Lead Bioinformatics Scientist

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Lead Bioinformatics Scientist

Cambridge, UK

Hybrid / Onsite / Or Remote (UK)

As Lead (Staff) Bioinformatics Scientist here at Illumina, you will work alongside engineering, chemistry and assay teams on R&D projects delivering new sequencing platforms and technologies. In this role, the Lead Scientist will represent bioinformatics in cross-functional programs:

defining bioinformatics milestones and requirements  supporting data analysis developing novel tools and pipelines  contributing to experimental design and project strategy

In addition to strong bioinformatics and programming skills, this position requires a high degree of initiative and cross-team collaboration, as well as a thorough understanding of the product development process.

Ideally you will have experience with workflow management languages, such as Nextflow, WDL, as well as familiarity with containerization tools, such as Docker, and similar technologies.

Responsibilities: 

Participate in R&D projects across multiple sites for the design, development and validation of new sequencing products  Represent bioinformatics in a product development team, and be able to establish work priorities and communicate / delegate tasks to other sub-team members as needed Contribute to the design and development of automated quality assessment pipelines Contribute to the planning and execution of a comprehensive strategy for assessing quality of data from novel technologies Analyze, integrate, model and interpret experimental data Support and troubleshoot existing processes and provide guidance on potential enhancements Communicate and collaborate with scientific, bioinformatics, engineering, and software teams across multiple sites to design, develop, and validate products Translate analysis results into practical recommendations for technology development Be a technical representative on cross functional initiatives

Requirements:

Strong understanding of next-generation sequencing technologies and their underlying principles.  Proficient programming skills with experience in multiple programming languages, including Python and R. Experience working with Unix/Linux, High Performance Computing (HPC), and cloud environments (e.g., AWS). Proficiency with common bioinformatics algorithms and methods. Hands on experience of quality control and analysis of data generated from a variety of omics, such as WGS, scRNA, somatic profiling, proteomics, methylation, etc. Solid understanding of statistical and biological concepts; strong data analysis and visualization skills. Excellent communication skills and a proven track record of collaborating with diverse teams.

Education:

Masters/PhD in bioinformatics, computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics or equivalent

Illumina's employee benefits are industry-leading and include flexible time off, private medical insurance, compassion and care time off, leisure travel insurance, pension, employee stock purchasing program, volunteer time off, and much more!

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact To learn more, visit: . The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.