Lab Software Engineering Manager - Digital R&D Labs and Plants

Role Summary

We are seeking a Lab Software Engineering Manager to lead a global team of embedded R&D lab software engineers, driving development and delivery of software solutions that transform laboratory and CMC manufacturing plant operations. The role combines technical leadership with people leadership to deliver scalable solutions for scientific innovation at scale. The team operates on the ground, co-located with lab scientists and plant operators to understand scientific applications and workflows.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Delivery
  • Drive technical excellence through the establishment of engineering best practices
  • Make critical technology decisions regarding frameworks, tools, and patterns
  • Partner with Tech Lead to ensure software quality, performance, security, and compliance with industry regulations (GxP, data integrity, etc.)
  • Champion DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code approaches
• People Leadership & Team Development
  • Manage and develop an engineering team of 12–14 software engineers, providing coaching
  • Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and goal-setting sessions
  • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and psychological safety
  • Build diverse, inclusive teams that reflect commitment to equity and belonging
  • Contribute to product strategy and roadmap planning with feasibility assessments
  • Manage technical dependencies and risks
• Digital Transformation & Innovation
  • Drive the digital transformation of laboratory operations through modern software engineering practices
  • Identify opportunities to use modern technologies (AI/ML, automation, cloud computing, IoT) to solve scientific challenges
  • Champion user-centered design principles and ensure solutions meet the needs of scientists and lab personnel
  • Stay current with industry trends in scientific software, lab automation, and R&D informatics
  • Contribute to Sanofi's broader Digital R&D Strategy
  • Ensure proper documentation, knowledge sharing, and sustainability

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
• Required: 5+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role; advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) preferred but not required with equivalent experience; proven track record of delivering complex software systems in production environments; experience leading and developing high-performing engineering teams; strong background in modern software development practices (agile, DevOps, CI/CD)
• Required: Programming Proficiency in at least two of: Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, Go
• Required: Web Technologies: Modern web frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), RESTful APIs, GraphQL
• Required: Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, or GCP; infrastructure, services, and deployment patterns
• Required: Databases: SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB)
• Required: DevOps & Tools: Git, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions)
• Required: Architecture: Microservices, API design, event-driven architectures
• Required: Leadership Competencies: hire/develop/retain diverse engineering talent; coaching and mentoring; excellent communication; ability to influence without authority; manage in matrix organizations; balance technical excellence with business acumen
• Required: Industry Knowledge: understanding of software regulated industries (pharmaceutical, medical device, or similar); familiarity with data security and compliance requirements (GDPR, 21 CFR Part 11); knowledge of software validation and quality management systems
• Preferred: Scientific & Laboratory Experience: background in life sciences, chemistry, biology; experience with LIMS/ELN/data platforms; understanding of laboratory workflows and instrumentation
• Preferred: Advanced Technical Skills: experience with AI/ML in scientific problems; knowledge of scientific computing and data analysis tools; expertise in data engineering and analytics with scientific data standards (e.g., AnIML, SiLA, SDTM)
• Preferred: Business & Strategic Skills: experience in digital transformation, platform/product development, vendor management, international/multi-site leadership
• Preferred: Certifications: Agile/Scrum (CSM, PSM, etc.); Project management (PMP, PRINCE2)

Skills

• Leadership: hiring, coaching, mentoring, and career development of engineers
• Communication: strong ability to influence and collaborate across cross-functional teams
• Strategic thinking and product-solution mindset
• Adaptability in matrix organizations and ambiguity
• User-centered design and stakeholder empathy
• Regulated software development awareness (GxP, data integrity, validation)

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) preferred but not required