Senior Bioinformatics Engineer (London, Leeds & Cambridge)

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Bioinformatics Engineer to join Genomics England. Our Senior Bioinformatics Engineers are experienced software engineers with extensive expertise in bioinformatics. They provide technical leadership at a squad level, promote best practices, mentoring colleagues and develop production-grade software to address complex bioinformatics challenges.

Responsibilities

• Providing technical support and leadership for squad-level projects.
• Initiating new projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participating in hiring across the chapter and directorate.
• Producing high-quality, production-standard code.
• Leading inclusive, high-performing project teams, ensuring the right skills are in place to deliver our mission.
• Ensuring compliance with SOPs, ISO standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Embodying and promoting our leadership behaviours in all aspects of your role.
• Helping set clear stretch goals for teams and individuals.
• Ensuring team goals, PDRs, and Career Frameworks are completed.

Skills and experience for success

• Ability to make reasoned assessments supported by evidence, experience, or knowledge to propose or challenge ideas and make decisions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.
• Experience with best practices in software engineering, bioinformatics tooling and testing.
• Strong command of object-oriented programming and software design principles.
• Proven experience in coaching, mentoring, and motivating team members inclusively.
• Proficiency in bioinformatics tools, file formats, and standards (e.g., GA4GH, nf-core).

Qualifications

MSc equivalent or higher in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Bioinformatics or equivalent experience.

Salary and application

Salary from: £68,500

Closing date for applications: Monday 13th October.

Benefits

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and up to 30 days remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England contributes and may double-match up to 10%), Life Assurance (3x salary), Give As You Earn.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, annual professional subscription reimbursement (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, free Headspace, Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities

Genomics England is committed to providing an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. Our policies of non-discrimination and equity apply to all applicants and employees.

Working model and onboarding

Genomics England operates a blended working model. Most roles require coming into the office a minimum of 2 times per month, with arrangements agreed with your team leader. Office locations include Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard DBS check. Applicants should disclose any previous offences at application, as some unspent convictions may affect eligibility.