Full Stack Web Application Developer

We are seeking a Full Stack Web Application Developer to contribute to the development of software and infrastructure supporting these resources and their associated curation workflows. In this role, you will work at the intersection of biocuration, bioinformatics, and AI-enabled data integration, helping to build tools that allow scientists worldwide to discover, analyse, and reuse biological knowledge.

Your role

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to globally used biological knowledgebases IntAct and Complex Portal.

You will develop and maintain web applications and software infrastructure that support data curation, integration, validation, distribution and visualisation of molecular interaction and macromolecular complex data.

Working closely with biocurators, bioinformaticians, and international collaborators, you will help design and implement software solutions that enable efficient literature curation, data integration, and dissemination through modern web services and APIs.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and maintaining web applications supporting biocuration workflows
• Designing and implementing REST APIs and data services
• Building interactive web interfaces and visualisation tools for exploring biological knowledge
• Developing software for data validation, transformation, and integration pipelines
• Supporting development of AI-assisted literature curation and knowledge extraction tools
• Integrating curated interaction and complex data with other EMBL-EBI resources
• Collaborating with international scientific communities to implement data standards and controlled vocabularies

As part of the team, you will interact with an international community of data generators, database users, and scientific collaborators, providing guidance on data submission, metadata standards, and use of the team's software and services.

• A BSc or MSc in computer science, bioinformatics, software engineering, or a related field
• Strong programming experience in both Java and Python
• Experience developing web applications and backend services
• Experience with Java frameworks commonly used for web and service development (e.g. Spring, Spring Boot or similar)
• Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs and data services
• Experience in using AI based tools for coding, data management, and interface definition (MCP servers)
• Experience with relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MySQL) and data modelling
• Familiarity with search or NoSQL technologies such as Solr, Elasticsearch or Redis
• Experience with graph databases like Neo4j
• Experience working in Unix/Linux environments
• Experience with version control systems such as Git and collaborative software development workflows
• Good understanding of software engineering practices, including testing, debugging, and maintainable code design
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and English language skills

You may also have

• Experience working with biological databases or bioinformatics data
• Experience with containerisation and deployment technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Experience with cloud environments (e.g. AWS or Google Cloud)
• Experience with continuous integration and testing frameworks
• Familiarity with text mining or AI-assisted data extraction tools
• Experience working with ontologies or controlled vocabularies
• Experience with Python web frameworks such as Django, Django REST Framework, or FastAPI

• Financial incentives: depending on circumstances, monthly family/marriage allowance of £278 monthly child allowance of £336 per child. Non resident allowance up to £569 per month. Annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Hybrid working arrangements

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant (as applicable)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: On-site nursery, child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances

• Contract duration: This position is a 3 year contract renewable up to 9 years

• Salary: Monthly salary starting at £3303 or £3695after tax but excl. pension & insurances) + benefits (Total package will be dependent on family circumstances)

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants.

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.

• Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.

Working at EMBL-EBI gives you the opportunity to focus your energy and skills on something that really matters: using technology to contribute to discoveries that benefit humankind. We empower researchers everywhere to realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology, and build sophisticated tools for exploring life at the atomic level.