Staff Data Engineer (Menlo Park, CA or Durham, NC) #4433 at GRAIL

Durham, North Carolina, United States

GRAIL Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Healthcare, BiotechnologyIndustries

Requirements

  • B.S. / M.S. in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computational Biology) with 8+ years of related industry experience, or Ph.D. with at least 5 years of related industry experience or equivalent
  • Extensive experience developing with relational databases, data modeling principles, data pipeline tools, and workflow engines (e.g., SQL, DBT, Apache Airflow, AWS Glue, Spark)
  • Extensive experience with DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, containerized deployment (e.g., Kubernetes), and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform)
  • Experience supporting data science and machine learning data pipelines, preferably in the context of biological data analysis and using Python
  • Ability to embrace uncertainty, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate with product teams and stakeholders to refine requirements and drive toward clear engineering objectives and designs
  • Strong written and verbal communicator who can adapt communication style and level of detail to the audience

Responsibilities

  • Be a part of a highly collaborative team focused on delivering value to cross-functional partners by designing, deploying, and automating secure, efficient, and scalable data infrastructure and tools—reducing manual efforts and streamlining operations
  • Help model Grail data to ensure it follows FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable)
  • Drive the design, deployment, and automated delivery of data infrastructure, standardized data models, datasets, and tools
  • Integrate automated testing and release processes to improve the quality and velocity of software and data deliveries
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams—ranging from Research to Clinical Lab Operations to Software Engineering—to provide comprehensive data solutions from conception to delivery
  • Ensure all software and data meet high standards for quality, clinical compliance, and privacy
  • Mentor fellow engineers and scientists, promoting best practices in software and data engineering

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Data EngineeringData InfrastructurePipeline AutomationNext-Generation SequencingFAIR PrinciplesScalable Data SystemsETLData Modeling

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What are the location options for this Staff Data Engineer role?

The role is hybrid and candidates will be hired in either Menlo Park, CA or Durham, NC.

What experience level is required for this position?

Candidates need a B.S./M.S. in a quantitative field with 8+ years of related industry experience, or a Ph.D. with at least 5 years of related industry experience or equivalent.

What technical skills are preferred for this role?

Preferred skills include extensive experience with relational databases, data modeling principles, data pipeline tools, and workflow engines such as SQL, DBT, Apache Airflow, AWS Glue, and Spark.

What is the team environment like at GRAIL?

The role involves being part of a highly collaborative team focused on delivering value to cross-functional partners, including Research, Clinical Lab Operations, and Software Engineering, while building a new team to support, stabilize, and enhance data pipelines.

What makes a strong candidate for this Staff Data Engineer position?

Strong candidates have advanced degrees in quantitative fields with substantial industry experience, expertise in data infrastructure and pipelines, and the ability to mentor others while ensuring quality, compliance, and FAIR data principles.

GRAIL

Develops blood tests for early cancer detection

About GRAIL

GRAIL focuses on improving cancer detection through advanced blood tests that identify cancer at its earliest stages, enhancing treatment success rates. The company utilizes high-intensity sequencing to analyze tumor genome data, employing algorithms and deep learning to extract actionable information for early cancer detection. GRAIL differentiates itself from competitors by its commitment to large-scale clinical studies that validate the effectiveness of its tests. The primary goal is to reduce global cancer mortality by enabling early diagnosis, making the disease more treatable.

Menlo Park, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2016Year Founded
$1,765.5MTotal Funding
ACQUISITIONCompany Stage
Biotechnology, HealthcareIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Outstanding People - Join a team of passionate and dedicated professionals, committed to collaboration, education, and proactive problem-solving.
Strong Compensation - We offer competitive salaries and savings plans to provide for long-term financial planning.
Complete Health Coverage - Take advantage of comprehensive health coverage, with medical, dental and vision, to keep you and your family healthy.
Work-Life Balance - Make everyday life more manageable with flexible time off – we trust you to do great work and take time for yourself.

Risks

Potential overdiagnosis could impact the perceived value of GRAIL's tests.
Significant net losses may affect investor confidence and long-term sustainability.
High test costs may limit accessibility in markets with less healthcare funding.

Differentiation

GRAIL uses high-intensity sequencing for early cancer detection via blood tests.
The Galleri test screens for over 50 cancers with a single blood draw.
GRAIL's tests are supported by large-scale clinical studies ensuring reliability.

Upsides

Collaborations with platforms like Function Health expand Galleri test accessibility.
Revenue from Galleri grew 52% year-over-year, indicating strong market demand.
GRAIL's technology aligns with trends in personalized and preventative medicine.

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