Senior Scientist II, R&D Bioinformatics

LGC Group • Middleton, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Scientist II in R&D Bioinformatics contributes to the growth of LGC’s molecular biology product portfolio and supports multiple R&D projects in the Diagnostics and Genomics business unit. As a senior leader and subject matter expert, this person applies extensive knowledge of bioinformatics and genomics research to develop innovative experiments, algorithms, tools, and pipelines for PCR- and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based applications. The role also includes mentoring software development teams, supporting wet-lab scientists with data analysis and training, and collaborating across the organization on product development and custom NGS projects and services. The position is hybrid and requires current U.S. work authorization; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a relevant field (bioinformatics, computer science, biostatistics, computational biology, genetics, or biology), or an equivalent combination of applicable education and work experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in a highly technical role focused on bioinformatics.
• Proficiency in a high-level programming language such as Python or Perl.
• Demonstrated experience with Unix-based operating systems and bash shell scripting.
• Strong expertise in crafting, building, and managing Docker-based environments.
• Experience in software development, including ticket management and version control such as git.
• Experience in computational pipeline development and database management, with a solid background in genomics and statistics.
• Proven understanding of NGS algorithms and data analysis tools.
• Practical experience analyzing and handling extensive genomic datasets, such as whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, target enrichment, amplicon sequencing, or RNA-seq.
• Practical experience with genome alignment, mapping, variant calling, and annotation tools.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Current U.S. work authorization; the company is unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship for temporary visas.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with workflow management systems such as Airflow.
• Excellent understanding of molecular biology and NGS products and methods, platform-specific capabilities, and data interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Develop oligo-building tools and pipelines for molecular techniques such as qPCR and NGS.
• Develop algorithms and tools for NGS data analysis and new product creation.
• Complete research projects in collaboration with multiple collaborators across the organization.
• Provide algorithm and scientific mentorship to internal and external software development teams.
• Generate, optimize, and maintain scripts for routine genomic data processing, curation, and storage.
• Provide customized data analysis support and training to wet-lab scientists as needed.
• Build high-throughput multiplexing genotyping panels for humans, plants, animals, and microbes.
• Work with Product Management, Project Management, Lab Services, and R&D teams on new product development and custom NGS projects and services.
• Identify and define new product ideas or technologies, develop prototypes, conduct optimization studies, and present results to leadership.
• Attend meetings, conferences, symposia, and seminars to promote LGC capabilities and stay current with scientific and technological developments.
• Deliver high-quality product development documentation consistent with LGC quality systems.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with a strong bonus program.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents.
• FSA/HSA pre-tax savings plans for health care, childcare, and elder care.
• Voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity programs.
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching employer contribution.
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and employee assistance program.
• Pet insurance.
• Eight weeks of parental leave for qualifying life events.
• Monthly Town Hall meetings, employee recognition program, companywide social events, and frequent catered lunches.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior