Junior Software Developer

Oxford BioDynamics - Junior Software Developer

Join our dynamic team as a Junior Software Developer at our UK premises in Oxford and contribute to our mission of "innovation saving lives."

This is an exceptional opportunity to work at the intersection of software engineering, data science and cutting-edge life sciences technology. You'll help develop and enhance innovative software solutions supporting our proprietary EpiSwitch® platform, working alongside scientists and data specialists to turn complex biological data into meaningful insights. It's an opportunity to apply your technical skills to technology with the potential to make a real difference in healthcare and scientific innovation.

Company Overview:

We are an international biotechnology company, advancing personalized healthcare through precision clinical diagnostic tests and EpiSwitch Orion, a cloud-based 3D genomics platform that transforms existing datasets into actionable insights for pharma and biotech partners.

The EpiSwitch platform is uniquely capable of reproducibly translating 3D genome regulation for clinical application. This platform opens the doors to a portfolio of clinical smart tests based on EpiSwitch® technology aiming to help people face the most challenging health decisions with confidence, and tackle the rising costs of healthcare.

The Group’s US operations and clinical laboratory are in Frederick, Maryland. Our headquarters and UK laboratories are in Oxford, UK, and we have a reference laboratory in Penang, Malaysia.

Role Overview:

The Junior Software Developer works within the Data Science team to help build, test and maintain software supporting Oxford Biodynamics’ products and internal operations, including systems built around the EpiSwitch® platform. The role offers opportunities to develop Python skills, gain experience of R and learn web development with Django and Flask.

Working with guidance from more experienced colleagues, the Junior Software Developer will contribute to new features, data processing tools and ongoing software support. They will collaborate with scientists, data scientists and operational teams, gaining experience across the software development life cycle, including testing, deployment and the use of cloud services such as Google Cloud Platform and/or AWS. A background or strong interest in biology or the life sciences would be a strong advantage.

Key Responsibilities
(not an exhaustive list, activities may change in line with business need) :

Product & Application Development

- Assist in building and maintaining Python web applications and REST APIs using Django and/or Flask, with guidance and code review.

- Implement well-defined features and bug fixes for Data Science products, following agreed requirements and designs.

- Help create and update simple front-end pages using HTML, CSS and JavaScript; gain exposure to Vue.js where needed.

- Support integrations between internal applications, databases and third-party tools, including laboratory software.

- Use Git, participate in code reviews and learn the team’s development and release workflow.

Data Pipelines & Analytical Software

- Help maintain and extend Python and R data analysis scripts and pipelines used by the Data Science team.

- Contribute to analytical tools and packages, with exposure to machine learning (ML) pipelines where relevant.

- Prepare, check and load data from text/CSV, Excel, third-party outputs and other agreed sources.

- Write and maintain simple scripts that automate routine reporting and data-processing tasks.

Software Design & Database Fundamentals

- Help capture user requirements, take notes and update technical documentation following discussions and demonstrations.

- Work with existing MySQL/PostgreSQL databases, write basic SQL queries and contribute to straightforward data model changes under supervision.

- Follow established designs and development plans, asking for guidance when requirements or technical risks are unclear.

Cloud Infrastructure & Deployment Support

- Assist with testing and deploying applications and data pipelines to cloud environments (Google Cloud Platform and/or AWS).

- Learn to use Docker, development environments and established deployment or CI/CD processes.

- Follow documented security, access-control and data-protection procedures, escalating issues when necessary.

Software Testing & Quality

- Write and run unit tests and support functional and regression testing using the team’s existing tools.

- Carry out defined manual use-case checks before and after changes are released.

- Keep code, test results and work instructions clear, accurate and aligned with quality procedures.

Maintenance, Support & Team Obligations

- Investigate and fix straightforward bugs and help keep existing applications and dependencies up to date.

- Update user guides and support notes, and assist colleagues with demonstrations and training.

- Record user feedback and bug reports, reproduce issues and work with colleagues to resolve them.

- Participate in ongoing projects and team activities, share progress regularly and ask for support when needed.

Qualifications and Experience:

- A qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics or a related subject, or equivalent skills demonstrated through projects or practical experience.

- Suitable for an entry-level applicant or someone with up to approximately 2 years’ relevant experience; placements, internships and personal projects are welcome.

- Some experience of coding, testing or building small applications, with an interest in developing skills across the software development life cycle.

- An interest in life sciences, biotech or bioinformatics is welcome, but prior industry experience is not essential.

Skills:

Essential:

- A foundation in Python programming, gained through study, projects, placements or employment.

- Basic understanding of web applications and an interest in learning Django and/or Flask and REST APIs.

- Familiarity with relational databases and simple SQL queries; awareness of formats such as CSV and JSON.

- Basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript knowledge.

- Familiarity with Git or another version-control tool, and willingness to participate in code review.

- Basic experience of a development environment, with willingness to learn Linux/UNIX and cloud tools.

- Awareness of testing, debugging and writing maintainable, documented code.

- Interest in Agile teamwork, task tracking and continuous improvement.

- Good analytical thinking, problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

- Clear written and spoken communication, including with non-technical colleagues.

- Willingness to learn, respond to feedback and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable:

- Some exposure to R, Pandas, NumPy/SciPy or working with scientific datasets.

- Experience through coursework or personal projects with Django, Flask or REST APIs.

- Awareness of Google Cloud Platform and/or AWS, Docker or CI/CD concepts.

- Experience with Vue.js or TypeScript, or an interest in biological data and bioinformatics.

- Introductory exposure to machine learning or statistical analysis.