Job Specifications
Backend API Engineer
Job Type: Fixed-Term Contract
Duration: 6 months
Location: Cambridge
Working Pattern: Hybrid
The Role
Sentinel is partnering with a drug discovery organisation in Cambridge to hire a Backend Engineer to support their in-house team. The team is migrating downstream applications, data pipelines, and metadata for a core software platform and requires support in developing APIs that interact with the database. This role is therefore ideal for a developer who specialises in API architecture, Object-Relational Mapping (ORM), and optimising database performance.
Key Responsibilities
Architect and deploy production-ready RESTful or GraphQL APIs using frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or Spring Boot to expose scientific data
Lead the implementation of complex data relationships using SQLAlchemy, Django ORM, or JPA/Hibernate, focusing on query optimisation, transaction management, and lazy-loading strategies
Own the evolution of relational database models, ensuring they effectively support high-dimensional screening data and complex molecular structures
Identify and resolve bottlenecks in data retrieval by optimising ORM-generated SQL, indexing strategies, and caching layers
Establish and enforce API standards across the team, including comprehensive Swagger/OpenAPI documentation and versioning strategies
Build custom Middleware and API-driven connectors to integrate third-party scientific software (eg, Dotmatics, Revvity Signals, or Titian Mosaic) with internal data stores
Design and maintain automated pipelines to move data from instruments and LIMS into the centralised data warehouse using API-centric workflowsKey Skills/Experience
3-5 years in a software engineering or informatics role, with a focus on Back End and API development
Significant experience with JPA/Hibernate (Java) or SQLAlchemy (Python) for managing complex relational mappings and performance tuning
Strong mastery of Python (FastAPI, Flask) or Java (Spring ecosystem)
Deep understanding of PostgreSQL or MySQL, including triggers, execution plan analysis, and normalisation
Strong database development skills, eg, schema design, data warehousing, ETL in a scientific environment
Ability to take a high-level data requirement and translate it into a fully functional API specification and implementation
Ability to design intuitive, developer-friendly APIs for internal and external consumption
Proficiency in translating complex scientific logic into efficient relational schemas that work seamlessly with ORM frameworksDesirable Skills/Experience
Experience with Celery or Redis for handling long-running scientific computations via API
Familiarity with the drug discovery process and supporting research tools
Hands-on experience with Docker, CI/CD pipelines (GitLab/GitHub Actions), and API security (OAuth2, JWT)
Data engineering skills, eg, data cleaning, transformation, and uploading to a lakehouse or warehouse
About the Company
In a world obsessed with technology, we’re interested in the people who make it.
With curiosity for our customers’ ambitions and empathy for our clients’ challenges, we connect talented technology professionals with opportunities to make the greatest impact.
We take a ‘people-first’ approach to talent solutions, building lasting relationships with our customers to help them deliver on their vision for the future.
Sentinel was established 20 years ago and in that time technologies have evolved drastically. By staying tru...
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