Lab Head, Lab Informatics & Software Engineering

Sci Pro is partnered with a Global Top Pharma to hire a senior lab head–level leader to own the application and data support function within Compound Management at a major US discovery hub.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a true lab-based leadership role at the intersection of science, software engineering, data, and automation, supporting one of the largest compound libraries in the industry.

You will lead the Application & Data Support function responsible for designing, supporting, and evolving software systems that enable compound and sample management workflows used daily by chemistry and pharmacology discovery teams.

You will serve as the technical and business owner for a portfolio of lab-facing applications supporting compound receipt, storage, preparation, plating, and distribution in a highly automated environment. This is not corporate IT. The role is embedded in the lab and closely tied to discovery execution.

This role is hands-on and lab facing, with approximately 50 percent lab presence. You will manage 2 to 3 direct reports and lead cross-functional project teams of 2 to 15 people, acting as the technical and business lead without direct supervisory responsibility for all contributors.

• Own the full lifecycle of lab-based software applications supporting compound management and discovery workflows
• Drive software design, integration, deployment, and long-term support for production systems used at scale
• Translate scientific and operational requirements into robust software and data solutions
• Partner with internal Digital teams on architecture, security, validation, and scalability
• Integrate software with lab automation, robotics, instruments, and vendor platforms
• Lead vendor selection, technical oversight, and delivery accountability
• Set technical direction for the application portfolio while remaining close to day-to-day lab use

• Senior scientific or technical leader with deep experience supporting discovery or compound management environments
• Strong software engineering background with hands-on exposure to Java-based applications, Pipeline Pilot, APIs, and workflow-driven platforms
• Experience designing or supporting production-grade systems used by scientists in real lab settings
• Comfort working across software, data pipelines, automation systems, and instrument integrations
• Ability to operate as a technical authority while influencing cross-functional teams without direct control
• Experience managing small technical teams and owning outcomes end to end

• Ownership of mission-critical software used daily in drug discovery
• Unusual combination of lab leadership and real software engineering responsibility
• Massive scale of compound libraries and automation infrastructure
• Clear mandate and stability due to succession planning
• High visibility across Discovery with tangible scientific impact
• Embedded lab role rather than corporate IT or pure informatics