Scientific Software Lead

Location: Warsaw, Poland
Hybrid model of work: 3 days in office, 2 remote per week

Position: Scientific Software Lead

Are you a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of software engineering and scientific discovery? We're seeking a Scientific Software Lead who is passionate about building innovative technology solutions that directly accelerate drug discovery and improve patient outcomes.

In this role, you will grow and lead a talented team of data engineers and software developers to create custom software solutions tailored specifically for early drug discovery research. This isn't about building generic enterprise applications, it's about understanding complex scientific challenges and translating them into robust, scalable computational tools that empower researchers to unlock the mysteries of human biology. Please find out more about our team on QuBi

What makes this role unique?

This is a hands-on technical leadership position where you'll balance strategic vision with active development. You'll have the final say on architecture decisions, technology choices, and infrastructure while still writing code alongside your team. Working directly with world-class scientists across multiple disciplines, you'll gain deep insights into cutting-edge biomedical research and build solutions that make a tangible difference in the quest for life-changing medicines.

You'll manage a diverse portfolio of projects from conception through deployment, mentor talented engineers, coordinate with IT teams on infrastructure and security, and collaborate with external vendors to keep our scientific computing capabilities at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation. Every line of code you and your team write contributes directly to our mission of discovering breakthrough therapies for patients worldwide.

What You Will Do

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of data engineers and software developers, providing strategic direction and individual coaching to support professional growth and high performance
• Oversee day-to-day operations across software development initiatives, ensuring alignment with KPIs and budget constraints

Technical Leadership & Hands-On Development

• Serve as the technical lead developer with final accountability for technical scoping, architecture decisions, infrastructure choices, and technology stack selection
• Lead and participate in code reviews, design sessions, and hands-on development work to ensure technical excellence
• Establish and maintain software development best practices, documentation standards, and engineering quality across all projects
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and proactively identify opportunities to enhance development practices and technology applications

Project & Portfolio Management

• Receive and evaluate project proposals, collaborating with leadership to prioritize initiatives based on strategic value and resource capacity
• Manage a balanced portfolio of projects throughout the year while ensuring ongoing support and maintenance of existing solutions
• Oversee project delivery from conception through implementation, ensuring solutions are fit-for-purpose and effectively address scientific objectives

Scientific Collaboration & Solution Delivery

• Establish proactive, bi-directional collaboration with scientists across disciplines to understand and address computing needs for drug discovery research
• Collaborate with internal teams, architects, and third-party suppliers to deliver innovative technology solutions aligned with business needs
• Negotiate with software vendors and advise scientific staff on software selection and acquisition
• Provide technical input to business cases, RFPs, supplier selection, and proposal evaluations

IT Operations & Governance

• Act as primary contact with internal IT teams, coordinating activities related to release management, deployment to existing infrastructure, and application lifecycle maintenance
• Oversee data safety controls, access management, cybersecurity protocols, and third-party risk assessments
• Lead incident/problem identification and resolution following established IT service management processes

Team & Culture

Join the Data Sciences & Quantitative Biology department at our dynamic AstraZeneca R&D site in Warsaw—a global, diverse, and delivery-focused organization where collaboration drives impact. Our department brings together computational scientists, software engineers, and data specialists from diverse backgrounds, representing multiple nationalities and perspectives.

We foster an inclusive environment where innovation thrives, continuous learning is encouraged, and every team member's unique expertise contributes to our shared mission.

Working closely with experimental scientists, IT teams, and external partners, we're building the computational infrastructure that powers AstraZeneca's drug discovery pipeline. If you're excited about applying your technical leadership skills to solve real scientific challenges and want to see your work translate into better treatments for patients, we'd love to hear from you.

What we are looking for

Essential:

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Applied Mathematics, or related field with equivalent professional experience
• Proven experience writing clean, high-performance code in at least one major programming language (e.g., Python, TypeScript) with strong understanding of algorithms and data structures
• Solid grasp of modern software architecture, development best practices, and contemporary technologies including CI/CD, microservices, container technologies, and cloud computing platforms
• Proven experience leading and growing software development teams, with strong project and portfolio management skills
• Experience working within quality and compliance environments, with knowledge of IT service management, release management, cybersecurity principles, and data safety controls
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage relationships with third-party suppliers, including vendor negotiations, RFP processes, and risk assessments
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups
• Experience working in a science-driven environment with genuine interest in human biology and commitment to supporting patient-focused drug discovery

Desirable:

• Prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry or working with biomedical data
• Hands-on experience with SaaS and PaaS solutions, particularly scientific cloud computing platforms
• Front-end development experience and familiarity with modern UI/UX frameworks
• Experience with budget management and resource allocation
• Understanding of drug discovery research workflows and scientific computing requirements

What’s next?

If your passion is science and you want to be part of a team that makes a bigger impact on patients’ lives, then there’s no better place to be.

Date Posted

24-lut-2026

Closing Date

15-mar-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.