Principal Software Engineer

US Remote

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Principal Software Engineer who thrives in solving complex problems and shaping the future of lab software systems at scale. In this role, you will lead the design and development of intelligent, cloud-native applications that drive automation, efficiency, and innovation across high-throughput laboratory operations.

You will serve as a hands-on technical leader who influences architecture, drives engineering excellence, and champions the adoption of advanced technologies. Your work will have a direct impact on life-saving technologies. If you are a strategic thinker with strong ownership, a passion for clean architecture, and deep expertise in building modern full-stack systems, we would love to meet you.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture

  • Lead the design and evolution of scalable, maintainable, and secure software systems supporting lab automation, workflow orchestration, and decision support.
  • Define architectural patterns for modular and distributed systems, guiding the migration of legacy systems to cloud-native microservices.
  • Establish and enforce engineering best practices around performance, scalability, observability, security, and testing.
  • Empower teams through reusable frameworks, documentation, mentorship, and architectural reviews.
  • Drive the adoption of Generative AI tools to accelerate software development.
  • Drive the utilization of AI/ML capabilities to optimize lab operations.

Software Engineering Execution

  • Lead and contribute to the full software development lifecycle: from ideation and architecture through implementation, testing, and deployment.
  • Develop robust backend services and responsive frontend applications using modern technologies (e.g., Python, React, TypeScript).
  • Support the stabilization of existing off-the-shelf LIMS software and drive modernization to a new stack.
  • Optimize systems hosted on AWS to ensure cost-effective, high-availability, and fault-tolerant deployments.
  • Implement and evolve CI/CD practices with infrastructure-as-code and observability baked in.

Cross-functional Collaboration

  • Partner with Product Managers, UX Designers, Scientists, and Lab Operations to shape product direction and translate user needs into scalable systems.
  • Lead technical discussions and influence product and platform strategy.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, quality, and continuous improvement across teams.

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in developing software applications.
  • Proven experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, NextJS, and TypeScript.
  • Solid understanding of relational databases and proficiency in SQL programming, with a preference for MySQL or PostgreSQL.
  • Proficiency in leveraging AWS services, including Lambda, RDS, DynamoDB, S3, and Glue.
  • Proficiency in infrastructure as code (IaC).
  • Proficiency in messaging frameworks such as Kafka.
  • Strong quality assurance mindset with a commitment to delivering robust and reliable software.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills, enable effective interaction with stakeholders at all levels.

Nice to Have

  • Experience building custom Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) or Laboratory Execution Systems (LES).
  • Experience with LabVantage LIMS.
  • Located in Austin, Texas, to facilitate direct observation of the software in the lab and obtain real-time user feedback.
The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.

Remote USA

$191,800 - $239,800 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. 

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

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