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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to develop and modernise cutting-edge biological data platforms.
- Company: EMBL-EBI, a leader in biological data analysis and innovation.
- Benefits: Generous salary, flexible working, private medical insurance, and 30 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global scientific research while working with advanced technologies.
- Qualifications: Degree in Computer Science or related field; experience in software development and collaboration.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities and a vibrant campus life.
The predicted salary is between 3303 - 3695 ÂŁ per month.
About The Team
We are looking for a software developer to join the Functional Genomics team at EMBL-EBI. We develop and maintain Expression Atlas and Single Cell Expression Atlas, open science resources that give users a powerful way to find information about gene expression across species, tissues, and disease states. We operate at the cutting edge of biological data. Our resources ingest data from thousands of experiments, ranging from traditional bulk sequencing to massive single-cell matrices. We are an interdisciplinary, agile team where developers, bioinformaticians and curators work closely together to deliver services that meet the needs of the global scientific community.
Your role
We are looking for an experienced Full‑Stack Software Engineer to help modernise and scale the Gene Expression Atlas (GXA), a globally used platform for exploring gene expression across species, tissues, and experimental conditions. This is a production‑first, impact‑driven role. GXA is a mature system with an established user base and critical scientific workflows. Your focus will be on evolving the system safely and incrementally: improving performance, usability, scalability, and operability while maintaining continuity of service. If you enjoy working on real systems with real users, where architectural decisions have long‑term consequences, this role will suit you well.
Specific Responsibilities Include
- Database Evolution: Contributing to the implementation of a secondary database using MongoDB to handle complex metadata and unstructured data more efficiently.
- Performance Engineering: Implementing Redis‑based caching strategies to drastically improve query response times and reduce load on our primary data stores.
- Search Optimisation: Tuning Apache Solr and PostgreSQL configurations to handle large data matrices and improve page load speeds.
- System Modernisation: Collaborating with the Tech Lead to refactor legacy codebases and manage microservices within our Kubernetes cluster.
- Frontend Development: Implementing and updating React components and data visualisations (e.g., heatmaps using Highcharts/D3) to present complex biological data effectively. Evaluating the efficacy of the attempted solutions using real world measurements and adapting them accordingly.
You have
- Technical Aptitude: A degree in Computer Science or related field, with a demonstrated ability to pick up new technologies quickly.
- Broad Tech Stack: We are currently working with Java, Spring, Postgres, Solr, React, planning to migrate some of those to meet our scaling requirements.
- Database Awareness: Solid understanding of database design driven by application requirements.
- Frontend Skills: Proficiency in Javascript/TypeScript and experience with modern frameworks. We are using React.
- Agile Mindset: Enthusiasm for iterative development, code reviews, and working in a collaborative, cross‑functional environment.
- User Awareness: The ability to analyse understand user needs and derive appropriate solutions.
You may also have
- Advanced Data Engineering: Production experience designing and managing MongoDB clusters and implementing Redis caching patterns.
- Search Engine Expertise: Proven experience tuning Apache Solr or Elasticsearch for high‑performance/high‑volume scenarios.
- Architecture Experience: Experience designing microservices, handling data migration strategies, and managing state across distributed systems.
- DevOps Skills: Hands‑on experience with Kubernetes, Helm, and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI/Jenkins).
- Visualisation Depth: Deep knowledge of visualisation libraries (D3.js, Highcharts) and performance optimisation for rendering large datasets in the browser.
- Familiarity with SRE‑style practices: SLIs/SLOs, capacity planning, incident response. Experience with observability tooling (metrics, tracing, logging).
How we work
- Pragmatic, production‑oriented engineering.
- Strong preference for incremental improvement over large rewrites.
- Decisions driven by data: latency, throughput, error rates, user behaviour.
- Close collaboration between engineers, scientists, and product stakeholders.
- Emphasis on clarity, documentation, and long‑term maintainability.
Contract length: 1 year (project based)
Salary: Grade 5 - 6 - monthly salary from ÂŁ3,303 or 3,695 after tax plus generous benefits (excluding pension and insurance contributions)
Interviews: We plan to hold interviews at the end of February/early March 2026.
Why join us
Do something meaningful. At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity. Join a culture of innovation. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Enjoy Lots Of Benefits
- Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non‑resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long‑term care, accident‑at‑work and unemployment insurances
- Flexible working arrangements: Including hybrid working patterns
- Private medical insurance: For you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
- Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
- Relocation package: Including installation grant (if required)
- Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on‑site library, subsidised on‑site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
- Family benefits: On‑site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
- Benefits for non‑UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non‑resident allowance.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.
What else you need to know
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
- How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
Closing Date: 18/02/2026
Full Stack Software Engineer in Cambridge employer: European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
Contact Detail:
European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Full Stack Software Engineer in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at EMBL-EBI on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. Personal connections can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice problems relevant to full-stack development. Being sharp on your tech skills will help you shine during those coding challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your projects! If you've worked on any relevant software or data visualisation projects, make sure to highlight them in your discussions. Real-world examples of your work can demonstrate your capabilities and passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at EMBL-EBI. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Full Stack Software Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Full Stack Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java, Spring, and React, and show us how your skills align with our mission at EMBL-EBI.
Showcase Your Projects: Include links to your GitHub or any relevant projects in your CV. We love seeing real examples of your work, especially if they demonstrate your ability to handle complex data and user needs, just like we do with the Gene Expression Atlas.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your CV and cover letter, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points for easy reading and make sure to highlight your key achievements and experiences that relate directly to the role. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our online system! It’s the best way for us to receive your materials and ensures you’re considered for the position. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java, Spring, Postgres, and React. Brush up on your knowledge of MongoDB and Redis as well, since they’ll be crucial for the role. Being able to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially those related to performance engineering or system modernisation. Think about how you’ve improved query response times or refactored legacy code. Real-world examples will demonstrate your ability to tackle the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Understand User Needs
Since this role involves working closely with users, be ready to talk about how you’ve gathered user feedback and translated it into technical solutions. Highlight any experience you have with user awareness and how it influenced your development process. This will show that you can think beyond just coding and consider the end-user experience.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This position requires working in an interdisciplinary team, so be prepared to discuss your experience in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you’ve worked with bioinformaticians or other developers to achieve a common goal. Highlighting your agile mindset and enthusiasm for teamwork will resonate well with the interviewers.
