Informatics Specialist

Salary: £40,000 - 80,000 per year

Requirements:

• 3 to 5 years of professional experience in a software engineering or informatics role with a strong backend and API focus
• Hands-on experience with SQLAlchemy (Python) or JPA/Hibernate (Java) for complex relational mappings and performance tuning
• Strong command of Python (FastAPI/Flask) or Java (Spring ecosystem)
• Deep understanding of PostgreSQL or MySQL, including execution plan analysis and normalisation
• Familiarity with Docker, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub/GitLab Actions), and API security practices (OAuth2, JWT)
• A background in or genuine familiarity with the drug discovery process and its supporting tools
• A degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a related discipline
• Experience with Celery or Redis for managing long-running scientific computations would be a bonus, as would relevant industry certifications

Responsibilities:

• Build and deploy RESTful or GraphQL APIs using FastAPI, Flask, or Spring Boot
• Lead implementation of complex data relations using SQLAlchemy, Django ORM, or JPA/Hibernate, with a strong focus on query optimisation and performance
• Evolve and maintain relational database models to support complex molecular and screening data
• Resolve bottlenecks in data retrieval through indexing strategies, ORM-generated SQL optimisation, and caching
• Establish and enforce API standards across the team, including OpenAPI/Swagger documentation
• Build connectors to integrate third-party scientific tools such as Dotmatics, Revvity Signals, or Titian Mosaic with internal data stores
• Design and maintain automated pipelines to move data from instruments and LIMS into a centralised data warehouse

Technologies:

• API
• Backend
• CI/CD
• Celery
• Django
• Docker
• FastAPI
• Flask
• GitHub
• GitLab
• GraphQL
• Hibernate
• Support
• JPA
• JWT
• Java
• MySQL
• OpenAPI
• PostgreSQL
• Python
• Redis
• SQL
• Security
• Spring
• Spring Boot
• Swagger

More:

We are a well-established drug discovery organisation based in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, and we are recruiting an Informatics Specialist on a two-year fixed-term basis. This is a backend-focused technical role within our broader informatics function, where you will help connect complex scientific data with the software tools used by our researchers and scientists. You will work closely with the Head of Informatics on production-ready APIs, database models, third-party integrations, and automated data pipelines, with a strong emphasis on quality, performance, and developer experience. This role offers genuine research impact for someone with a background in scientific software or informatics.

last updated 33 week of 2026