Principal Software Engineer

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Principal Software Engineer to shape the future of lab software platforms powering high-throughput, regulated laboratory operations. In this role, you will define technical direction across complex, distributed systems and lead the evolution of software applications that drive lab automation, efficiency, and operational excellence.

You will operate as a hands-on technical leader with deep ownership, from architecture and design through critical implementation to influencing lab operations processes, engineering standards, and long-term platform strategy. This role is ideal for a systems thinker who thrives in ambiguity, makes sound tradeoffs, and raises the technical bar for the entire organization.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture

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  Own and evolve the architecture of large-scale, mission-critical systems supporting lab automation, workflow orchestration, and decision support.



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  Define and enforce architectural patterns for modular, distributed systems, including modernizing legacy and off-the-shelf LIMS platforms to cloud-native architectures.



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  Make high-impact technical decisions balancing scalability, reliability, security, cost, and regulatory constraints.



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  Establish engineering best practices across performance, observability, testing, security, and operational readiness.



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  Mentor senior engineers and managers through design reviews, technical guidance, and reusable frameworks.



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  Drive adoption of Generative AI to improve developer productivity and software quality.



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  Lead the application of AI/ML capabilities to improve lab throughput, TAT, automation reliability, and operator experience.

Software Engineering Execution

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  Lead and contribute across the full software development lifecycle—from problem framing and architecture through implementation, deployment, and production support.



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  Plan and execute complex migrations from legacy and off-the-shelf lab systems to the new strategic platform, including data migration, integration cutovers, validation strategy, and rollback planning, while minimizing downtime and operational risk in a regulated environment.



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  Build and review robust backend services and modern frontend applications using Python, TypeScript, React, and Next.js.



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  Stabilize and scale existing LIMS solutions while leading strategic modernization to a new technology stack.



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  Design and operate systems on AWS with a focus on availability, fault tolerance, cost efficiency, and security.



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  Advance CI/CD practices with infrastructure-as-code, automated testing, and production-grade observability.

Cross-functional Collaboration

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  Partner closely with Product, UX, Scientists, and Lab Operations to translate complex workflows into scalable, intuitive systems.



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  Lead technical discussions that influence product roadmaps and platform strategy.



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  Foster a culture of engineering excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement across teams.

Qualifications

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  12-15+ years of experience in developing software applications.



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  Proven experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, NextJS, and TypeScript.



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  Solid understanding of relational databases and proficiency in SQL programming, with a preference for MySQL or PostgreSQL.



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  Solid understanding of non-relational and graph databases.



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  Proficiency in leveraging AWS services, including Lambda, RDS, DynamoDB, S3, and Glue.



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  Proficiency in infrastructure as code (IaC).



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  Proficiency in messaging frameworks such as Kafka.



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  Strong quality assurance mindset with a commitment to delivering robust and reliable software.



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  Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.



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  Strong written and verbal communication skills, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills, enable effective interaction with stakeholders at all levels.

Nice to Have

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  Experience building custom Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) or Laboratory Execution Systems (LES).



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  Experience with Lab Equipment and Lab Automation.

The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.

Austin, TX

$186,200 - $232,800 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit .

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

Link:

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @ natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page