Application Developer

We are seeking a talented Application Developer with specialised experience in Large Language Models (LLMs) to join our client’s innovative team. This role will focus on developing, integrating, and optimising applications and leverage LLM technology, helping drive the digital transformation of biotech through advanced AI systems.

The role is based in Oxfordshire and would expect the employee to be onsite, in person for up to 3 days per week.

About our client

Our client is a start-up is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence with biological research, specialising in language models (LMs) and their applications in drug discovery. They are passionate about revolutionising the biotech industry through cutting-edge AI technologies, with a strong emphasis on computational protein engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain applications that integrate and utilise LLMs for various biotech applications, including data analysis, automation, and natural language processing tasks.
• Implement and fine-tune LLMs to enhance the performance of our applications in domains such as genomic data interpretation, protein engineering, or drug discovery.
• Collaborate with data scientists, ML engineers, and biologists to translate complex biotech requirements into efficient software solutions using LLMs.
• Optimise the performance of LLM-based applications, ensuring scalability, security, and robustness in handling large datasets.
• Research and implement new techniques in LLMs, including model customisation, prompt engineering, and fine-tuning for domain-specific tasks.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and improve software components based on feedback and testing.
• Stay current with trends in natural language processing, machine learning, and biotechnology applications to continuously improve our systems.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with LLMs (e.g., GPT, BERT, T5) and related NLP frameworks like Hugging Face, OpenAI, or transformer libraries
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar
• Excellent software engineering skills, particularly in Python and R, with experience in protein modelling software
• Degree/post graduate degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field
• Experience in building consumer focused enterprise applications
• Deep expertise in natural language processing, language models, and their application to biological data and protein sequences
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms and big data technologies for handling large protein datasets
• Outstanding communication skills and ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

Desired Skills

• Technical: Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns relevant to building scalable and maintainable applications using LLMs.
• Experience with API development and integration, especially for interfacing LLMs with external systems and services.
• Knowledge of fine-tuning LLMs and prompt engineering for improving model performance in specific application use cases.
• Proficiency with optimisation techniques for LLMs to reduce latency and computational costs in real-time applications.
• Experience working with containerisation and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes, particularly in deploying machine learning applications.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing to ensure smooth deployment and operation of LLM-based applications.
• Hands-on experience with data pre-processing and pipeline automation for feeding LLMs with structured and unstructured data.
• Strong understanding of data security and compliance requirements, especially when handling sensitive or large datasets.
• Experience with Web frontend technologies.
• Domain Knowledge: Protein engineering, structural biology, drug discovery processes, systems biology would be ideal
• Soft Skills: Cross-functional collaboration, resourcefulness, project management, and strategic thinking.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of AI and protein engineering, shaping the future of drug discovery and biotechnology
• Competitive salary and equity package
• State-of-the-art computational resources and access to cutting-edge biological datasets
• Collaborative and innovative work environment
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional development
• Based at Harwell Campus, with flexible working arrangements and comprehensive benefits package