and build the platform connecting AI-driven protein design, high-throughput experimental screening, and quantitative data analysis.

You’ll own the software and data architecture connecting computational designs to the constructs, samples, assays, and measurements generated through automated laboratory workflows. Your team will build the scientist-facing tools, integrations, and data systems needed to manage experimental data at scale, preserve lineage and context, and turn results into reliable inputs for analysis, machine learning, and the next round of design.

The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering leader with a strong technical foundation, sound judgment, and a track record of building scalable data platforms. You’ll manage and mentor a small team while remaining close to architecture, data modeling, and technical decision-making, partnering across science, automation, data, and ML to advance Profluent’s lab-in-the-loop platform.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow Profluent’s software engineering team, with responsibility for technical direction, hiring, organizational development, and execution
• Own the roadmap for software and data engineering, balancing scientific impact, user needs, delivery speed, scalability, and long-term platform strategy
• Define the software and data architecture, system boundaries, and data flows connecting computational design, high-throughput experimentation, analysis, and machine learning
• Architect and guide delivery of scientist-facing applications and data systems supporting experimental design, sample tracking, laboratory automation, assay data capture, and analysis
• Establish scalable data models and standards for identifiers, provenance, lineage, versioning, interoperability, and access control, ensuring experimental results are reliable, reusable, and model-ready
• Partner across science, automation, bioinformatics, data science, and ML while establishing strong engineering and product practices that drive reliable delivery and adoption

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years managing or leading engineers
• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Track record of leading teams that architect and deliver production-quality, data-intensive software platforms
• Strong technical foundation in Python, backend systems, databases, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices
• Experience designing data architectures, schemas, and domain models for complex scientific, experimental, or similarly interconnected workflows
• Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous user and scientific needs into reliable systems, make sound technical and product tradeoffs, and drive adoption

Preferences

• Experience building scientific data infrastructure, research software, LIMS integrations, or scientist-facing applications
• Experience with Benchling, laboratory automation, instrument integration, sample tracking, or high-throughput experimental platforms
• Experience connecting experimental workflows with downstream analysis and machine learning
• Familiarity with biological data from protein engineering, gene editing, sequencing, screening, or mammalian or bacterial systems
• Frontend development experience and an interest in building intuitive scientist-facing interfaces

What We Offer

• High-growth opportunity with meaningful impact on the future of protein design
• Competitive compensation package with equity participation
• 401(k) with a strong employer match
• Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
• Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities in a cutting-edge field at the intersection of AI and biology

Profluent Bio, Inc is an equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law.

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship. Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired must verify their identity and work eligibility and complete the required employment verification form upon hire.

Hiring Salary Range

$268,000 — $355,000 USD