Sr. Software Engineer

23andMe Research Institute; Palo Alto (Schuylkill County); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

23andMe Research Institute in Palo Alto is looking for an experienced backend engineer to design and operate services that convert genetic data into meaningful customer insights. Candidates should have deep expertise in Python and experience with CI/CD pipelines.

The role offers autonomy and the chance to work at the intersection of software engineering and genetic research. Support from a high-trust team leads to increased impact.

Salary ranges from $160,000 to $200,000 based on various factors.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of industry experience in backend development.
• Deep expertise in Python for data pipelines.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform on AWS.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain backend services converting genetic data.
• Leverage AI to automate testing and feature delivery.
• Build AI-powered data pipelines for health insights.

Skills

Python expertise

Infrastructure as code

CI/CD pipelines

Debugging distributed systems

Education

B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Terraform

AWS

Docker

Job description

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and operate the backend services and data stores that convert raw genetic data into customer‑facing results at scale.
• Leverage AI tooling to automate testing, accelerate feature delivery, and ship with confidence through robust CI/CD pipelines.
• Partner with product, science, and engineering teams to translate requirements into reliable, scalable systems.
• Build AI‑powered data pipelines that deliver personalized health and ancestry insights directly to customers.
• Debug production incidents and restore services: you own what you ship.

What You’ll Bring

• B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent; 4+ years of industry experience.
• Deep, hands‑on Python expertise (libraries, services, data pipelines).
• Infrastructure‑as‑code experience, ideally with Terraform on AWS, and containerization with Docker.
• Hands‑on experience with CI/CD deployment pipelines and testing frameworks.
• Experience operating distributed systems at scale: debugging, observability, and performance tuning.

What We Offer

A small, high‑trust team with real ownership, autonomy, and direct impact on one of the most scientifically rich datasets in the world. You’ll work at the intersection of software engineering and cutting‑edge genetic research, supported by sharp minds in genomics. Our AI‑friendly environment actively uses coding tools like Claude Code to help engineers excel. You’ll ship multiple times per week and build systems that matter to millions of people.

About Us

23andMe, headquartered in California, is a leading consumer genetics and research company. The company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. We pioneered direct access to genetic information and hold multiple FDA authorizations for genetic health risk reports. Our platform is the world’s largest crowdsourced genetic research initiative, with 80% of customers participating in research overseen by an independent IRB.

Pay Transparency

23andMe takes a market‑based approach to pay. The salary range shown below is for a candidate based in the San Francisco Bay Area: Base Pay Range: $160,000‑$200,000. Pay may vary based on location, skills, experience, and market conditions.

Equal Opportunity

We value a diverse, inclusive workforce and provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. We will accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.