Senior Software Engineer - Bioinformatics Platforms

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and incentives

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off and holidays

Professional growth and continuous学习

Access to cutting-edge research and技术

Collaborative and innovative work env.

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer in Sandton to lead the development of our bioinformatics platforms. You will design, build, and maintain robust software solutions for complex biological data analysis, collaborating with bioinformatics scientists to translate needs into scalable applications.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in backend software development, strong programming in Python/Java/C++, and hands-on experience with data pipelines, APIs, cloud platforms,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable and high-performance bioinformatics software and platforms.
• Write clean, well-documented, and efficient code using languages such as Python, Java, or C++.
• Develop and maintain APIs for data access and integration with other research systems.
• Implement and manage data pipelines for processing large-scale biological data.
• Collaborate with bioinformatics scientists and researchers to define software requirements and user interfaces.
• Implement testing strategies, including unit, integration, and performance testing.
• Optimize software performance and troubleshoot complex technical issues.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology choices for bioinformatics platforms.
• Mentor junior software engineers and promote best practices in software development.
• Ensure adherence to coding standards, version control procedures, and CI/CD practices.

Skills

Python

Java

C++

Bioinformatics

APIs

CI/CD

Cloud platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Master's degree in Bioinformatics or related

Tools

PostgreSQL

MySQL

NoSQL

Docker

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent biotechnology firm, is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to lead the development of its bioinformatics platforms. This role is based in Sandton and requires a hands‑on individual capable of designing, building, and maintaining robust software solutions for complex biological data analysis. You will work closely with bioinformatics scientists and researchers to translate their needs into scalable, efficient, and user-friendly applications. This position is critical for enhancing our research capabilities and accelerating the pace of scientific discovery. The ideal candidate possesses strong software engineering principles combined with an understanding of bioinformatics workflows and data challenges. You will be a key contributor to our technical infrastructure, ensuring the reliability and performance of the tools that drive our scientific endeavors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable and high-performance bioinformatics software and platforms.
• Write clean, well-documented, and efficient code using languages such as Python, Java, or C++.
• Develop and maintain APIs for data access and integration with other research systems.
• Implement and manage data pipelines for processing large-scale biological data.
• Collaborate with bioinformatics scientists and researchers to define software requirements and user interfaces.
• Implement testing strategies, including unit, integration, and performance testing.
• Optimize software performance and troubleshoot complex technical issues.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology choices for bioinformatics platforms.
• Mentor junior software engineers and promote best practices in software development.
• Ensure adherence to coding standards, version control procedures, and CI/CD practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in software development, with a strong focus on backend systems and scalable architectures.
• Proven experience developing applications for scientific research or data analysis.
• Expertise in at least one major programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C++).
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with bioinformatics data formats (e.g., FASTA, FASTQ, VCF, BAM) and common analysis tools is highly desirable.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker) is a plus.
• Strong understanding of software development principles, data structures, and algorithms.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Opportunities for professional growth, continuous learning, and skill development.
• Access to cutting-edge research and technology.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Direct impact on scientific discovery and the development of new therapies.