Data Application Engineer, Foundry

• Build and evolve the ontology (actions, objects, links) that represents our biological workflows in Foundry, and develop bespoke React applications that scientists and customers want to use

• Drive the buildout of experimental data pipelines, storage architecture, and analytical tooling

• Develop a working understanding of what data we have, what it is worth, and where the gaps are, then build workflows that unlock that value

• Define and enforce data standards, schemas, and governance as dataset volume and complexity grow; partner with Automation and Science teams to ensure those standards reflect real experimental workflows, preventing data debt before it starts

• Champion data-driven discovery across the company, raising Foundry literacy and helping scientists move from raw data to insight with increasing autonomy

• Identify technical debt and infrastructure gaps; scope and prioritize remediation

Science Team Partnership

• Develop a genuine, working-level understanding of science teams' priorities, experimental roadmaps, and active book of work by being in the room, not relying on secondhand summaries

• Ensure Data & Infrastructure builds toward what science actually needs, not what looks logical from a systems perspective in isolation

• Identify where data capture or pipeline gaps are creating friction for researchers and treat those with the same urgency as internal engineering priorities

• Build enough trust with science leadership to anticipate needs and scope work proactively

Automation Team Coordination

• Stay current on the automation team's roadmap so that data infrastructure remains compatible with the physical platform as it evolves

• Where the two intersect (instrument integration, data ingestion, metadata standards), manage sequencing and dependencies sensibly without gatekeeping

• Ensure the data layer keeps pace with expanding automation capabilities so increased experimental volume produces well-structured datasets, not cleanup backlogs

Keeping Things Moving

• Self-organize around the department's highest-value work; seek out, sequence, and prioritize what needs doing rather than waiting for a task list

• Own the operating rhythm: sprint planning, roadmap reviews, cross-functional syncs, dependency tracking

• Surface risks and tradeoffs early on infrastructure delivery timelines

• Translate technical constraints into business terms for BD, finance, and partnership discussions, where data infrastructure or security posture is relevant

What We Are Looking For

Experience

• 2 to 6 years with Palantir Foundry, including ontology design, pipeline development, or application building

• Proficiency with React, particularly for building Foundry applications and user-facing tools

• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS) and modern data engineering practices

• Startup or scale-up experience where scope is fluid and resourcefulness matters

• Exposure to life sciences data (assay data, LIMS, genomics, or similar) is desirable; you should be comfortable following a science team discussion and translating it into data and infrastructure implications

Working Style

• High agency; you default to action with incomplete information

• Clear communicator who can move between engineering architecture discussions and leadership briefings in the same afternoon

• Builds systems, closes loops, creates structure where none exists

• Genuinely curious about the science, not someone who treats scientific context as overhead

Would Stand Out

• Prior "glue" role at a startup spanning technical and organizational domains

• Familiarity with data governance, regulatory data requirements, or GxP-adjacent environments

• Track record of earning trust with wet-lab or scientific teams as a non-scientist

• Experience with distributed teams across US and European time zones

Parallel Bio is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.