Staff and Team Lead, Onyx Application Engineering

The Onyx Research Data Tech organization represents a major investment by GSK R&D and Digital & Tech, designed to deliver a step-change in our ability to leverage data, knowledge, and prediction to find new medicines. We are a full-stack shop consisting of product and portfolio leadership, data engineering, infrastructure and DevOps, data / metadata / knowledge platforms, and AI/ML and analysis platforms, all geared toward:

• Building a next-generation data experience for GSK’s scientists, engineers, and decision-makers, increasing productivity and reducing time spent on “data mechanics”
• Providing best-in-class AI/ML and data analysis environments to accelerate our predictive capabilities and attract top-tier talent
• Aggressively engineering our data at scale to unlock the value of our combined data assets
• Implementing scientific technology products that leverage the data and capabilities provisioned by Onyx

The Staff Application Engineer and Team Lead will play a pivotal role in advancing the technological landscape of GSK, specifically focusing on the design, delivery, and ongoing support of state-of-the-art data driven applications. This role requires a blend of leadership and hands-on technical expertise. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing the development, deployment, and maintenance of high-performance applications tailored to meet the unique needs of our scientific user base. This includes collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand user requirements, designing scalable and efficient application architectures, and ensuring the integration of cutting-edge data analytics and tools.

The role demands a proactive approach to staying abreast of the latest technological advancements in application development and software engineering practices, ensuring that our applications not only meet current demands but are also forward compatible with emerging scientific and technological trends.

The Staff Application Engineer and Team Lead will also be responsible for building and leading a high-performing team of skilled engineers. This includes resource allocation, employee development, and ensuring adherence to best practices in software development lifecycle management. The role also encompasses the maintenance and support of existing applications, guaranteeing security, high availability, reliability, and optimal performance.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate a strong track record in leading large-scale, application development with a keen understanding of how data-driven applications can accelerate innovation. An expert in system design with a proven ability to create robust and scalable architectures, ensuring high performance and reliability in all applications. Strong communication skills, both technical and non-technical, are essential to effectively liaise with various stakeholders, including senior management, IT teams, and scientific personnel, to align technology solutions with business strategies and scientific objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and lead a team of high-performing engineers, ensuring they are equipped to deliver impactful solutions and drive execution excellence.
• Lead the architectural design, development, and maintenance of full-stack, data-driven, cloud applications that serve our scientific community.
• Develop, measure, and monitor key metrics for all applications and services and consistently seek to iterate on and improve them.
• Operate and support applications deployed in a production environment.
• Transform loosely defined mock-ups into rapid MVPs and production-grade experiences, driving execution and delivering impactful solutions.
• Mentor junior and senior engineers to develop their technical skills, interpersonal skills, and careers.
• Champion standards and the development of quality software through test automation and best software engineering practices.
• Work with product teams on product roadmaps and developing end user requirements.
• Drives a culture of innovation, feedback and high-performance.
• Provide oversight and management of any external development partners to ensure teams have enough capacity and deliverables are managed to time and budget.

Required Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication related field or in Computer Science discipline together with significant demonstrable engagement experience within IT or Pharma company.
• Strong and dynamic communicator with excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively without supervision and to organize, prioritize and deliver tasks and projects with a sense of urgency and close follow-up of any open issues.
• Experience with recruiting, managing, and developing engineers or other deeply technical contributors.
• Deep knowledge and use of at least one common web backend language: e.g., Python, Scala, Java, JavaScript (Node.js) including toolchains for documentation, testing, and operations / observability.
• Developing and deploying applications in a cloud environment like Google Cloud (preferred), AWS, Azure.
• Strong experience with modern software development tools / ways of working (e.g. git/GitHub, DevOps tools, metrics / monitoring, …).
• Proficiency in front-end technologies: JavaScript, Typescript, React.js, Angular.js or similar.
• API development using technologies and standards like REST/GraphQL/gRPC or similar.
• Experience in an open-source web framework preferably implemented in Python, Java, Scala, or similar.
• Experience with Authentication & Authorisation Mechanisms e.g OAuth2.
• Application experience of CI/CD implementations using git and a common CI/CD stack.
• Experience in agile software development and common environments such as Jira and Confluence.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or higher.
• Significant experience building and leading teams delivering cross-functional projects.
• Experience of embedding operation excellence culture within their teams.
• Knowledge of database modelling, database concepts and SQL.
• Experience with data visualization frameworks like D3.js, Plotly, Matplotlib, or similar.

Hybrid working applies to this role, with the expectation of 2-3 days per week onsite.

We create a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.

We embrace modern work practises; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in-office work.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.