Software Engineer (public health software)

The Computational Evolution Group, led by Prof. Dr. Tanja Stadler, in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) at ETH Zurich works at the interface of mathematics, computer science, and evolutionary biology. We develop methods to understand evolutionary, ecological, epidemiological, and developmental processes on different scales based on genetic data.

In our GenSpectrum project, we transfer cutting-edge science to production-ready software. Specifically, we develop web applications and APIs to facilitate real-time monitoring of pathogen variants and answer epidemiological questions. Hereby, we collaborate closely with public health agencies and scientists around the globe.

We are recruiting a Software Engineer to join our interdisciplinary team. The position is initially fixed-term for 2 years with the possibility of extension.

GenSpectrum has its roots in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In response to the rapidly growing number of available genome sequences and the urgent need to track emerging variants of concern, we developed the CoV-Spectrum dashboard to facilitate the detection and tracking of new variants. Going forward, we plan to extend it to other pathogens and include the latest scientific models.

We work closely with other research groups in Basel and further afield countries as well as with public health agencies, including the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) of Switzerland and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States.

Our software is completely open source (code). Currently, the web application consists of a frontend application developed in React, and backend applications in Kotlin/Spring. Further, to handle the unprecedentedly large size of genomic data, we developed an in-memory, analytics database engine in C++.

We value good software engineering practices. We perform code reviews, have automated testing pipelines, and do our best to write modern, clean, and maintainable code. We also work in an agile fashion and are always open to suggestions to improve teamwork.

• You will work alongside other software engineers and research scientists from our group and collaborators.
• You will design and implement features as well as develop your own ideas and present them to our team and other stakeholders.
• You will interact with our users to identify and refine needs and requirements.
• The (initial) focus of the position is on the development of the GenSpectrum web application’s front- and backend. Depending on interest and background, there is also the possibility to be involved in developing the database engine.

We are looking for a motivated colleague with an interest in learning and contributing to public health and genomic epidemiology. The position requires:

• Experience with programming (ideally web development). We don't expect proficiency with any particular framework, but expect a good understanding of software development and the web and a willingness to learn new technologies.
• Interest in working with an interdisciplinary and international team. We value an open and inclusive group culture and you will be expected to help us maintain a positive team dynamic and a welcoming work environment.
• A university degree in a technical subject/natural sciences (computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.).
• The working language in our group is English and no knowledge of German is required.

We are open to candidates from all experience level. In line with our commitment to an open and inclusive group culture, we welcome applications from individuals of all demographic groups and personal backgrounds.

• We offer a dynamic and supportive working environment with flexible working hours. ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions and offers highly competitive salaries.
• We offer (as we believe) a very exciting project with direct contributions to public health.
• We value personal growth and career development opportunities and will support you with funding to attend courses, workshops, and other relevant events.
• Switzerland offers a top quality of life – including beautiful natural scenery and fantastic infrastructure. We look forward to showing you why Basel, a very international small city ranked the tenth most livable city in the world by Mercer, is a great place to live and work!