Software Engineer - Research Data Platform

About Bioptimus and the Role

Bioptimus is pioneering a universal AI foundation model for biology, aiming to accelerate biomedical innovation and breakthroughs. Founded in October 2023 and headquartered in Paris, this rapidly expanding startup has secured over $75 million in funding from leading global VCs. The company is redefining AI and life sciences through a world-class team of scientists and engineers. This Software Engineer position on the research data platform team supports a fully remote work model within the EU and plays a crucial role in building the core data infrastructure to empower cutting-edge AI models and tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-performance, scalable data schemas and storage infrastructure tailored for AI workloads.
• Enhance storage systems by benchmarking and refining distributed storage using methods such as chunking, compression, and parallelization.
• Produce maintainable, production-quality code following rigorous software engineering and clean code standards.
• Create well-documented, strongly typed APIs facilitating programmatic access for researchers, engineers, and AI agents.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to prioritize, scope, and deliver data platform projects end-to-end.
• Continuously monitor and tune performance across database queries, storage I/O, pipelines, and cloud resource usage.
• Partner with platform engineers to enforce data governance, including validation, testing, versioning, and access controls.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Python with an emphasis on clean, readable, and maintainable production code.
• Hands-on experience with Python-based backend frameworks and tools such as Pydantic, SQLAlchemy, Alembic, object storage layers, and FastAPI or similar.
• Strong expertise in relational databases, particularly PostgreSQL, including schema design, indexing, and query optimization.
• Background in designing API interfaces and familiarity with programmatic access protocols like the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• A product-focused approach valuing usability and accessibility of data infrastructure for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred but Not Essential

• Exposure to biological data formats (histology, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, clinical trial data) or experience in biotech/health tech sectors.
• Proven adaptability and ownership mindset in fast-growth startup environments.
• Experience with distributed array storage technologies such as xarray, Zarr, TileDB, TIFF and comfort with their internals.
• Knowledge of workflow orchestration tools including Dagster, Airflow, Prefect, or similar.
• Experience integrating or developing frontend data visualization tools.
• Effective communication skills to clarify complex data architecture concepts for diverse audiences including scientists and product managers.

Application Process

• Submit your CV in English for consideration.
• Initial screening call with recruitment personnel followed by a detailed interview with the hiring manager.
• System design interview covering data schema, storage strategies, and API planning.
• Take-home project with coding and reporting, allowing open use of AI tools but requiring defense of solutions.
• Presentation and Q&A with technical panel reviewing your assignment.
• Executive interview focusing on cultural and strategic fit.
• Offer contingent on successful reference checks and completion of interviews, followed by onboarding.

Why Join Bioptimus

• Contribute to a collaborative, mission-driven environment at the intersection of biology and artificial intelligence.
• Influence the growth of a cutting-edge data platform supporting cancer biology research.
• Competitive salary complemented by equity participation.
• Flexibility to work remotely within the European Union.

Diversity and Inclusion

Bioptimus is committed to a fair and inclusive hiring process irrespective of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or marital status. The company actively fosters a welcoming environment where all voices are valued.