Web Developer Hinxton, England
Job description
Software Development and Engineering
Hinxton, UK
In this job
Your role
You have
You might also have
Why join us
What else you need to know
More about EMBL-EBI
We are looking for a Web Developer to join Open Targets at EMBL-EBI.
As a key member of the Open Targets core team, you will design and build cloud-first software tailored for the interface between large-scale biomedical data and drug discovery. In collaboration with the other Open Targets partners (BMS, Genentech, GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute), you will work on developing and maintaining our two flagship open-source applications — the Open Targets Platform and Open Targets Genetics. Together, these two resources integrate, organise, and present vast amounts of biomedical data to help research scientists identify and prioritise potential therapeutic drug targets.
What kinds of things do we do?
Our open-source codebases power our flagship applications, the Open Targets Platform and Open Targets Genetics. Both products assist with decision making in drug discovery by systematically prioritising drug targets across a wide range of diseases. They are powered by rich and robust React-based web interfaces that provide a unified search box connected to a series of tools and views. Using harmonised data generated by our pipelines and served by various GraphQL API endpoints, users can explore a range of D3 data visualisations and data tables and export their results for further downstream analyses.
The Platform and Genetics are deployed in the public domain using Google Cloud Platform and by our partner institutions. Together with the other Open Targets partners and our global user base, we work to constantly evolve our products to help tackle unmet clinical needs and maximise the value for all users and stakeholders.
Some of the high impact, large-scale challenges we have tackled include:
Redesigning and rewriting the entire technical infrastructure for the Open Targets Platform, including a new GraphQL API and React-based web interface and application
Processing and visualising over 12 million FDA adverse event records and identifying significant adverse events using a Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) algorithm and Monte Carlo simulation
Check out our blog to learn more about our recent work and what it is like to join our team.
Your role
Working as part of a dynamic and collaborative team with members that come from various professional backgrounds and countries across the world, you will be responsible for:
Solving big data problems and ensuring that front-end applications can handle ever-increasing amounts of data that users demand to facilitate their drug discovery research
Designing, developing, and improving robust and testable web applications that consume GraphQL APIs and that are deployed and utilised around the world
Building, integrating, and maintaining reusable data visualisation components, including complex graph-based data and ontologies
Collaborating effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment with data scientists, back-end software developers, product design, and outreach experts
Investigating, selecting, and recommending appropriate technologies, tools, and libraries to ensure that our resources stay at the leading edge of software development
Ensuring the open source and open science nature of the Open Targets project by working with external collaborators on contributions, code documentation, and custom deployments
Engaging in knowledge sharing activities and contributing technical expertise to our Community and blog
Closing date: 20 October 2023
Contract duration: 3 years
Grading: Grade 5 or 6 depending on experience (monthly salary starting at £3,090 or £3,456 after tax) + benefits
Reference number: EBI02171
You have
BA/MSc/PhD in computer science, software development, or a related field or equivalent experience
Experience building robust React web applications or using similar libraries/frameworks such as Angular or Vue
Experience using responsive web design frameworks (Material-UI, SASS/LESS, Twitter Bootstrap, Foundation, etc.)
Expert skills in front-end engineering using JavaScript/Typescript, HTML5, and CSS
Interest in data visualisation for the web (D3, Canvas, SVG)
Experience with version control, code coverage reports, and deployments
Excellent communication skills and can communicate clearly with project stakeholders and colleagues, including scientific and technical experts
Ability to work independently and organise own workload
You might also have
Experience in the development or maintenance of APIs (REST or GraphQL preferred)
Experience building reusable and scalable components and packages that can be shared across multiple websites/platforms
Familiarity with some of the other technologies we use, including GraphQL, Spark, ElasticSearch, Google Cloud, ClickHouse, and/or Netlify
A solid understanding of web application development processes: from requirements gathering and user interface design to testing and deployment
Understanding of web application security, scalability, performance, and reliability
Familiarity in other languages such as Python, Scala, Java, or R
Previous experience working in the research or life science industries
Knowledge of human genetics, genomics, and/or drug discovery — or are interested in learning about these topics
Interest in promoting your work and the ways we have solved complex challenges
Why join us
Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
Flexible working arrangements
Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays
Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For more details please see our employee benefits page.
Developers at EMBL-EBI
What it is like to be a developer at EMBL-EBI?
Since my first day at EMBL-EBI, I have cherished how friendly, helpful and talented everyone is. I particularly like the lively exchange of knowledge on campus.
Anja Thormann, Software Developer, Variation team
What else you need to know
Contract duration: This position is a 3 year fixed-term project-based contract.
International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.
Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.
How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
