THE OPPORTUNITYVir Biotechnology is seeking an Associate Director, Principal Data Engineer to lead scalable data, cloud, software, and AI-enabled research platforms that support scientific discovery, clinical data analysis, and program decision-making.
This role will build the foundation for AI-powered research workflows, including AI agents for research, QC/QA, and scientific/regulatory reporting, while partnering across Research, Clinical, Data Science, TechOps, Competitive Intelligence, and IT.
The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking technical leader who combines expertise in data engineering, scientific software, AWS cloud platforms, and practical AI implementation to transform complex scientific data into connected, searchable, and actionable insights. They excel at partnering with scientists, data scientists, and engineers to build trusted, scalable solutions that accelerate research while maintaining the highest standards of data quality, governance, validation, and reliability.
Reporting to the Senior Director, Research, this role is based in San Francisco with an expectation of three days per week in the office
WHAT YOU'LL DO- Build AI-enabled research workflows and agents that help scientists search, analyze, summarize, and connect Vir-generated
- Develop AI agents for TCE research insights, Experimenta QC/QA review, and scientific/regulatory report
- Design trusted LLM, RAG, knowledge-search, and agentic AI workflows with traceability, validation, governance, and human
- Lead development and integration of scientific platforms, including SeqAssembler, HPD/dAIsY, SASTRY, OPAL Miner, and
- Build scalable research and clinical data pipelines for bioinformatics, genomics, machine learning, and scientific decision-making.
- Architect and operate AWS cloud infrastructure for AI/ML, bioinformatics, clinical analysis, and large-scale scientific data
- Strengthen data quality, metadata, lineage, observability, security, governance, and platform
- Partner cross-functionally to align data, cloud, application, and AI solutions with program
- Provide senior technical leadership across architecture, engineering practices, mentoring, and roadmap
WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BRING- BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Engineering, or a related technical
- 12+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, scientific computing, cloud architecture, or scientific application
- Strong hands-on experience with Python and/or Java, including scalable data pipelines, APIs, services, and production-grade data
- Experience building AI/ML-enabled scientific applications using leading LLMs such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar models, including RAG, knowledge search, agentic workflows, and governance
- Experience integrating LIMS, ELN, scientific data platforms, or experiment-management systems such as Experimenta to support data capture, analysis, quality review, and scientific
- Strong AWS cloud infrastructure experience, including compute, storage, networking, security, data processing, monitoring, automation, and operational
- Experience with modern cloud-based data platforms and workflow technologies such as Databricks, Snowflake, Redshift, Spark, Airflow, Nextflow, or similar
- Experience supporting bioinformatics, genomics, machine learning, clinical, healthcare, or other scientific data
- Strong knowledge of data modeling, metadata management, data quality, observability, governance, lineage, and platform
- Demonstrated technical leadership, including architecture ownership, roadmap development, mentoring, and cross-functional
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills across Research, Clinical, Data Science, IT, and business
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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE OFFERThe expected salary range for this position is $176,500 to $246,500 per year. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors.
Vir Biotechnology's compensation and benefits are aligned with the current market and commensurate with the person's experience and qualifications. All full-time employees receive a package that includes compensation, bonus and equity as well as many other Vir Biotechnology benefits and perks such as health and welfare benefit plans, non-accrual paid time off, company shut down for holidays, commuter benefits, 401K match and lunch each day in the office.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
