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Variant Scientist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Analytical Scientist I

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

The Analytical Science team is looking for a talented scientist to collaboratively work with our R& ... Have illustrated the ability to develop, execute, and interpret aggregation and charge variant ...

Analytical Scientist I

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Analytical Science team is looking for a talented scientist to collaboratively work with our R& ... Have illustrated the ability to develop, execute, and interpret aggregation and charge variant ...

Analytical Scientist I

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Analytical Science team is looking for a talented scientist to collaboratively work with our R& ... Have illustrated the ability to develop, execute, and interpret aggregation and charge variant ...

Data Scientist, Product

Foster City, CA · On-site

$210K - $350K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Who You are You're a data scientist who moves fast and goes deep. You can spin up an analysis in ... Design and analyze a complex multi-variant experiment testing pricing, onboarding, and feature ...

Data Scientist, Product

Foster City, CA · On-site

$150 - $230/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Who You are You're a data scientist who moves fast and goes deep. You can spin up an analysis in ... Design and analyze a complex multi-variant experiment testing pricing, onboarding, and feature ...

SAP VC Solution Architect

Fremont, CA · On-site

$85 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Architect and deliver end-to-end SAP Variant Configuration (LO-VC/Advanced Variant Configuration ... We deliver agile, scalable talent solutions across IT, engineering, life sciences, clinical, and ...

Showing results 21-40

Variant Scientist information

See California salary details

$17

$46

$79

How much do variant scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for variant scientist in California is $46.07, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.43 and $58.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a variant scientist?

Variant Scientists are professionals who analyze genetic variants—differences in DNA sequences—to determine their significance in health and disease. They interpret genomic data, often from whole-genome or exome sequencing, to assess whether specific variants may cause or contribute to medical conditions. Their work is crucial in clinical genetics, precision medicine, and biomedical research, helping guide patient diagnosis and treatment. Variant Scientists collaborate with clinicians, bioinformaticians, and laboratory personnel to provide accurate and actionable genetic insights.

What does a variant scientist do?

As a variant scientist, you work for a research laboratory in a university or a medical facility to test and study variations of genes and the effects they have on human development. As part of your duties, you aid in the development of new tests to discover gene abnormalities, perform analysis on patient samples to identify possible mutations, and record your findings to assist in scientific research. You also have heavy reporting responsibilities that may require in-depth computer and writing skills, the ability to analyze data, and strong attention to detail. In this role, you may cater to a specific health field, like pediatrics or oncology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a variant scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Variant Scientist, you need a solid background in genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, typically supported by an advanced degree such as a PhD or MSc in a related field. Familiarity with next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, variant annotation tools, and data analysis software like GATK or ANNOVAR is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you interpret complex genetic data and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure accurate variant interpretation, drive discoveries, and support precision medicine initiatives.

What are some common challenges faced by variant scientists in interpreting genetic data, and how are these typically addressed within a team?

Variant Scientists often encounter challenges such as distinguishing between benign and pathogenic variants, managing large volumes of sequencing data, and staying updated with rapidly evolving genetic databases. These challenges are typically addressed by collaborating closely with bioinformaticians, clinical geneticists, and laboratory personnel to review findings and validate interpretations. Regular team meetings, use of standardized classification guidelines like ACMG, and leveraging advanced software tools help ensure accurate and consistent variant analysis.

What are the most commonly searched types of Variant Scientist jobs in California?

The most popular types of Variant Scientist jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Variant Scientist jobs in California?

For Variant Scientist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Variant Scientist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Variant Scientist job openings:

Infographic showing various Variant Scientist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Part Time. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,835 per year, or $46.1 per hour.

Staff Scientist, Bioinformatics

Thermo Fisher Scientific

South San Francisco, CA • On-site

$129K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago


Thermo Fisher Scientific rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 427 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

199th of 540 rated manufacturers


Job description

Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Office
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Discover Impactful Work
You'll help develop advanced NGS workflows and bioinformatics solutions. You will contribute to developing fully automated, sample-to-report NGS workflows for both clinical and research applications, with a focus on oncology. Working with cross-functional teams of algorithm developers, software engineers, molecular biologists, and product managers, you will help advance genomic analysis and precision medicine.
Location
This is a fully onsite position based in South San Francisco, CA or Pleasanton, CA site. Relocation assistance is not available for this role.
A Day in the Life
  • Design, develop, and optimize bioinformatics pipelines supporting next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows for oncology and other clinical and research applications
  • Develop automation tools and scalable software solutions to streamline genomic data processing and analysis
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, algorithm developers, molecular biologists, and product managers, to deliver integrated sample-to-report solutions
  • Validate bioinformatics algorithms and workflows while ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory standards
  • Translate customer and scientific requirements into technical specifications and software requirements
  • Support product development through data analysis, troubleshooting, testing, and documentation
  • Maintain clear technical documentation and contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives

Keys to Success
Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or related biological field with 8+ years of experience in bioinformatics, with focus on NGS applications and oncology; OR Advanced Degree with 6+ years of experience

Experience
  • Experience developing bioinformatics pipelines and genomic analysis workflows in regulated environments
  • Proficiency with common bioinformatics tools and algorithms for NGS analysis
  • Experience with variant calling, sequence alignment, and functional annotation
  • Strong programming skills in Python, Perl, and shell scripting
  • Expertise working in Linux/Unix environments and relational databases
  • Experience with testing and documentation in regulated environments
  • Experience supporting cross-functional software or product development teams
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS) and containerization technologies

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Knowledge of statistical analysis and machine learning techniques
  • Familiarity with Java programming is desired
  • Demonstrated project coordination and cross-functional team collaboration
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Detail-oriented with ability to adapt to team standards
  • Understanding of clinical and regulatory requirements for diagnostic applications
  • Knowledge of software development best practices and version control systems
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

Other
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future
  • Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check and drug scre

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $129,400.00-$165,000.00.
This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
  • A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
  • Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
  • At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
  • Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
  • Employees' Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards

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