At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deploy AI solutions in collaboration with top pharma and biotech companies.
- Company: Owkin, an innovative AI company transforming biology with cutting-edge technology.
- Benefits: Flexible work, friendly environment, and a chance to work with an international team.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and mentor junior engineers while shaping the future of biology.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by solving complex biological challenges with AI.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering, fluent in Python, and experience with AI frameworks.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 98000 £ per year.
Owkin is an AI company on a mission to solve the complexity of biology. It is building the first Biology Super Intelligence (BASI) by combining powerful biological large language models, multimodal patient data, and agentic software. At the heart of this system is Owkin K, an AI copilot and its new LLM fine-tuned on biology called Owkin Zero, used by researchers, clinicians, and drug developers to better understand biology, validate scientific hypotheses, and deliver better diagnostics and therapies faster.
This position is remote and based in the UK, Germany or France. Please submit your CV in English.
We are seeking exceptional Senior Forward Deployed Engineers to work at the intersection of AI, software systems, and biology. In this role, you will partner directly with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to solve high-impact problems by designing, building, and deploying production-grade solutions on top of our agentic AI platform, Owkin K. This is a deeply hands-on engineering role: you will write code, build integrations, design system architectures, and rapidly prototype new capabilities that bring advanced AI into real scientific workflows. A significant portion of this work will be conducted at the customer’s premises. You will collaborate with internal domain experts to design and deliver together on the client expectations. You will also help shape the roadmap of our product by distilling insights from the field back into the platform.
This is an opportunity to set the standard for how the team operates, and contribute to the growth of more junior engineers in a dynamic environment, all while learning from experienced team members with diverse, interdisciplinary backgrounds, and contributing to turning frontier research work into reliable, deployable solutions.
You will operate across three core dimensions:
- Build real systems: Design, implement, and deploy production-grade AI systems on top of Owkin K. You will write code, build integrations, design data pipelines and APIs, and turn ambiguous problems into reliable software used in critical scientific and operational workflows.
- Solve problems with users: Work directly with engineers, data scientists, biologists and clinicians from our customers: leading pharma and biotech companies, as well as within Owkin. You will translate ambiguous scientific and operational challenges into concrete software solutions, rapidly prototyping, iterating with users, and delivering results that have measurable impact.
- Deploy in the real world: Integrate solutions into large, complex, and regulated organizations. You will work with diverse datasets, existing systems, and multiple stakeholders to ensure that the tools you build are reliable, scalable, and actively used in production.
In particular, you will:
- Embed deeply with external customers to solve high-leverage problems by customizing and extending Owkin’s agentic platform K;
- Design, build, and deploy tailored solutions on top of Owkin K, guiding them from conception through final delivery;
- Drive rapid prototyping and iteration to validate solutions early and frequently;
- Balance scope, speed, and quality, adapting plans to ensure successful delivery;
- Act as a technical cornerstone for the team, championing best practices, setting high engineering standards, helping others grow and mentor more junior FDEs;
- Communicate clearly across technical and non-technical stakeholders to align expectations;
- Collaborate with Customer Success Managers, Domain Experts, Product and Engineering teams to guarantee effective delivery, client satisfaction, and sustained adoption of Owkin’s product;
- Turn proven patterns into reusable, scalable components, tools, and playbooks;
- Bridge the gap between field realities and product strategy - bringing structured, actionable insight feedback that drives roadmap direction.
Above all, we seek curious individuals who are driven to learn through hands-on experience and who embrace a strong bias for action. In addition to this, the following skills are required:
- Strong engineering background: 5+ years of experience as a software engineer, with a focus on backend systems.
- Fluent in Python and modern engineering tools and coding co-pilots: write clean, production-grade code, drive architectural decisions, lead technical design discussions.
- Proven track record leading software development at scale in production.
- Experience working with LLMs and agentic AI frameworks.
- Ability to simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under time pressure.
- Communicate effectively across diverse audiences: technical teams, product managers and non-technical stakeholders. Adapt language and detail to ensure clarity and alignment.
- Thrive in fast-evolving environments by staying flexible, embracing ambiguity, and proactively driving progress despite incomplete information.
Candidates not meeting all criteria, but who can demonstrate exceptional skill in key areas, are invited to apply.
Bonus skills/experience:
- Proven experience building and deploying on cloud platforms.
- Understanding of the drug development pipeline and related scientific workflows.
- Full stack experience.
- Familiarity with biostatistics, computational biology, or medical imaging.
What we offer:
- Flexible work organization.
- Friendly and informal working environment.
- Opportunity to work with an international team with high technical and scientific backgrounds.
Owkin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status or on the basis of disability.
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer employer: meeveem
Owkin is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where employees are empowered to tackle complex biological challenges using cutting-edge AI technology. With flexible work arrangements and the opportunity to engage with an international team of experts, Owkin prioritises employee growth through mentorship and hands-on experience in a dynamic environment. This role not only allows you to contribute to meaningful advancements in healthcare but also offers a unique chance to shape the future of AI in biology while working closely with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
✨Get Involved in Local Research Communities
Tap into local biotechnology meetups and research forums. These are great places to mingle with industry professionals, share your passion, and even discover unadvertised job openings. It's all about getting your face known in the field!
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✨Show Off Your Projects
Curate a portfolio showcasing any research projects or internships you've completed in biotechnology. This tangible evidence of your skills can really impress employers when you chat with them at networking events or interviews. It's about making that killer first impression!
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Biotech is a fast-paced field, so keeping yourself updated with the latest advancements is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to broaden your knowledge and meet potential employers. Plus, it’ll give you fantastic talking points for your interviews at places like meeveem!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Lab Skills:In the biotechnology field, it's super important to highlight your lab experience in your CV. Be sure to mention specific techniques or instruments you've mastered (think PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and any relevant projects you've worked on. This will show meeveem that you have the hands-on skills they need.
Tailor Your Technical Skills:Make sure to emphasise your technical skills, especially those relevant to the biotechnology sector. Include any software tools or programming languages you've used, like R or Python for data analysis, which could be key for this role at meeveem.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time role, your cover letter should reflect not only your passion for biotechnology but also your long-term career ambitions. Share why you're excited about the work that meeveem does and how you envision contributing to their goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely invested in this opportunity.
Include Your Papers and Projects:If you've published any papers or contributed to significant projects, mention them! These documents can boost your application and provide tangible evidence of your expertise in the biotechnology field. Don’t forget to link to any relevant publications or project summaries—this can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at meeveem
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
Since you're eyeing a full-time gig in biotechnology, make sure you're well-versed in the lab techniques relevant to the role. Be ready to talk about PCR, CRISPR, or any specific methods mentioned in the job description at meeveem. You might even be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these processes.
✨Know Your Bioinformatics Tools
Get comfortable with bioinformatics tools that are commonly used in the industry, like BLAST or Bioconductor. These are key in biotechnology, and having hands-on experience or at least familiarity can set you apart. Prepare to discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, especially if they involved data analysis or genomic research.
✨Show Your Teamwork Skills
Biotech often involves collaboration across multiple disciplines. Be ready to share stories that highlight your teamwork and communication skills, especially in research projects. Think about working with different teams at university or any internships – this is where you can show how well you fit into meeveem's culture.
✨Research Recent Biotech Innovations
Stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in biotechnology. Knowing what's happening in the field can help you engage in more meaningful discussions during your interview. Bring up recent articles or advancements that excite you, especially those related to the work being done at meeveem. This shows your passion for the industry!
