Ensembl is one of the most successful large-scale bioinformatics projects and one of the leading projects for genome annotation. We import massive amounts of data from various archives (genome sequences, variation archives, etc) and use them to create syntheses (gene annotation, whole-genome alignments, gene trees, regulatory elements, etc). We are looking for an enthusiastic Software Developer to join our team and help change the world with our resources. 

Our services are freely open to all scientists around the world, and serve a range of uses, from basic science to biomedical research.  The Applications team in particular develops and maintains specialised web services that offer scientists specialised views into the Ensembl data ecosystem.

Your role

In this role, you will have the opportunity to design, build and deliver APIs and services that will be used by biomedical researchers around the world and accelerate genomic science.  The data these services will provide will also be consumed by internal services; externally facing websites and the scientific community.

You will be responsible for designing and creating RESTful APIs, GraphQL and gRPC services, as well as building data loading pipelines for them. The projects you will be working on are relatively new and there will be the opportunity for you to research and suggest architectural options and see them through to delivery.

You will be expected to be able to work independently; with other members of the team and with other teams at EMBL-EBI in a collaborative environment. You will engage with specialist users who will collaborate in the design of new tools. Although this is not a research role, EMBL-EBI is a research organisation and this is reflected in its culture. Within the team you will be able to help evolve best practices and have input into broader discussions.Apply now

Closing date: 24 September 2023

  • Contract duration: Grant Based contract which will end in September 2026
  • Grading: Grade 5 – 6 (monthly salary starting at £3,090 – £3,456 after tax) plus other paid benefits depending on personal circumstances
  • Reference number: EBI02150

Related

You have

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelors or higher degree, or have equivalent experience, in Computer Science or related fields.

  • Previous experience of working as a software developer in a collaborative environment
  • Experience of using Git
  • Good working knowledge of 2 or more programming languages, including Python
  • Practical experience of RDBMSs and NoSQL solutions (including Mysql, and MongoDB)
  • Experience of RESTful API design, development and utilisation
  • Experience of GraphQL API design, development and utilisation
  • Experience of Linux
  • Experience with collaborative development tools such as GitHub, Jira and Confluence
  • A genuine curiosity about science
  • A desire to write quality, maintainable code as part of a team
  • Excellent spoken and written English 

You might also have

Experience with the following would be advantageous but not essential:

  • Large biological datasets
  • Working in the Life Sciences arena 
  • Familiarity and experience of working with Agile methodologies 
  • Experience of gRPC
  • Perl
  • Experience of containerisation
  • Experience of managing CI / CD pipelines
  • Deploying applications using Kubernetes

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
  • 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 to eight bank holidays
  • Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)
  • 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 more details please see our employee benefits page.

 

Developers at EMBL-EBI

What it is like to be a developer at EMBL-EBI?

Image of EMBL-EBI staff member at her desk
“Since my first day at EMBL-EBI, I have cherished how friendly, helpful and talented everyone is. I particularly like the lively exchange of knowledge on campus.”
Anja Thormann, Software Developer, Variation team

What else you need to know

  • Contract duration: This position is a grant based position with a current end date of September 2026.
  • International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
  • Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
  • EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment in our recruitment processes here.
  • Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.
  • How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system.
  • Interview Date: We are planning on interviewing week commencing 16th October 2023

Apply now

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