Staff Backend Software Engineer

Elegen is blazing a path towards a biology-based economy with a highly innovative approach to DNA synthesis that delivers an industry leading length of 7kb in 7 business days with a 99.999% per base accuracy. Our multidisciplinary team of best-in-class biologists, chemists, hardware, and software engineers apply cutting-edge technologies and methods to solve critical bottlenecks in synthetic biology workflows to help our customers in pharma, biotech, agbio, and biomanufacturing streamline their work and realize the full potential of programmable biology.

We are looking for an experienced software engineer to help manage, support and optimize Elegen’s laboratory information management system (LIMS). Your role will include configuring, implementing and maintaining software to ensure smooth lab operations, accurate data management and compliance.

You will be part of an interdisciplinary team that works directly with our internal group of scientists, molecular biologists, and computational biologists as well as your teammates in software engineering and product. This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing company at an early stage and to impact the development of its products, markets, processes, people, and culture.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and maintain software tools used by both our research and production teams to advance the manufacture of genes.
• Develop data models and intuitive schemas for the LIMS.
• Collaborate with product managers, the Production Lab, Apps, Business Intelligence (BI), Bioinformatics, R&D, and other software teams to ensure the tools support their needs.
• Build and maintain APIs to support production processes.
• Provide appropriate data access to the molecular biology, data science, and BI teams.
• Work with the existing team of bioinformaticians to build appropriate AWS infrastructure for their solutions.
• Directly shape the software architecture and be involved in the long-term company direction.
• Enhance the CI/CD processes of the R&D team, including building the infrastructure for long running regression tests of bioinformatic solutions.
• Be part of an on-call rotation to support the software you’ve helped develop.
• Contribute to Elegen’s technology platform, direction, and culture.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of Python backend technologies (Flask, Django, SQLAlchemy, etc…)
• Expertise in commonly used backend paradigms, designs, and technologies.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working in cloud systems (Terraform, Pulumi, CDK).
• Experience migrating monolithic legacy systems to microservices.
• Familiar with Agile software development principles and goals.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience building software in regulated environments.
• Experience building and maintaining mission-critical production environments.
• Capable of building rudimentary front-end user interfaces for internal use.
• Familiarity with molecular biology reactions and methods.
• Able to come into our San Francisco Bay Area office once a week

Salary and Benefits:

The annual base salary compensation for this role, if based in California is: $160,000 - $180,000. Compensation may be different in other locations.  Final compensation also includes bonus, equity and benefits.   Specific offer packages are determined by multiple factors, including candidate skill, experience, expertise, and location. 

✓ Healthcare    ✓ Dental    ✓ Vision    ✓ Learning Allowance

✓ 401K    ✓ Flexible PTO   ✓ Short Term Disability    ✓ Fitness Allowance

✓ Long Term Disability    ✓ Parental Leave Program    ✓ Commuter Benefits

About The Company:

Founded and led by Dr. Matthew Hill and located in San Carlos, CA, Elegen is well-capitalized by top life science investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC, and KdT. The company is advised and staffed by leading biotechnology scientists and entrepreneurs, including Dr. Marc Unger, inventor of the Nanoflex™ valve, and former CSO of Fluidigm. Dr. Hill has a PhD from Stanford and a proven track record of advancing innovative technologies from invention to commercial success. Over eight years in his previous role as VP of R&D at a leading molecular diagnostics company, he co-invented and launched five precision molecular diagnostic products, including a best-in-class noninvasive prenatal test used by millions. These products earn more than $350 million per year in revenue and enabled an IPO.

Elegen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Elegen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law.  All applicants have rights under the following Federal Employment Laws: 

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