Principal Bioinformatics Scientist I

About the role

A healthier future drives us to innovate. This role is a vital part of our Bioinformatics team, committed to advancing precision medicine by building cutting-edge computational tools for clinical diagnostics. You will sit at the intersection of computational biology, assay development, and software engineering to translate complex genomic data into actionable health insights. Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners across Wet-Lab Assay Development, Software Engineering, CLIA Operations, and Quality to design, validate, and operationalize next-generation diagnostic tests.

Responsibilities

• Design, benchmark, and optimize scalable, reproducible NGS bioinformatics pipelines using Nextflow, Docker/Singularity, and cloud environments.
• Partner with Assay Development and CLIA lab teams to establish statistical analysis plans and validate novel diagnostic assays (ensuring high sensitivity, specificity, and precision).
• Integrate AI coding tools and automated workflows to accelerate algorithm development, refactoring, and data analysis.
• Draft clear functional and technical specifications to guide software engineering teams in transitioning research prototypes into robust clinical software.
• Implement sample- and run-level statistical QC metrics while maintaining thorough QMS-compliant documentation for CAP/CLIA audits.
• Enforce high-standard software engineering practices, including Git version control, continuous integration, unit testing, and modular architecture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years of related experience; OR Master’s degree with 7+ years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 4+ years of related experience (work experience can be prior or post-grad; relevant post-grad academic lab training will be considered).
• Proven ability to partner seamlessly across multidisciplinary teams—including wet-lab scientists, software engineers, lab directors, and Quality assurance—to align technical specs with clinical goals.
• Demonstrated track record supporting or working within a CAP/CLIA-certified laboratory environment with direct experience in diagnostic test development and analytical validation.
• Deep understanding of high-throughput sequencing data analysis across various modalities (targeted panels, WGS/WES, transcriptomics, or liquid biopsy/ctDNA).
• Proficient in Python/R/C++ and Linux/Bash alongside hands-on experience using workflow managers (Nextflow) and containerized software deployments.
• Proven ability to leverage AI development tools to maximize productivity, alongside excellent communication skills suited for navigating complex, cross-functional organizational environments.

Pay

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Santa Clara, CA is $121,400 - $225,400 USD Annual. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.

Benefits

This position qualifies for the benefits detailed at the provided link.