Lab software exists. Analysis software exists. But the connection between them doesn’t.
Researchers juggle Excel, instrument software, standalone analysis packages and Word - nothing talks to anything else. Data gets lost at every handoff, errors creep in through copy-paste, and two researchers with identical data reach two different results.
This isn’t an analysis problem. It’s a workflow problem.
Clarida connects the full qPCR workflow, end to end. One platform, from biological question to a complete, traceable report.
Co-founders Jan Hellemans and Ward Hellemans know this problem from the inside. Jan is the creator of the qbase algorithm, co-author of the MIQE guidelines, and co-founder of Biogazelle (acquired 2022). Ward was product manager for qbase+ and led its development.
qbase+ solved the analysis problem. Clarida solves the workflow problem.
Our proof of concept is live and we have concrete interest from labs across multiple countries. We’ve closed our first investment round and are working towards an MVP in Q2 2026 and a full release by end of 2026. Longer term, Clarida grows from qPCR platform to multi-assay solution - dPCR and beyond.
You’ll be Clarida’s founding engineer, working directly with the co-founders. We don’t come from a classical engineering background, but thanks to AI we build alongside you, each from our own area of expertise. We provide context, write PRDs, define epics and stories, and direct Claude Code with domain knowledge and product vision.
You take technical ownership. Architecture decisions, stack choices, code quality - that’s your domain. We discuss them together, but you carry the responsibility and are the final authority on technical matters. We bring the problem, the context and the direction. You decide how it gets built.
Everyone on this team uses AI as a lever, each from their own domain. Your value lies in understanding what’s happening under the hood, making the right architectural decisions, and ensuring that what we build is built the right way.
Frontend
TypeScript, React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS
Backend
Python (FastAPI) + C# for Excel integration
Database & auth
Supabase (PostgreSQL)
Monorepo
Nx, pnpm
CI/CD
GitHub Actions, Docker, Fly.io
You’re building on an existing foundation: a custom design system with Storybook, JSDoc throughout the full TypeScript codebase, Python docstrings on every class and function, and CI/CD with quality gates on every PR.
The architecture has been deliberately structured - 2,500+ commits and extensive documentation. Now it needs to be ready for the real world.
- Get deep into the codebase, smooth out rough edges, and make the foundation production-ready
- Optimise CI/CD pipelines and get security in order
- Design and build new tools and features for the qPCR workflow - from backend logic to frontend implementation in our design system
- Work out the architecture for digital PCR together with the co-founders
- Evaluate the AI toolstack and adjust where needed - this field moves fast and we want to stay ahead
- Remote-first with regular in-person contact - meeting up once or twice a week in the Ghent area
- You decide how you manage your time and energy. We trust you to know what the business needs and to take ownership of that. Enough daily overlap for direct collaboration goes without saying.
- Start: preferably April or as soon as possible thereafter
- Solid IT foundations built before the AI wave - you understand what’s happening under the hood
- You’ve made technical decisions with real impact and owned them fully
- Enough full-stack foundation to effectively direct AI agents across both Python backend and TypeScript/React frontend where needed - not an expert in everything, but broad enough to navigate the full stack, including deployment and CI/CD
- Active experience with AI coding agents (Claude Code, OpenAI Codex or equivalent) as your primary development workflow - not as autocomplete, but as an agent with full codebase context that you actively direct
- You think about product and customer impact - architectural decisions are never purely technical for you
- Experience with SaaS architecture: authentication, multi-tenancy, billing
- Familiar with our stack: Supabase, Next.js, FastAPI and/or Nx monorepos
- Security-minded - you build it in from the start, not as an afterthought
- Eye for UX/UI - you think about the researcher using the platform
- Background or strong interest in life sciences or biotech
- You struggle to collaborate with people without a classical engineering background who also ship code. At Clarida, everyone builds from their own domain.
- You need clearly defined task descriptions and close direction to be productive.
Depending on profile and experience, we work within a range of €4,500–€6,000 gross/month (payroll) or €90,000–€120,000/year (freelance). Within your offer, you decide how to split between base salary and warrants. It’s a trade-off, not an addition.
More cash → higher base salary, fewer warrants
More belief in the upside → lower monthly salary, larger equity stake
Warrants with standard vesting: 4 years, 1-year cliff
Concrete scenarios, warrant percentages and all details discussed together - transparently, no surprises.
Payroll also includes 32 days off per year, meal vouchers, eco vouchers, end-of-year bonus and public transport reimbursement.
Conversation with the founders
±60 min - we go deeper into your background, technical vision and see if there’s a good fit.
Technical assignment
±4 hours, you choose the day. You receive a brief that’s representative of real work at Clarida. No algorithm puzzles. We evaluate your approach, architectural choices, and how you use AI tools. You always get feedback, regardless of the outcome.
Interested?
Send your application to info@clarida.bio with a short CV and answers to these three questions:
- 1What technical decision did you make autonomously and what was the impact?
- 2How do you use AI coding agents in your daily workflow?
- 3Why does Clarida appeal to you?
We keep it short - two steps. You’ll hear from us within two weeks of each step and always receive feedback, including if the answer is no.