Software Engineer (SWE I / SWE II)
BigHat Biosciences
Software Engineering
San Mateo, CA, USA
USD 135k-175k / year + Equity
Posted on Jan 21, 2026
The role: BigHat Biosciences is looking for a Software Engineer to join our Lab Systems team. This role is designed for engineers with several years of experience building and supporting production software who are excited to grow their technical scope and domain impact. You will work closely with engineers, product partners, and laboratory scientists to build and evolve internal software systems that support the design, build, and testing of therapeutic antibodies at scale.
Depending on experience and demonstrated impact, this role may be leveled as Software Engineer I (SWE I) or Software Engineer II (SWE II). Candidates with prior experience in biotech, life sciences, or scientific software may be considered with fewer total years of software engineering experience.
- Department
- Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- San Mateo, CA
- Workplace type
- Hybrid
Key Responsibilities
- Design, implement, test, and maintain features in BigHat’s internally developed, cloud-based LIMS+ platform.
- Work independently on well-scoped features and improvements, following work through implementation, testing, and release.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners (scientists, product owners, and other engineers) to translate real-world lab workflows into reliable software.
- Participate actively in engineering ceremonies, technical discussions, and code reviews.
- Own the quality and outcomes of your work, including debugging, test failures, and production issues.
- Continue developing technical depth in the codebase, infrastructure, and systems that support our applications.
This role reports to the Lab Systems Lead and works closely with the Lab Systems Product Owner, with responsibilities that impact teams across BigHat.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
- Build high-quality software across front-end (UI/UX) and back-end systems, aligned with product and user needs.
- Read and understand PRDs and technical designs, contributing questions and implementation ideas.
- Write and maintain automated tests to ensure correctness, reliability, and maintainability.
- Participate constructively in code reviews; at the SWE II level, regularly review others’ code and provide thoughtful feedback.
- Debug and troubleshoot complex issues in production and development environments.
- Contribute to improving internal engineering practices, documentation, and tooling.
About You
- You have experience contributing to and owning work in a production software environment.
- You are comfortable working independently on small to medium features and improvements.
- You communicate clearly about progress, risks, and tradeoffs, and collaborate effectively with peers and partners.
- You take ownership of your work and follow issues through to resolution.
- You are curious and motivated by building software that supports real users doing complex work.
Experience
- 3–5 years of professional software engineering experience building production systems
OR - 2+ years of professional software engineering experience with prior experience in biotech, life sciences, laboratory environments, or scientific software, where domain knowledge meaningfully accelerates impact.
Relevant Tech / Skills
Experience with some (not necessarily all) of the following:
- TypeScript, React, Material-UI, Vega
- Python 3, SQLAlchemy
- RESTful API design
- AWS (CDK, Lambda, Step Functions, ECS/Batch, Fargate, API Gateway, Athena)
- Relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL)
- Pandas
- PyTorch or other ML frameworks (nice to have, not required)
Total Rewards
The salary estimated for this position is $135,000 - $175,000 + bonus + options + benefits. Compensation will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Actual compensation will be confirmed in writing at the time of the offer.
What BigHat Offers:
What BigHat Offers:
- Range of health insurance plan options through Anthem and Kaiser (monthly credit if benefit waived)
- Dental, and vision coverage through Guardian
- Additional well-being benefits through Nayya, OneMedical, Wagmo, Rula, and more
- 401(k) with company match
- DTO, two weeks of company-wide shutdown, and 12 company holidays
- Paid parental leave
About BigHat Biosciences
BigHat Biosciences designs safer, more effective biologic therapies for patients using machine learning and synthetic biology.
BigHat integrates a wet lab for high-speed characterization with machine learning technologies to guide the search for better antibodies. We apply these design capabilities to develop new generations of safer and more effective treatments for patients suffering from today’s most challenging diseases.
BigHat integrates a wet lab for high-speed characterization with machine learning technologies to guide the search for better antibodies. We apply these design capabilities to develop new generations of safer and more effective treatments for patients suffering from today’s most challenging diseases.
BigHat is a Series B biotech outside San Francisco with a team-oriented, inclusive, and family-friendly culture. Our broad pipeline of wholly-owned and partnered therapeutic programs span many disparate indications with high unmet need, such as cancer, inflammation, and infectious disease. BigHat has raised >$100M from top investors, including Section 32, a16z, and 8VC.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Applied
Stage 2:
Initial Conversation | Head of Talent
Stage 3:
Initial Conversation | Hiring Manager
Stage 4:
Take-Home Coding Assignment
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