SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Compendia Bioscience is developing the next-generation of cancer-research tools and we are looking for a Software Engineer to join our Product Informatics team. The focus of Product Informatics is applying best-practices of software engineering disciplines to the management of large amounts of complex data. While this position includes some software development, it primarily emphasizes data integration, systems integration, and system administration. Our team uses strongly collaborative processes to cultivate collective ownership of solutions (more like ninjas, less like Chuck Norris, not at all like lemmings).

Compendia Bioscience collects, curates, analyzes, and visualizes genomic data that enables cancer researchers to understand connections among genes, diseases, and drug therapies. Founded in 2006 and based on research done at the University of Michigan, Compendia Bioscience offers a suite of data mining/data visualization tools that currently supports over 20,000 cancer researchers including scientists at 17 of the top 20 major global pharmaceutical companies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Managing the care and feeding of large and complex data stores serving multiple internal and external consumers
• Transitioning R & D reference bioinformatics methods/implementations into operational offerings
• Integrating third-party database, data transformation, and data visualization systems
• Designing, building, and maintaining internal tools to support data curation and ongoing research
• Maintaining existing suite of customer-facing solutions including substantial system and database administration

The ideal candidate would have some of these qualifications and a desire to develop others:

• You are skilled in Java and SQL.
• You have exposure to scripting languages (e.g. Perl, Bash), Amazon EC2, Linux, Oracle/MySQL, and web development.
• You are comfortable with or willing to learn a variety of systems administration tasks (command-line interfaces, Linux, yum, CPAN, networking and firewalls, etc.)
• You have experience in data mining and data visualization platforms (e.g. Spotfire).
• You have experience in data analysis/modeling/transformation, database design, ETL tools and/or data workflow tools (e.g. Pipeline Pilot).
• You value simplicity in software architecture, design, and practices (DTSTTCPW, YAGNI, refactor ruthlessly).
• You have experience, instincts, and enthusiasm around testing and testability of solutions.
• You ask difficult questions and risk looking stupid (we will provide training and examples).
• You have a healthy appreciation for viral videos.
• You want to contribute your own unique perspectives to our collective understanding of how we can cure cancer with genomic data.

COMPANY CULTURE: Compendia's culture reflects the intellectual inquisitiveness and diverse abilities of our people. It is a place where advanced informatics intersects cutting edge cancer research. As cancer genomics and bioinformatics are rapidly evolving domains, you will be continually revisiting implementations and learning new things. After an implausibly brief time at Compendia you will be surprised to find yourself enthusiastically lecturing your friends and family on bioinformatics and molecular biology.

LOCATION: Ann Arbor, MI

Send your cover letter and résumé.