Head of Software Engineering
Palo Alto, CA
Software Engineering & IT – Software Engineering /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
About Us
DELFI Diagnostics, Inc. (DELFI Diagnostics) is developing next-generation, blood-based tests that are reliable, accessible and deliver a new way to help detect cancer. Employing advanced machine-learning methods to whole-genome sequencing data, the DELFI ("DNA EvaLuation of Fragments for early Interception") platform is built to address the highest-burden health challenges. DELFI Diagnostics prioritizes solutions that have the potential to save lives on a global scale, including for historically underserved populations. DELFI Diagnostics’ platform relies on fragmentomics – the discovery that cancer cells are more chaotic than normal cells and, when they die, leave behind tell-tale patterns and characteristics of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments. FirstLook Lung, for individuals eligible for lung cancer screening, is DELFI Diagnostics’ first laboratory-developed screening test and can be part of routine blood work. FirstLook Lung uses millions of data points to reliably identify individuals who may have cancer detected through low-dose CT, including early stage disease with a negative predictive value of 99.8 percent. This test has not been cleared or approved by the FDA.
In our passionate pursuit to radically improve health outcomes, we serve humanity when we:
Lead with Science, Anchor in Pragmatism: We pioneer life-changing science by ensuring quality, transparency, and rigor at all times. We explore thoughtfully, experiment smartly, and deliver impact with conviction.
Build With & For All: We embrace diverse backgrounds to innovate and achieve together. We are not just building a product - we aim to disrupt the path of cancer for all - no matter geography or socioeconomic class
Put We over I: We are a home for high-performing people. Through teamwork, we build collective intelligence. Each of us wins when those we serve and those who serve with us--win. We show up with empathy, humility, and integrity at every step of the journey.
DELFI has 1-2 designated in-office working days each week for employees who live within within 50 miles of Palo Alto CA or Baltimore MD offices
The head of Software Engineering is a seasoned software leader who works at the interface of lab- & commercial-facing software and bioinformatics/ML production pipelines, and manages a team of software engineers, bioinformatics engineers, software/data architect, and software PMs. This role will collaborate closely with teams in information security & devops, software quality & test, data science/machine learning, and clinical development to ensure that DELFI’s software is performant and scalable. Reporting to the CTO, you will work closely with commercial and laboratory leadership, and with the PMO. This position requires expertise in software development and architecture, regulatory-grade lab-facing software in biotech and diagnostics, team leadership, and strong communication skills. This role is an excellent fit for those who are decisive, proactive and bring a balance of high IQ and EQ.
What You'll Do
- Manage and lead a team of software and bioinformatics engineers, software & data architect, and software product managers
- Oversee the productization and delivery of cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to detect cancer from blood samples
- Partner as needed with regulatory and software QA/testing/cybersecurity teams to maintain software as a medical device underlying diagnostic product(s) on market
- Collaborate with peers leading assay design & development, laboratory operations, data science, and clinical development to substantively advance DELFIs R&D objectives
- Develop and continuously improve software solutions for EHR integration and LIMS to enable machine learning as well as commercial sales
- Partner with IT & cybersecurity team lead to develop a 2-3 year technology roadmap, including in-house tooling for GenAI and ML infrastructure
- Represent DELFI externally with collaborators and vendors
What You'll Bring to DELFI
- Required
- Degree in any of the quantitative sciences (Applied Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science) or Engineering
- 10+ years of software leadership experience in industry including track record of successfully developing and deploying lab and enterprise software, scalable data systems, and/or production ML infrastructure
- 15+ years expertise in programming including production compute environments (AWS/Nvidia), data systems (Postgres, RDS), and versioning principles for reproducible model-building and evaluation
- 10+ years of experience leading and managing teams exemplifying best practice in recruiting, team-building, employee performance management and career development, goal-setting, and cross-functional collaboration
- Superb written, verbal communication, and influencing and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts succinctly to a variety of audiences
- Decisive, intellectually curious, proactive, and composed with a balance of high IQ and EQ
- Preferred
- 5+ years of experience working in biotech/pharma/diagnostics
- Background or interest in cancer genomics, molecular biology, and the latest genotyping and phenotyping techniques
$270,000 - $310,000 a year
Total Compensation at DELFI is a combination of salary, bonus, equity, and benefits. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skillset, years & depth of experience, certifications & relevant education, geography.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
This position is not eligible for agency partnership. Resumes and outreach from staffing representatives will be declined.
