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- Tasks: Design and develop robust backend services and APIs for groundbreaking bioinformatics projects.
- Company: Join the innovative Ellison Institute of Technology, tackling humanity's biggest challenges.
- Benefits: Enjoy enhanced holiday pay, private medical insurance, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in health and science while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend programming and cloud technologies is essential.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values creativity and encourages continuous learning.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.
Led by a world-class faculty of scientists, technologists, policy makers, economists and entrepreneurs, the Ellison Institute of Technology aims to develop and deploy commercially sustainable solutions to solve some of humanity's most enduring challenges. Our work is guided by four Humane Endeavours: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology; Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture; Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2; and Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.
The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle’s cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system. This initiative aims to improve diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatments by profiling antimicrobial resistance, with the goal of delivering certified diagnostic tools for widespread use in labs, hospitals, and public health.
EIT Oxford fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges. We are seeking a Backend Software Engineer to build platform services that store and make data accessible within our platform. In this role, you will design and implement robust, resilient backend services, APIs, and cloud infrastructure. You’ll work closely with a cross‑functional team, including architects, platform engineers, and data engineers, to create infrastructure that enables EIT’s scientists to easily find and access the data they need for groundbreaking bioinformatics pipelines and data products.
Key Responsibilities- Design, develop, and maintain highly performant, scalable, and secure backend services and APIs using technologies such as Python and NodeJS.
- Collaborate with science teams, full‑stack engineers, and data engineers to understand data requirements and integrate user needs into backend data services.
- Develop and maintain RESTful APIs to make platform data findable and accessible in line with FAIR principles.
- Build APIs that support interoperability and federation for pathogen clinical diagnostics, epidemiology monitoring, and research.
- Work with data engineers to create pipelines and processes for storing and transforming platform data for easy consumption.
- Implement and manage data storage solutions, including data lakes, data warehouses, and databases (e.g., object storage, Oracle Autonomous Database, PostgreSQL).
- Support innovation by exploring new technologies such as vector databases for search and AI use cases.
- Work with big data technologies like Kafka, Iceberg, and Parquet, as well as managed database technologies such as PostgreSQL and Oracle vector databases.
- Operate, monitor, and maintain Oracle Cloud infrastructure to ensure backend services are highly available, scalable, and secure.
- Collaborate with DevSecOps engineers to automate deployments and adopt best‑practice CI/CD.
- Document and communicate APIs to engineers and bioinformaticians so they can build pipelines and user‑facing data products effectively.
- Provide technical standards for backend engineers to deliver clean, standardised, maintainable, testable, and reusable code.
- Ensure solutions are documented and aligned with defined architecture governance processes.
- Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting systems to maintain platform health and performance.
- Proven experience as a backend cloud engineer, data engineer, or similar role.
- Proficiency in backend programming languages and API frameworks (Python, NodeJS, Django, FastAPI).
- Experience building flexible APIs using GraphQL.
- Expertise in at least one cloud platform and its related managed data services.
- Familiarity with big data technologies (Parquet, Iceberg) and streaming platforms (Kafka).
- Strong knowledge of database systems, SQL data model design, and query optimisation.
- Experience with containerisation (Kubernetes, Docker).
- Ability to deliver scalable, performant data services using microservice architectures.
- Proven experience developing architectures using containerisation and serverless approaches (Oracle Functions, AWS Lambda).
- Experience managing teams and fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture.
- Understanding of Agile practices and sprint‑based methodology.
- Ability to actively contribute to knowledge sharing.
- Knowledge of genomics.
- Experience with Oracle OCI.
- Understanding of federation standards for genomics (GA4GH).
- Experience with healthcare clinical data and associated standards (OMOP, SNOMED).
- Strong collaboration skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
- Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and communication skills.
- Willingness to learn and upskill in new technologies.
- Hands‑on approach to exploring new technologies and developing POCs.
- Enhanced holiday pay.
- Pension.
- Life Assurance.
- Income Protection.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Hospital Cash Plan.
- Therapy Services.
- Perk Box.
- Electrical Car Scheme.
At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!
Terms of Appointment- You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
- You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
- During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.
Backend Software Engineer - Pathogen in Oxford employer: Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford
Contact Detail:
Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Software Engineer - Pathogen in Oxford
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of landing that dream job at EIT.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving backend services and APIs. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tailor Your Approach
When reaching out to companies like EIT, make sure to tailor your message. Highlight how your skills in Python, NodeJS, and cloud technologies align with their mission. Personal touches can make all the difference!
✨Apply Through Our Website
We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll be one step closer to joining our innovative team at EIT!
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Software Engineer - Pathogen in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Backend Software Engineer role. Highlight your proficiency in Python, NodeJS, and any relevant cloud technologies to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about the Pathogen Mission and how your background makes you a great fit. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Projects: If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving APIs or cloud infrastructure, make sure to mention them. We love seeing practical examples of your work and how you tackle challenges.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python, NodeJS, and cloud platforms. Brush up on your knowledge of RESTful APIs and big data technologies like Kafka and Parquet. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Understand the Mission
Familiarise yourself with the Ellison Institute's goals, especially the Pathogen Mission. Knowing how your role as a Backend Software Engineer contributes to improving diagnostics and epidemic warnings will help you align your answers with their vision during the interview.
✨Collaboration is Key
Since the role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, be prepared to discuss your experience in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you've worked with data engineers or scientists to meet project goals, highlighting your communication skills and teamwork.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready for your interviewers. Ask about the team dynamics, the technologies they are exploring, or how they measure success in the role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
