At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the delivery of scalable data pipelines for AI and analytics in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join IDBS, a leader in BioPharma innovation with a commitment to saving lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on trust, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on healthcare by working with cutting-edge data technologies.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with data pipelines and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About IDBS
At IDBS, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. IDBS helps BioPharma organizations unlock the potential of AI/ML to improve the lives of patients. As a trusted long‑term partner to 80% of the top 20 global BioPharma companies, IDBS delivers powerful cloud software and services specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of the BioPharma sector. IDBS, a Danaher company, leverages 35 years of scientific informatics expertise to help organizations design, execute and orchestrate processes, manage, contextualize and structure data and gain valuable insights throughout the product lifecycle, from R&D through manufacturing.
Known for its signature IDBS E‑WorkBook software, IDBS has extended its flexible, scalable solutions to the IDBS Polar and PIMS cloud platforms to help scientists make smarter decisions with assured confidence in both GxP and non‑GxP environments.
Do you want to work in a dynamic, fast paced, high performing, safe‑to‑fail and fun environment founded on trust, empowerment and autonomy? Do you enjoy solving complex customer problems as a team?
The Principal Data Software Engineer plays a critical role in the hands‑on delivery and evolution of IDBS’s data platforms. Operating at principal level, the role focuses on building, operating, and continuously improving reliable, scalable, and compliant data capabilities that support AI, analytics, and enterprise workflows. Acting as a senior technical leader, the Principal Engineer influences data engineering decisions through deep practical expertise, balances near‑term delivery with long‑term maintainability, and ensures data platforms can sustainably support growing product, data, and regulatory demands.
In This Role, You Will Have The Opportunity To:
- Lead the hands‑on delivery of reliable, scalable data pipelines and datasets that power AI discoverability, analytics, reporting, and workflow automation across scientific, clinical, and enterprise data.
- Build, evolve, and operate data ingestion and processing capabilities for structured, semi‑structured, and unstructured data, supporting the transition from early prototypes through early adoption and general release.
- Implement and maintain rich metadata and data quality practices that enable cross‑record querying, traceability, and AI‑ready data access across experiments, files, inventory, and workflows.
- Partner closely with architects, AI engineers, workflow engineers, and domain experts to ensure data is usable, performant, and trustworthy for downstream GenAI and analytics use cases.
- Act as a technical leader by setting a high bar for data engineering practices, mentoring engineers through code and delivery, and unblocking complex data challenges within the team.
The Essential Requirements Of The Job Include:
- Significant hands‑on experience building and operating production data pipelines that support analytics, AI/ML, and enterprise application use cases.
- Strong practical experience working with unstructured and structured data, including ingestion, transformation, enrichment, indexing, and lifecycle management.
- Proven ability to deliver high‑quality, production‑grade data systems with a focus on data quality, reliability, scalability, observability, and operational support.
- Experience enabling data for downstream AI and reporting use cases, including cross‑entity queries, contextual linking, and performant data access patterns.
- Demonstrated principal‑level impact through technical delivery, mentorship, and collaboration across teams, rather than through line management or pure architecture ownership.
Desirable (but Not Essential):
- Experience supporting GenAI, NLP, or AI‑driven discovery and reporting use cases through well‑designed data pipelines and curated datasets.
- Familiarity with cloud‑based data platforms and tooling, including Databricks and AWS, in production enterprise environments.
- Experience working with data in regulated or quality‑sensitive domains (e.g. life sciences or GxP‑aligned environments), including auditability and traceability considerations.
Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real‑life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.
Principal Software Engineer- Data Platforms in Woking employer: IDBS
At IDBS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, where every team member is empowered to make a tangible impact in the BioPharma sector. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through mentorship opportunities and collaborative problem-solving, all within a supportive environment that values trust and autonomy. Located at the forefront of scientific informatics, IDBS offers unique advantages such as working with cutting-edge AI/ML technologies and partnering with leading global BioPharma companies, making it a truly rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer- Data Platforms in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do, especially for a tech role like Principal Software Engineer.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and coding challenges. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using platforms that simulate real interview scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer- Data Platforms in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with data pipelines, AI/ML, and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in building scalable data systems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about working at IDBS and how your background aligns with our mission to innovate for tangible impact in the BioPharma sector.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Include specific examples of your hands-on experience with data ingestion, transformation, and any cloud platforms you've worked with, especially if they relate to the job description.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at IDBS
✨Know Your Data Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the types of data you'll be working with, especially structured and unstructured data. Brush up on your experience with data pipelines and how they support AI/ML applications, as this will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Technical Leadership
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've acted as a technical leader. Highlight instances where you've mentored others or solved complex data challenges, as IDBS values collaboration and mentorship within their teams.
✨Understand the BioPharma Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the BioPharma sector and how data plays a role in improving patient outcomes. Being able to speak knowledgeably about industry trends and challenges will demonstrate your commitment and understanding of IDBS's mission.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think through potential challenges you might face in building scalable data platforms and how you would approach them, particularly in a regulated environment.