Director, Software Engineering - Data, SciTech, Science

The Team

CZI supports the science and technology that will make it possible to help scientists cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of this century. While this may seem like an audacious goal, in the last 100 years, biomedical science has made tremendous strides in understanding biological systems, advancing human health, and treating disease. 

Achieving our mission will only be possible if scientists are able to better understand human biology. To that end, we have identified four grand challenges that will unlock the mysteries of the cell and how cells interact within systems — paving the way for new discoveries that will change medicine in the decades that follow:

• Building an AI-based virtual cell model to predict and understand cellular behavior
• Developing state-of-the-art imaging systems to observe living cells in action
• Instrumenting tissues to better understand inflammation, a key driver of many diseases
• Engineering and harnessing the immune system for early detection, prevention, and treatment of disease

CZI’s work in science includes grantmaking programs, open-source software development, and close collaboration with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network. The CZ Biohub Network includes the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York Biohubs as well as the Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute. CZI also collaborates with institutional partners like the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural & Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University. Join us in accelerating science.

The Opportunity

These scientific challenges require unprecedented scientific datasets to support biological modeling and innovation. We are creating a resource of:

• Billions of single-cell transcriptome measurements, with a focus on measuring genetic and environmental perturbations
• 10s of thousands of donor-matched DNA & RNA samples
• 10s of PBs of static and dynamic imaging datasets
• 100s of TBs of mass spectrometry datasets
• Diverse, large multi-modal biological datasets that enable biological bridges across these measurement types and facilitate multi-modal model training

As Director of Software Engineering - Data in the Science Technology Organization, you would be leading a group of highly motivated and talented engineers to build the Data Platform to ingest, standardize, store, serve, and manage the lifecycle for these data. 

This role will lead a growing software engineering team, working closely with data scientists, AI scientists, and AI engineers, and cross-functionally with Product Managers, Application Scientists, and Computational Biologists to design, build, and maintain data pipelines and a data platform. Our Data Engineering function will create the largest public repository of cell biology data, a critical part of the Virtual Cell Platform, and our mission to build an AI model of the cell and to cure, prevent, and manage disease by the end of the century.

What You'll Do

• Lead an engineering team focused on Data services, developing and supporting data pipelines (to ingest high volumes of imaging, mass spectrometry and sequencing data), a data platform, and preparing data for AI training.
• Work cross-functionally with internal and external partners to develop and deliver on the roadmap and plan the long-term strategy for how Data is a key enabler for our Science ambitions. 
• Participate in and encourage Agile software development practices to deliver frequent value to our users and enable continuous feedback loops.
• Set the technical direction and guide the team on technical decisions, and oversee that best practices are being followed. 
• Ensure quality in the work we deliver. Be a hands-on manager to the team.
• Provide mentoring and career development support to direct reports.
• Hire and onboard engineers to fill resource gaps while building out a diverse team.Attract, evaluate, and hire exceptional software engineering talent with speed and precision, building a high-performing and diverse team in a competitive market.

What You'll Bring

• 12+ years of experience in Software Engineering, with 5+ years of engineering leadership experience (as a people manager)
• Demonstrated ability to architect, deliver, and operate PB-scale data solutions for hybrid on-premise and cloud infrastructure that support model training from rapidly evolving data types.
• Expert knowledge of software engineering with the ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical approaches involving research, analysis, conclusions, and the creation and execution of action plans
• Experience in hiring managing, and growing a team of software engineers and building and evolving a high-performance and high-impact culture

• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team to shape product requirements and designs, and deliver software solutions.
• Ability to serve as an example on providing direction and guidance by communicating clearly, directly and respectfully while inspiring growth and collaboration across multiple audiences, with proven ability to coach and develop engineers’ skills and careers
• Ability to contribute to software design discussions and decisions.Demonstrated ability to contribute to and guide software design discussions, driving strategic technical decisions and fostering alignment across teams.

Compensation

The Redwood City, CA base pay range for this role is $270,000 - $371,800. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process.

Better Together

As we grow, we’re excited to strengthen in-person connections and cultivate a collaborative, team-oriented environment. This role is a hybrid position requiring you to be onsite for at least 60% of the working month, approximately 3 days a week, with specific in-office days determined by the team’s manager. The exact schedule will be at the hiring manager's discretion and communicated during the interview process.

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

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