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

Role Summary

We are seeking a Lab Software Engineering Manager, to lead our team of embedded R&D lab software engineering experts to drive the development and delivery of cutting-edge software solutions that transform Sanofi’s laboratory and CMC manufacturing plant operations. As a Lab Software Engineering Manager, you will lead a team of talented software engineers building solutions that power our global R&D laboratories. This team is on the ground, co-located with lab scientists and plant operators because they understand not only the scientific applications but also the scientific workflows in which they are used. You'll combine technical expertise with strong leadership skills to deliver scalable solutions that enable scientific innovation at scale.

Team Size: Leading a global team of approximately 12 software engineers, based in Europe and North America.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical excellence through, and the establishment of engineering best practices
• Make critical technology decisions regarding frameworks, tools patterns
• Partner with Tech Lead to ensure software quality, performance, security, and compliance industry regulations (GxP, data integrity, etc.)
• Champion DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code approaches

• Manage and develop 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 our commitment to equity and belonging
• Contribute to product strategy and roadmap planning with feasibility assessments
• Manage technical dependencies and risks

• 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: Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) preferred but not required with equivalent experience; 5+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role
• Required: Proven track record of delivering complex software systems in production environments
• Required: Experience leading and developing high-performing engineering teams
• Required: Strong background in modern software development practices (agile, DevOps, CI/CD)

Skills

• Programming Proficiency in at least two of: Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, Go
• Web Technologies: Modern web frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), RESTful APIs, GraphQL
• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, or GCP - infrastructure, services, and deployment patterns
• Databases: SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB) databases
• DevOps & Tools: Git, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions)
• Architecture: Microservices, API design, systems, event-driven architectures
• Leadership Competencies: Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain diverse engineering talent; coaching and mentoring; excellent communication; influence without authority; managing in matrix organizations and leading through ambiguity; balance technical excellence with business acumen
• 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 Qualifications: Scientific & Laboratory Experience; background in life sciences; LIMS/ELN/data platforms; understanding of laboratory workflows; Advanced Technical Skills in AI/ML for scientific problems; data analysis tools (R, Julia, MATLAB); data pipelines and analytics with scientific data standards (AnIML, SiLA, SDTM)
• Business & Strategic Skills: Experience in digital transformation initiatives or modernization programs; building platforms or products from concepts to deployments; vendor management and third-party integrations; international or multi-site team leadership
• Certifications: Agile/Scrum (CSM, PSM) and project management (PMP, PRINCE2)

Education

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