Microbial Bioinformatics Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Bioinformatics Scientist (Mid/Senior)

Compensation: $170,000 - $190,000

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full-time (Hybrid)

Equity: Highly Competitive Equity

About Our Client

TechStaffers has partnered with one of our clients & they are on a mission to accelerate new cures and promote a healthier planet by unlocking a new level of productivity for scientists. Their sequencing services are used daily by thousands of innovators, including Nobel laureates, Fortune 100 pharma, and over 70,000 scientists. They began by revolutionizing plasmid sequencing, making it exponentially cheaper and faster. Now, they are expanding that same disruptive model across all of genomics, including a new RNA-seq service, to provide scientists everywhere with faster and more affordable access to data. Every team member plays a crucial role in driving the future of biotech research, building the world's most efficient sequencing engine that operates overnight and scales globally.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated mid- to senior-level Bioinformatics Scientist to work on the bioinformatics engine that powers this impact. This role is heavily bioinformatics-focused, emphasizing deep domain expertise and the building of scalable products over general software platform skills. You will wear many hats, leading projects from concept through production while maintaining strong ownership of your work.

Key Responsibilities

• Build blazing-fast, production-grade bioinformatics workflows that process thousands of samples per day.
• Develop novel algorithms that turn raw sequencing data into fast, intuitive, and accurate insights.
• Hunt down bugs and tame the chaos of real-world sequencing data, including biological artifacts and platform quirks.
• Translate bioinformatics outputs into a dynamic scientific UX that feels magical to researchers.
• Stay on top of cutting-edge tools and find creative ways to integrate them into real-world pipelines.
• Mentor teammates and grow your own skills in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Experience: 3+ years of experience developing production bioinformatics pipelines.
• Industry Background: Minimum of 2 years of industry experience; candidates whose only experience is in academia will not be considered.
• Domain Expertise: Strong background in microbial ecology or related fields, with a distinct preference for expertise in microbial genomics.
• Technical Tools: Significant, hands-on experience with Nextflow and Docker is critical for pipeline development. Proficiency with standard bioinformatics tooling (Python, Linux, Git) is required.
• Sequencing Data: Hands-on work with Illumina or Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms.
• Product Impact: Proven experience building scalable bioinformatics products and clear evidence of delivering impactful, independent projects.
• Bonus: Contribution of a novel bioinformatics tool or algorithm is highly regarded as a signal of a top-tier candidate.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Thrives with high agency and high ownership, leading projects from idea to production.
• Exhibits strong leadership qualities, initiative, and a clear motivation to advance their career.
• Is curious about the intersection of biology, algorithms, and software engineering.
• Gets excited knowing their work directly accelerates the next generation of medicines and biotechnology.
• Values clear communication and loves helping others level up.
• Is energized by a tight-knit, fast-paced team environment.

Visa Requirements

• Visa sponsorship is generally not available.
• Able to accommodate TN or H-1B1