Director, Software Engineering

Our mission at Xyme is to solve important societal problems by revolutionizing the practice of synthetic chemistry through what we call xymes - AI-generated enzymes that can catalyze any reaction. As an innovative startup based in Oxford and Manchester, UK, we bring together interdisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and data specialists to push the boundaries of enzyme design. Our dynamic and collaborative work environment is fueled by a passion for innovation. We cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where every team member can make a lasting impact on our groundbreaking research and real-world applications.

As Director, Software Engineering at Xyme, you will join an exciting scientific startup to build a groundbreaking software platform from the ground up. Together with your team, you will architect and deliver our enzyme design platform, integrating state-of-the-art AI, molecular simulation, scalable compute, and learning cycles into an intuitive interface. This platform will empower our scientific teams to advance high-impact portfolio projects. You will begin by building a highly effective team and establishing the computational infrastructure and software development processes needed to create a unique interface that encodes our growing knowledge and ultimately automates enzyme design at scale.

What you will do

Together with your own team and collaborating with others, you will have the opportunity to do the following early on:

• Design, architect, and continuously enhance our cutting-edge enzyme design platform in alignment with our ambition to revolutionize synthetic chemistry, using modern SaaS principles and best practices to ensure scalability, reliability, and maintainability while delivering an exceptional user experience for our scientific teams.

• Launch and maintain our cloud compute platform including task-based workflow orchestration and scalable compute functions to support our enzyme design pipeline.

• Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of our software development environment to establish best practices and increase productivity.

• Cultivate strategic partnerships by working with our technical leaders to identify, engage, and build beneficial relationships with key software and service providers.

• Build and lead a high-performing engineering team by creating a collaborative, innovative culture focused on technical excellence, continuous learning, and mutual support.

Our current stack is primarily Python-based and we use its scientific software ecosystem for developing AI applications and running molecular simulations. You will have significant ownership over adjusting and expanding it as needed to achieve our goals.

Who we are looking for

• You have experience scaling startups from seed to advanced funding rounds and developing platforms from initial concept through technical validation to successful market fit. Your experience may also include learning valuable lessons from startup failures, giving you insight into what drives startup success.

• You have led the development of major user-facing SaaS platform features and understand what it takes to build reliable products that customers actively use and value.

• You have experience with AI-driven platforms and have led the development of features or complete platforms built on modern data pipelines and predictive or generative models.

• You are a seasoned software engineer with proven hands-on expertise across multiple tech stacks. While staying current with emerging technologies, you have the wisdom to make sound technical decisions. You're ready to contribute directly to platform development when needed.

• You know firsthand that strong relationships and clear communication are essential for building impactful products. You thrive on engaging regularly with customers and internal stakeholders to listen to feedback, share thoughts, communicate plans, and importantly, fostering a sense of shared ownership over our platforms.

• You have successfully built, led, and grown engineering teams and are passionate about team culture and personal development. Your leadership style emphasizes mentorship and you have a proven track record of developing talent and helping team members reach their full potential.

What would be nice to have

• An advanced degree in a scientific discipline - particularly life sciences - will be helpful in understanding our unique scientific vision and the platforms needed to achieve it.

• Experience developing or contributing to customer-facing platforms in biotech or similar fields where AI and life sciences intersect.

What we offer

• An environment where you will have significant impact - your work will be critical in delivering a groundbreaking platform with the potential to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time: energy, climate, and health.

• Opportunities to attend and present at relevant conferences and industry events, expanding your knowledge and professional network.

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement that blends in-office collaboration at our Oxford location with remote working options tailored to your preferences.