Software Engineer

Company: Karius
Location: Redwood City, CA (Hybrid) or Remote (USA)
Duration: Temporary/Contract position up to 6 months
Reports to: Sr. Director, Engineering
Pay: $72 - $84 per hour

About Karius

Karius is a life science company focused on elevating patient care through microbial insights using genomics and AI. Our platform detects microbial cell-free DNA in the body to help physicians make rapid treatment decisions for infectious diseases. We are driven by a mission to improve the diagnostic landscape and are building a unique software stack to deliver life-saving results.

Position Summary

We are seeking talented and passionate individuals to join our team on a temporary/contract basis for up to 6 months. You will contribute to building and operating a sophisticated software stack, including cloud infrastructure, software services, APIs, web/mobile interfaces, and AI-driven data analytics pipelines. Success at Karius is driven by our unique technology and the elegance of our software solutions.

Why Join Us?

Karius is at the forefront of conquering infectious diseases through innovations in genomic sequencing and machine learning. Our platform provides unprecedented insights, helping clinicians deliver better care. As part of the Karius team, you will see the direct, life-changing impact of your work on people's lives at scale.

Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional groups (Engineering, Software Products, Analytics, Lab Operations) to understand user needs and objectives.
• Develop and share software subsystem designs that meet user needs and enable team objectives.
• Lead the implementation and end-to-end testing of software solutions, including driving user acceptance.
• Own software subsystems, API sets, or user applications, becoming the subject matter expert.
• Develop strong expertise in the business domain to ensure software alignment with operational and user needs.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the engineering lifecycle through enhancements to tools, processes, and ways of working.
• Help advance a high-performing engineering culture through collaboration and problem-solving with the broader engineering team.

What's Fun About the Job?

Karius operates at the cutting edge of diagnostics, presenting new and incredible challenges and opportunities. You will work with advanced technologies, architecting and innovating where current solutions fall short. You'll see how much your work truly matters.

Position Requirements

• BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of software engineering experience designing, developing, and maintaining full-stack solutions in a production environment.
• 3+ years of experience implementing production software using TypeScript.
• Strong TypeScript and Node.js engineering experience, including building and maintaining substantial TypeScript services.
• Experience designing and operating microservices-based systems.
• Production experience with Kafka or a comparable event-streaming platform.
• Experience designing PostgreSQL database schemas.
• Knowledge and hands-on experience developing and operating distributed cloud-based software systems (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Kafka, GraphQL, AWS).
• Experience operating services in AWS or similar environments.
• Experience with unit testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, Vitest).
• Hands-on experience with end-to-end testing frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Cypress, Selenium).
• Strong test design skills.
• Hands-on experience with modern AI tools (e.g., Claude, Cursor).
• Familiarity with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA).
• Experience in the life sciences or healthcare domain is highly desirable.

Personal Qualifications

• Strong commitment to engineering quality (testability, maintainability, reliability).
• Strong written communication skills for creating clear design documents, PR descriptions, and technical documentation.
• Ability to troubleshoot issues across systems and integration points.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations by asking clarifying questions and defining practical solutions.

Note: This is a temporary/contract position for up to 6 months. No travel required. Karius is an Equal Opportunity Employer.