This role encompasses both technical management (around 50%, including line management, internal and external stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning) and hands-on engineering (50%).

Key Responsibilities

Technical Strategy & Architecture

• Lead the design, evolution, and maintenance of the architecture, infrastructure, and application stack for our existing platforms.
• Drive key technology decisions, ensuring scalability, efficiency, performance, security, and cost-effectiveness.
• Be hands-on in the implementation and delivery of high-quality, robust products.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead and line manage the Engineering Team, currently consisting of one Software Engineer, with a clear mandate to scale and grow the team.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and collaboration within the engineering function.
• Ensure high standards and compliance across the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Cross-functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Partner closely with the Research Lead and team to understand their technology needs and provide the necessary platforms and support for their work.
• Engage with the Partnerships team and external clients, providing expert technical input and decision-making during engagements.
• Represent the engineering function in leadership discussions, aligning technology efforts with broader business objectives.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure that all Medical Device implementations are of high quality, secure, and performant, strictly adhering to relevant regulations.
• Maintain the technology aspects of our Medical Device documentation to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Lead the acquisition and maintenance of essential technology and cybersecurity certifications (e.g., ISO27001, Cyber Essentials Plus).

Who we are looking for

You are a seasoned engineer who thrives at the intersection of hands-on delivery and technical leadership. You possess the maturity to drive strategic architectural decisions while maintaining a passion for high-quality code and system reliability.

Essential Experience & Mindset

• Experienced Leader : Minimum 5+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a Tech Lead capacity, including mentorship or line management.
• Architectural Fluency : Proven ability to design, implement, and scale complex systems, ensuring deployment versatility across both cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) and on-premise infrastructure.
• Compliance-Focused : Significant experience working in a highly regulated environment (ideally Medical Devices/HealthTech). Practical knowledge of quality assurance standards, documentation, and regulatory frameworks.
• Security Champion : Demonstrated experience in leading and maintaining security compliance standards and certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus).
• Hands-on Coder : Technically proficient and eager to contribute directly to the codebase, leading by example in code review, testing, and CI/CD pipeline development.
• Core Technical Stack : Python, Javascript, AWS/GCP, Docker, Kubernetes

Leadership & Collaboration Skills

• Effective Communicator : Exceptional ability to translate complex technical issues into clear business terms for non-technical stakeholders (Research, Partnerships, Leadership).
• Mentor and Coach : Passionate about building and nurturing engineering talent, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Proactive Ownership : A strong sense of accountability for the systems you lead, anticipating future challenges (technical debt, compliance) and proposing solutions proactively.

What We Offer

• Taking a leadership role in the delivery of the world's first instrument-free precision diagnostic product
• Massive growth potential in a fast-growing startup and taking more responsibility as the company expands
• Collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams of scientists, partner managers and clinicians turning research into life-changing medical innovation
• Working in a flexible, hybrid environment
• Opportunity to shape Technology at a high-impact healthcare startup
• Competitive base salary
• Equity participation through employee share options
• Flexible working arrangements
• 22 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension contribution
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on cancer patient outcomes

At Panakeia, we welcome applications from all sections of society and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity or related condition or any other basis as protected by applicable law.