Staff Software Engineer (Lab Technology) #4907

Staff Software Engineer (Lab Technology) #4907

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Grailbio

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and implement software systems for cancer detection data management.
  • Company: Join a pioneering healthcare company transforming cancer care with innovative technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, long-term incentives, and a supportive work environment.
  • Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fight against cancer while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in software engineering, experience in regulated environments, and proficiency in Go or Python.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured.

We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care.

We are a healthcare company, pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection.

We have built a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, engineers, and physicians and we are using the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS), population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the‑art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges.

GRAIL is headquartered in the bay area of California, with locations in Washington, D.

C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom.

It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.

For more information, please visit grail. com

GRAIL is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for the Data Team.

This team designs, builds, and operates the software systems that manage GRAIL’s end-to‑end data lifecycle, from sample ingestion through downstream analysis, while meeting rigorous clinical, regulatory, and privacy standards.

Our work directly supports clinical research, operations, and decision‑making in the fight against cancer.

In this role, you will take technical ownership of systems that produce trusted, analysis‑ready datasets for use across GRAIL’s research and clinical programs.

This is a software engineering role focused on building complex production‑grade systems that work with data in dynamic, regulated environments as opposed to assembling off‑the‑shelf ETL tools or writing SQL heavy pipelines,.

This position offers significant autonomy and scope for impact.

You’ll collaborate closely with research, clinical lab operations, and scientific teams , and lead efforts to improve how we structure, validate, and deliver critical scientific and clinical data.

You will normally be working a hybrid of remote and office based, with no less than 3 days in the office (Mon, Wed and an additional day in office); when you are working out of our London office, you will be based at 210 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DA, in line with company needs.

  • Design and implement software systems that turn raw clinical, lab, and operational data into reliable, analysis‑ready datasets
  • Partner with scientists, clinicians, lab operations, and data teams to understand data generation, transformation, and usage needs
  • Develop services, libraries, data models, and workflow components that enforce data integrity, access control, and compliance by design
  • Navigate complex data requirements such as schema evolution, blinding, consent, and privacy compliance
  • Collaborate on cross‑functional initiatives involving data quality, testing strategy, monitoring, and operational excellence
  • Lead software engineering efforts for long‑lived systems that must evolve alongside active clinical and research programs
  • Mentor engineers and collaborate with scientists to ensure software decisions support both technical and scientific outcomes
  • Contribute to documentation, onboarding materials, and processes that support cross‑functional adoption and data literacy across teams
  • Participate in incident response or investigation processes related to data quality or availability issues in production systems

These responsibilities summarize the role’s primary responsibilities and are not an exhaustive list. They may change at the company’s discretion.

  • 7+ years of experience building production‑grade software systems
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals, including system design, data modeling, API design, and writing well‑tested production code.
  • Experience building and operating data‑intensive software systems, not just declarative pipelines or SQL‑only workflows
  • Proficiency in Go or Python (or similar general‑purpose language)
  • Experience with data modeling, validation, and transforming real‑world data into usable formats
  • BS in Computer Science, Engineering or Bioinformatics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
  • 2+ years experience working in regulated or clinical data environments (e. g., HIPAA, CLIA, GCP, FDA compliance)
  • Direct experience working with or supporting scientific teams (e. g., bioinformatics, wet lab, clinical research)
  • Experience designing systems that manage laboratory or bioinformatics data (e. g., LIMS, sequencing pipelines, assay metadata)
  • Familiarity with Gx P practices and regulatory reporting requirements in clinical studies is a plus
  • Prior experience working in biotech, diagnostics, or life sciences companies
  • Experience supporting sample tracking, structured scientific data pipelines, or cross‑functional data lifecycle management
  • Experience designing systems with data sequestration, permissioning, or privacy controls
  • Experience writing or contributing to software libraries, shared tooling, or reusable components used by other teams
  • Advanced degree (MS or Ph D) in computer science, engineering, bioinformatics or a related discipline
  • Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan.

We also offer a long‑term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we are committed to building a workplace where every individual can thrive, contribute, and grow.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable law.

GRAIL maintains a drug‑free workplace.

We welcome job‑seekers from all backgrounds to join us!

We will consider all qualified job‑seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities in order to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Please contact us at rc@grailbio. com to request an accommodation associated with your application for an open position.

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Staff Software Engineer (Lab Technology) #4907 employer: Grailbio

GRAIL is an exceptional employer dedicated to pioneering early cancer detection technologies, fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers employees to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. With a strong focus on professional growth, GRAIL offers opportunities for mentorship and cross-functional collaboration, all while providing a supportive environment in the vibrant city of London. Employees enjoy competitive benefits, including participation in annual bonus plans and long-term incentives, ensuring alignment with both individual and company success.

Grailbio

Contact Details:

Grailbio Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer (Lab Technology) #4907

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Grailbio or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Grailbio.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

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Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Grailbio that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Staff Software Engineer (Lab Technology) #4907

Software Engineering Fundamentals
System Design
Data Modeling
API Design
Production Code Testing
Proficiency in Go or Python
Data Validation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Grailbio.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Grailbio and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Grailbio

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Grailbio uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.