Bioinformatic Workflow Engineer

Bioinformatic Workflow Engineer 

Details of the role:

Reports to:  Chris Cheshire (Pipeline Technologies Core Lead - Genomics)

This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick Terms and Conditions of Employment 

Internally this role is known as Pipeline Administrator and Developer

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy. 

About the role

The Crick’s mission is discovery without boundaries and today’s discoveries depend on turning vast volumes of biological data into insight. At the heart of this effort is the Pipelines Technology Team, which is at the forefront of developing world-leading bioinformatics pipelines and automation frameworks that connect sequencing machines, laboratory robotics, high-performance computing, and data reporting system.

We are looking for a Bioinformatics Workflow Engineer with a passion for science to join the team drive to embrace professional software engineering practices. This position offers the chance to go beyond traditional lab bioinformatics and develop skills in modern code design, workflow engineering, and DevOps; disciplines essential for building sustainable, institute-wide infrastructure

Collaboration is key at the Crick and you will be working across various scientific technology platform and the labs, meeting with project stakeholders. This role sits at the intersection of research, engineering, and operations: you will be involved in day-to-day pipeline delivery, contribute to the development of new workflows and tools, and support labs as they adopt shared infrastructure. 

You will be joining a team of experienced pipeline developers and software engineers, where you will have the opportunity to gain exposure to high-profile projects, cutting-edge technologies, and cross-institute collaborations, with a clear pathway to grow into a senior pipeline developer role and make a lasting impact.

If you have experience managing data processing workflows, proficiency in Python, a background in cloud technologies, and expertise in bioinformatics, along with a degree in bioinformatics, computer science, or a related field, we would love to hear from you.

What you will be doing

Some of your key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Innovation and Development 

• Contribute to the design and development of next-generation computational pipelines used in high-profile science across the Crick. 
• Work with senior developers to build automation frameworks that connect sequencing machines, lab robotics, HPC, cloud platforms, and reporting systems. 
• Apply modern coding practices (Git, testing, CI/CD) to ensure workflows are professional, sustainable, and reproducible. 

Integration and Impact 

• Help integrate pipelines with LIMS, laboratory automation, and central reporting systems to enable fully automated end-to-end workflows. 
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers across STPs to deliver solutions that scale and reduce duplication. 

Operations and Support 

• Run and monitor our automation infrastructure, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. 
• Troubleshoot issues and provide support as groups onboard to central infrastructure. 

Please see the full job description here.

About you

You will have:

(Minimum requirement *) 

• Degree or equivalent experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, or a related discipline. * 

• Experience working in Linux/Unix environments and using command-line tools. 

• Experience in Python with an eagerness to adopt modern software engineering practices and learn other languages.* 

• Experience running data processing workflows using Nextflow or another workflow management system (e.g. Snakemake, WDL/Cromwell, Galaxy, Airflow, Argo Workflows, AWS Step Functions, Google Cloud Workflows, Apache Beam)* 

• Familiarity with version control (Git/GitHub) and collaborative coding workflows. 

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues. * 

About Working at the Crick

Our values  

Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture! 

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. 

• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. 

• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community. 

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: [email protected]

Find out more about life at the Crick.

What will you receive?  

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development:

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK 
• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays. 
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%. 

• Health & Well-being: 

• 24/7 GP consultation services. 

• Occupational health services and mental health support programs. 

• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans. 

• Work-Life Balance: 

• Back-up care for dependents. 

• Childcare support allowance. 

• Annual leave purchase options. 
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks: 

• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts. 

• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction. 

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.  

We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.