Associate Director, Data Platform & Engineering
The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.
The role of the Associate Director, Data Platform & Engineering is pivotal for advancing the frontier of research at the Allen Institute. As we grapple with the complexities of computational biology at scale – be it in neuroscience, cell science, or immunology – the need for robust, scalable, and innovative data engineering solutions has never been more urgent. Reporting to the Senior Director, Data Platforms & Engineering, the Associate Director will lead engineering efforts in systems and cloud development to help the Institute scale its data infrastructure to handle petascale (and beyond) datasets integrated across all research areas at the Institute. Success of these engineering efforts will be crucial for ensuring that our researchers have the computational resources they need to make groundbreaking discoveries.
The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences, and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.
Essential Functions:
- Lead engineering efforts in systems and cloud development: Integrate approaches across Institute teams to ensure seamless collaboration and efficiency in project execution.
- Develop and scale engineering and infrastructure projects: Handle petascale (and beyond) datasets by designing and implementing innovative, scalable solutions that meet the Institute’s growing data needs.
- Design and build scalable and secure data storage solutions and web services: Ensure these solutions are optimized for fast data capture and access, providing researchers with reliable and efficient tools.
- Automate build and deployment processes: Implement high-degree automation in a cloud-based environment to enhance project deployment efficiency, reduce manual errors, and improve overall productivity.
- Document and communicate software architecture and design decisions: Clearly articulate code approach and rationale behind design decisions, ensuring transparency and understanding through thorough documentation, peer review, and architectural review with key stakeholders.
- Perform software development duties using best practices: Apply iterative design and development methodologies, develop comprehensive unit tests, participate actively in code reviews, and ensure adherence to the highest standards of software development.
- Mentor and manage a team of engineers: Provide guidance, support, and professional development opportunities for team members to foster a collaborative and high-performing engineering culture.
- Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies: Continuously evaluate and integrate new technologies and practices to keep the Institute’s data engineering efforts at the cutting edge.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work closely with research scientists, data scientists, and other stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into technical requirements and solutions.
Required Education and Experience
- B.A./B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields
- 10 years of experience in software engineering and/or cloud computing with at least 5 years experience leading one or more teams of software or cloud developers
- Experience developing, deploying, and managing distributed applications on popular cloud vendors’ platforms (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud)
- Experience with modern software engineering processes such as Agile
- Experience with back-end software engineering, e.g., REST APIs, microservices, data processing, SQL and NoSQL database technology
Preferred Education and Experience
- M.S. or Ph.D. in computer science, engineering, or related fields
- 12+ years of experience in software engineering and/or cloud computing with at least 7 years experience leading one or more teams of software or cloud developers
- Knowledge of popular programming frameworks (OSS and/or .NET)
- Linux system administration experience
- Experience with container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Experience contributing to open-source projects
Physical Demands
- Occasional lifting to 30 pounds
- Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment
- Push/pull up to 50 lbs
- Stooping, bending, crouching
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
- This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.
Annualized Salary Range
- $176,800 - $232,000 *
Benefits
- Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: