Head of Software Engineering

The Opportunity

This fast-growing health technology company is transforming the future of cancer diagnostics through advanced genomics, bioinformatics and precision medicine. Combining cutting-edge molecular analysis with innovative data science, they're developing next-generation diagnostic solutions that enable more personalised treatment decisions for patients with complex cancers. Following significant recent investment, the organisation is entering an exciting phase of growth, scaling both its clinical impact and engineering capability as it brings pioneering technologies into real-world healthcare.

The Why:

• Real Impact: Extensive molecular profiling (full exome + transcriptome + single-cell + protein staining) for patients with challenging cancers who've exhausted standard of care. For those wth the most critical illnesses - this business leaves no stone unturned in curing these individuals.
• Hypergrowth: $13.5M seed led by 8VC and Basis Set Ventures, past $5M annualized bookings, scaling from ~100 to ~300 patient run-rate by year-end. Demand far outpaces a company this size.
• Mission-driven team: ~10 people, deeply scientific, casual and social — a place where people care about the patients behind the work.

The What

Our client are looking for only their 2nd engineer who will be walking into the business with a number of critical priorities - joining in a leader capacity you will be immediately setting the standard when it comes to the product engieering, setting the software engineering road map & set about executing quickly.

Must be strong technically but also experienced at growing software engineering teams and coaching through to high performance.

• Define and own the technical strategy and product roadmap in partnership with the founding team, head of science, and VP of computational biology
• Take ownership of all internal and external-facing software products — including internal analysis tools, patient-facing portals, and physician-facing portals — and drive them from concept to delivery
• Lead and grow the engineering team from 1 engineer today, establishing high-performance culture, hiring processes, and lightweight engineering workflows
• Stay hands-on in the codebase: contribute code, review PRs, make architectural decisions, and roll up your sleeves when needed
• Build and maintain data infrastructure and pipelines that support comprehensive molecular profiling (whole exome sequencing, transcriptomics, single-cell analysis)
• Partner closely with computational biologists and PhD scientists to develop tools that accelerate their patient workups and research
• Communicate directly with the CEO and founding team on strategy, product priorities, and engineering investment decisions

Critical:

• Led software teams from a start up with an early stage vision, delivering to execution.
• Strong product background.
• Any experience working within the Scientific / Life Sciences / healthcare / pharmacutical industries.

The Technical Stack:

The technical stack at our client is Python, Typescript, React, FastAPI - database wise they are using PostgreSQL, Datawarehousing tech such as Snowflake, BigQuery, IaC - Terraform and host in GCP.

HYBRID WORKING PATTERN

Our client are in office 4 days a week (Monday-Thursday) in city centre San Francisco.

The Benefits? (Skinny)

• Competitive salary and equity compensation
• Generous refresh grants
• Comprehensive benefits (health, dental, vision, 401(k))
• Genuine investment in your professional development

And finally... Who are we?

FORT - Future of Recruiting Technologists is a specialist technology recruitment consultancy, connecting exceptional technology professionals with some of the World's most exciting businesses.

We focus on finding the right technical and cultural fit, helping both candidates and clients build long-term successful partnerships.

Interested? Let's chat.