Hiring an in-house software engineer to support a life science tech restructure 

When a Munich-based life sciences company faced a leadership transition, they needed to rebuild their engineering team, starting with a critical embedded systems hire. R&D Partners stepped in to help them scale with confidence. 

Key stats 

• 8 qualified candidates submitted within 5 working days 
• 1 strategic hire made to support product scalability 
• Retained partnership established for future growth 

The situation 

A life sciences technology company in Munich had developed a bio-platform for analysing molecular interactions to improve pharmaceutical identification. Following the departure of their co-founder and Head of Engineering, the newly appointed leader identified a key gap: the need for in-house embedded systems expertise. 

Previously, the embedded system had been developed by a third party. But with ambitious growth plans ahead, the company needed to bring this capability in-house to ensure scalability and long-term product stability. 

They approached R&D Partners to help secure a specialist who could take ownership of this pivotal function. 

The solution 

We began with a detailed briefing session with the new Head of Engineering to define the ideal candidate profile and understand the company’s evolving culture and employer brand. It was essential to position the opportunity in a way that addressed any concerns candidates might have following the restructure. 

The role required deep experience with Linux OS (Debian & Ubuntu) and sensor-based systems, making it a highly niche search. Given the urgency and complexity, we proposed a bespoke retained solution, assigning dedicated industry specialists and a central point of contact to ensure speed and consistency. 

Through a combination of headhunting and tapping into our established candidate network, we delivered eight qualified CVs within five working days. 

The result 

All three finalists were highly compatible, making the hiring decision a challenge. We worked closely with the client to assess each candidate’s strengths and fit, ultimately guiding them to a confident decision. 

The offer was made and accepted, and the company continues to trust R&D Partners for future hires as they scale their engineering function. 

Building your engineering team? 

. If you’re rebuilding or scaling your engineering function, we’re here to help. Let’s talk about how we can support the next step in your company’s journey.