Principal Software Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Software Engineer with a strong background in Python-based backend development and scalable architecture design for data-driven applications. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience working with relational databases, frontend technologies such as React.js and D3.js, and cloud platforms, particularly Microsoft Azure. This role involves leading engineering teams, contributing directly to the codebase, and collaborating closely with product and client stakeholders to deliver robust biomedical data platform solutions.

Key Responsibilities

- Design, document, and implement scalable backend and data-processing architectures using Python frameworks such as Django and FastAPI, integrated with frontend technologies like React.js and D3.js.
- Lead project-level technical direction, including API design, data contracts, ingestion workflows, analytics pipelines, and cloud service integrations, ensuring maintainability, extensibility, and scalability across applications, data warehouses, reporting, and client-facing use cases.
- Architect reusable backend components, messaging systems, analytics modules, and data-processing pipelines focused on long-term maintainability, observability, and performance.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, guiding design discussions, code reviews, task breakdowns, debugging, release planning, and communication with product and client stakeholders.
- Develop and optimize PostgreSQL and SQL Server/Azure SQL databases, including schema design, query optimization, stored procedures, and performance tuning.
- Build and maintain Airflow-supported ETL/data ingestion workflows and integrate data warehouses.
- Manage cloud-based backend processing using Microsoft Azure services such as Azure Functions, Queues, Log Analytics, and Azure SQL.
- Implement event-driven processing, asynchronous workflows, and backend integration patterns.
- Utilize Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines, environment promotion, release coordination, and deployment reliability.
- Collaborate using Git with established code review workflows and branching strategies.
- Support production environments with containerization, Linux command shell scripting, and production tooling.
- Use PostHog for application analytics, product insights, and usage tracking.
- Act as a technical escalation point for complex backend, database, data-processing, and production issues.
- Participate in on-call production support, working with DevOps teams to manage outages, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate resolution efforts.
- Work closely with clients to establish architecture, processes, and software backlogs.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- 6-7 years of production-level software development experience with a strong focus on Python backend systems.
- Minimum of 5 years of expert-level Python programming experience.
- Extensive experience with PostgreSQL database development, including schema design, relational data modeling, indexing, joins, stored functions, views, query optimization, and performance tuning.
- Proficiency in SQL Server/Azure SQL with experience in stored procedures, views, data models, query optimization, reporting, and analytical workflows.
- Solid experience with Microsoft Azure cloud services, including Azure Functions, Queues, Log Analytics, and Azure SQL.
- Strong knowledge of Airflow for ETL and data ingestion workflows.
- Experience with event-driven processing, asynchronous workflows, and backend integration patterns.
- Familiarity with Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipeline management.
- Proficient with Git, code review processes, branching strategies, and collaborative software delivery.
- Comfortable working with containers, Linux command shells, scripting, and production support tooling.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor engineering teams, including technical communication with product and client stakeholders.
- Fluent English communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly.
- Strong business acumen to align technical solutions with business objectives.
- Proven track record of direct code contribution, especially on complex tasks and features.
- Experience leading teams of 5+ engineers in production environments for at least 3 years.

Preferred Qualifications and Additional Responsibilities

- Experience with PostHog or similar application analytics tools.
- Ability to engage in production-critical discussions and be available for stakeholder and client interactions.
- Willingness to participate in on-call rotations for production support and incident management.
- Collaborative mindset to work closely with clients in defining processes, architecture, and software backlogs.

This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge biomedical data platforms, lead technical initiatives, and contribute significantly to both backend and frontend development within a dynamic and collaborative environment.