Senior Scientific Data Engineer

Exceptional health benefits, generous time off, and a collaborative culture that values every contributor. This role sits at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Joint Genome Institute (JGI), offering strong health coverage, ample paid time off and holidays, and relocation assistance. With a hybrid work schedule eligible, you can balance on site collaboration with flexible work from home while helping advance genomic research and data platforms. The position also provides opportunities to lead major technical initiatives within a supportive, inclusive environment that invests in its teams.

Responsibilities

• Convert complex scientific, operational, and user needs into detailed specifications, system designs, and actionable implementation plans for enhancements, integrations, and shared data platforms.
• Design, build, deploy, and support core systems, APIs, and workflows for the Laboratory Information Management System ecosystem, data warehouse and data lakehouse, and proposal/project management tools that enable genomic data generation, metadata handling, and laboratory operations.
• Lead the resolution of challenging technical issues, drive system improvements, and ensure production platforms are reliable, scalable, interoperable, and high performing.
• Promote engineering excellence through reviews, documentation, mentorship, and ongoing refinement of development and operational processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, plus a minimum of eight years of professional experience developing, integrating, deploying, and supporting production software applications and data systems that support metadata management, workflow orchestration, data lifecycle operations, and broad user access to scientific and operational data, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Hands-on experience with data engineering and event driven technologies such as Airflow, Kafka, or related tools.
• Experience with diverse data storage technologies, including relational databases, object storage, and systems that support structured, semi structured, and large scale datasets.
• Strong foundations in software and data engineering for large scale production systems, including system design, APIs, testing, concurrency, reliability, scalability, interoperability, and performance optimization.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with one or more additional programming languages.
• Experience using AI assisted development tools, with demonstrated ability to evaluate and validate generated code for production use.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership in shaping system architecture and direction across cross functional engineering groups.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to organize and present complex technical information to internal teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with stakeholders to understand project goals and translate complex scientific, operational, and user requirements into automated systems, technical specifications, and implementation plans.

Technologies

• Python
• Airflow
• Kafka
• Laboratory Information Management System (LMS/LIMS)
• Data Warehouse / Data Lakehouse
• AI assisted development tools

Additional information

• Application timing: Priority consideration for resumes and cover letters by June 22, 2026. Applications accepted until the posting is removed.
• Appointment type: Full time, exempt from overtime, monthly paid, two year benefits eligible term appointment with potential extension or conversion to career status based on performance and funding.
• Salary: Budgeted $139,440 to $174,312 per year, within the broader range for the role; final offer determined by qualifications and experience.
• Background check: Completion of a background check; convictions evaluated for relevance to responsibilities; not an automatic disqualification.
• Work modality: Hybrid schedule eligible, located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA; residence within 150 miles preferred; full remote on rare occasions. Real ID or acceptable ID required for site access.
• Relocation: Relocation assistance is available.
• Work authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not provided.