Pharmaceutical / Drug Discovery
We are working with a well-established drug discovery organisation to recruit an Informatics Specialist on a two year fixed term basis. This is a technical, backend-focused role sitting within a broader informatics function, where you will play a central part in connecting complex scientific data with the software tools used by researchers and scientists across the business.
The Role
You will be responsible for the design, development and maintenance of production-ready APIs that expose scientific data across the organisation. Working closely with the Head of Informatics, you will take ownership of relational database models, lead ORM implementation and ensure data pipelines are robust, scalable and fit for purpose in a high-dimensional screening environment.
Day to day you can expect to be working across API architecture, database performance tuning, third-party software integration and automated data pipelines, with a real focus on quality and developer experience.
What you will be doing:
Building and deploying RESTful or GraphQL APIs using FastAPI, Flask or Spring Boot
Leading implementation of complex data relations using SQLAlchemy, Django ORM or JPA/Hibernate, with a strong focus on query optimisation and performance
Evolving and maintaining relational database models to support complex molecular and screening data
Resolving bottlenecks in data retrieval through indexing strategies, ORM-generated SQL optimisation and caching
Establishing and enforcing API standards across the team, including OpenAPI/Swagger documentation
Building connectors to integrate third-party scientific tools such as Dotmatics, Revvity Signals or Titian Mosaic with internal data stores
Designing and maintaining automated pipelines to move data from instruments and LIMS into a centralised data warehouseWhat we are looking for:
3 to 5 years of professional experience in a software engineering or informatics role with a strong backend and API focus
Hands-on experience with SQLAlchemy (Python) or JPA/Hibernate (Java) for complex relational mappings and performance tuning
Strong command of Python (FastAPI/Flask) or Java (Spring ecosystem)
Deep understanding of PostgreSQL or MySQL, including execution plan analysis and normalisation
Familiarity with Docker, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub/GitLab Actions) and API security practices (OAuth2, JWT)
A background in or genuine familiarity with the drug discovery process and its supporting tools
A degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics or a related disciplineExperience with Celery or Redis for managing long-running scientific computations would be a bonus, as would relevant industry certifications.
Interested?
If you have a background in scientific software or informatics and are looking for a role where your backend and API work has genuine research impact, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with the team at Pure Resourcing Solutions for a confidential conversation
Salary description
£45000.00 - £50000.00 per year