Staff Software Engineer

Freenome; Brisbane (CA); Remote; USD 188,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Freenome is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to grow our Platform team and lead the Real World Evidence engine. You will champion scalable backend systems and data integrations with internal products and external providers, helping turn fragmented data into reliable datasets for evidence generation.

This remote US role reports to the Director of Engineering, Platform and includes opportunities to mentor teammates, contribute to architecture decisions, and work across product, data science, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in CS/engineering or related field.
• 10+ years shipping production software, with 2+ years as lead developer.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Experience building distributed systems on public clouds (Azure or Google Cloud).
• Expertise with containerized software (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Track record building data pipelines and integrations (INGESTION, replication, data modeling).
• Experience handling PHI or sensitive data with security controls.
• Software architecture leadership: design docs and ADRs; code reviews.
• Strong written and verbal communication; cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development and operation of scalable backend software.
• Build system and data integrations with internal products and external providers.
• Translate product requirements into technical strategy with TPMs/SMEs.
• Evolve Real World Data tech stack and build reusable data‑curation tools.
• Leverage AI tools to scale engineering and RWD workflows and improve data quality.
• Evaluate technologies via proofs of concept.
• Lead code and design reviews; promote best practices.
• Mentor teammates and contribute to hiring.

Skills

Python

SQL

Distributed systems

Infrastructure as Code

Azure

Google Cloud

Docker

Kubernetes

Data pipelines

Data security

Architectural leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science/Engineering or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Apache Parquet

Flyte/Airflow

Job description

About this opportunity:

At Freenome, we are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to grow our Platform team and lead the development of our Real World Evidence engine. Join a stellar group of engineers on a mission to save lives with early cancer detection, at an exciting phase as we develop and commercialize new blood test products.

The ideal candidate is an experienced lead software engineer with a strong background in developing scalable and reliable distributed software systems, and integrating internal products with third‑party solutions. In this role you will partner with a cross-functional team including product managers, clinical data analysts, informaticists, researchers, and external vendors. Your work will help these teams turn fragmented data into reliable, traceable datasets that support evidence generation and inform future product development.

This role reports to our Director of Engineering, Platform. This is a remote position within the US, with occasional travel to our headquarters in Brisbane, CA, 2-3 times a year.

What you'll do:

• Lead the design, development and operation of maintainable, scalable, and reliable backend software.
• Build system and data integrations connecting data from commercial products and external providers with our analytical platforms, to enable a feedback loop that accelerates research and product development.
• Work closely with TPMs and SMEs to understand business needs and translate product requirements into technical strategy and incremental execution.
• Partner with the Real World Data team to evolve their tech stack, identify workflow bottlenecks, and build reusable tools for data curation and analysis.
• Effectively use AI tools to scale engineering and RWD workflows, automating manual operations, reducing data curation efforts, and improving data quality.
• Evaluate technologies, frameworks, and data providers through focused proofs of concept.
• Lead code and design reviews, champion engineering best practices, and promote a culture of quality and collaboration.
• Contribute to hiring and mentoring new team members, fostering their growth, and enhancing the team's technical knowledge and productivity.

Must haves:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years as a software engineer successfully shipping software in production preferably in backend or platform teams, and with 2+ years as lead developer.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Ability to build and operate distributed systems using Infrastructure as Code on public cloud platforms, preferably Azure or Google Cloud.
• Expertise developing and running containerized software, preferably using Docker and Kubernetes.
• A track record of building and operating data pipelines and integrations, with experience in areas including ingestion, database replication, analytical data modeling, or data quality validation.
• Experience building systems that process and store sensitive data, such as PHI, implementing access controls, audit logging, and secure data handling.
• Software architecture leadership: you ship clean code, write clear design docs and ADRs, guide constructive reviews and collaborative technical decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a mindful and transparent approach to collaboration.
• Ability to thrive in an environment where cross-functional collaboration, communication, and compromise are part of your day-to-day work.

Nice to haves:

• Domain‑specific experience or academic background in life sciences, real world data, or related fields.
• Working in an FDA-regulated environment, with a strong understanding of compliance requirements and best practices.
• Columnar processing and storage using Apache Parquet.
• Open lakehouse technologies and modern table formats such as Apache Iceberg.
• Workflow orchestration frameworks like Flyte, Airflow, or similar.
• Scientific Python frameworks and data‑science tools.

Benefits and additional information:

The US target range of our base salary for new hires is $188,275 - $270,375. You will also be eligible to receive equity, cash bonuses, and a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the position offered. Please note that individual total compensation for this position will be determined at the Company's sole discretion and may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to, location, skill level, years and depth of relevant experience, and education. We invite you to check out our career page freenome.com/job-openings/ for additional company information.

Freenome is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, and we value diversity. Freenome does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

• Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

California applicants please review the CCPA Notice at Collection here:

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Remote