Full Stack Engineer

Arc Institute • Palo Alto, CA

21h • $133,000 - $165,000

About The Position

We're looking for a Full Stack Engineer with a backend and internal tools focus to help build the software infrastructure that powers science at Arc. You'll own and develop platforms that Arc's researchers rely on daily, from genomics submission systems to data catalogs to ML tooling, while contributing to public-facing products like the Virtual Cell Challenge. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role where you'll work directly with biologists, bioinformaticians, and ML engineers to understand their workflows and build tools that become essential to how researchers work.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in backend or full-stack engineering roles, with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field
• Proficiency in Python or Node.js and modern API frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or Express
• Strong experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred), including schema design, query optimization, and data modeling
• Proficiency with AI-assisted development tools (Claude, Cursor, Copilot, or similar) as a core part of your workflow
• Experience building internal apps and tools for scientific/technical users

Nice To Haves

• Experience with scientific data formats and tools (e.g., h5ad/AnnData, pandas, NumPy, scverse ecosystem)
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS, or Azure)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and containerized deployments
• Familiarity with modern JavaScript/TypeScript and frameworks such as Next.js and React

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the Virtual Cell Challenge backend, including authentication, metrics pipelines, and participant analytics
• Build and maintain Arc's internal Genomics platforms, including NGS submission, sample tracking, and QC automation
• Architect and develop an internal Data Catalog for browsing, searching, and interacting with rich datasets across the Virtual Cell Atlas and other research programs
• Build tooling and infrastructure to support Arc's ML engineering workflows such as model registries, experiment tracking, and inference pipelines
• Own backend services for Arc's Imaging platform, supporting microscopy and spatial data workflows
• Collaborate directly with scientists and computational researchers to identify pain points and ship solutions with a product mindset

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level