Head of Software

Head of Software Lead the architecture of a breakthrough protein sequencing platform, building scalable, secure, and regulatory-ready software from device to cloud to power the next generation of biological insight. We usually respond within a week About Portal Biotech Portal Biotech has built the world's only platform for sequencing full-length proteins at the single-molecule level. Our nanopore technology reads intact proteins of any size, extracting sequence and post-translational modification information that no other instrument can match. This gives scientists a view of protein biology that has never existed before — with applications spanning drug discovery, diagnostics, and biosecurity. Our technology works. Customers are coming. Now we are building the software infrastructure that turns our breakthrough technology into a scalable system to generate biological insight. About the role We're hiring a Head of Software to lead the next phase of Portal's platform, from device to cloud to result. You will define the technical roadmap that transforms our research instrument into a system ready to support regulated applications. You'll work closely with product management, R&D, hardware, data science, QA, and leadership to ensure our software is fast, scalable, secure, and built with the discipline required for high-assurance environments. Tasks and responsibilities Platform architecture, device to cloud Own the end-to-end architecture across device software, cloud infrastructure, analysis pipelines, and APIs. Make clear, long-term technology decisions that scale with the company. Ensure system reliability and data integrity from instrument to result. Software for regulated use Build the foundations that allow Portal's software to support regulated applications (diagnostics, clinical, biosecurity). Embed risk-aware engineering practices into day-to-day development. Partner with QA & RA to ensure our processes, documentation, and traceability meet the standards expected in regulated markets. Own the security architecture, policies, and practices that underpin the platform. Team & engineering practice Grow the software team across firmware, cloud, and analysis pipelines. Establish coding standards, CI/CD, and validation frameworks that hold up under audit without slowing the team down. Create a culture that values craftsmanship, ownership, and clarity. Cloud, data, and analysis infrastructure Lead development of Portal's cloud platform: data isolation, instrument telemetry, and analysis-pipeline orchestration. Deliver versioned, reproducible analysis workflows with audit-friendly logging and access controls. Own the API strategy for internal teams, customers, and partners. Qualifications Essential Significant experience in software engineering, including senior architectural leadership. Proven track record building complex cloud-based systems. Experience working in regulated or high-assurance environments (medical, diagnostics, aerospace, fintech, etc.). Deep experience designing secure systems and embedding security into the SDLC, including governance practices. Ability to operate in ambiguity and bring structure where needed. Desirable Familiarity with software standards (e.g. IEC 62304, ISO 14971, ISO 13485). Familiarity with GxP — GLP, GMP, GCP — and electronic-records expectations such as 21 CFR Part 11 / EU Annex 11 Experience generating a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). Experience with connected devices or edge-to-cloud architectures. Background in scientific, biotech, or data-intensive platforms. Experience supporting audits or compliance reviews. What we offer A competitive salary, meaningful equity, and the chance to build the software backbone of an instrument that lets scientists see protein biology no one has seen before. If that's the kind of problem you want to spend the next few years on, we'd like to hear from you. Team Bioinformatics (BiX) Role Head of Software Locations London Remote status Hybrid About Portal Biotech Founded by DNA-sequencing veterans, Portal Biotech is developing the first bench-top single-molecule protein sequencer, leveraging machine-learning algorithms and building on decades of in-house expertise in nanopore technology. By analysing full-length protein molecules at the single-molecule level, our platform delivers rapid, real-time information on protein identity, abundance, and structure. Those insights open frontiers in drug discovery, diagnostics, and fundamental research, helping scientists and clinicians to better understand human health and disease. Founded in 2021