Principal Bioinformatics Scientist I

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 115,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in Mississauga, Canada, seeks a Principal Bioinformatics Scientist I to lead design, validation, and deployment of scalable NGS data processing pipelines. You will bridge wet-lab discovery with production-grade software, using advanced statistics and AI tools to enable rapid, accurate molecular diagnostics for patient care.

You will partner with assay development, CLIA operations, QA, and software teams to ensure regulatory compliance and high-quality results.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 7+ years or Ph.D. with 4+ years in relevant field.
• Experience bridging wet-lab and software teams in clinical setting.
• Strong publication and communication skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, optimization, and clinical validation of NGS pipelines.
• Collaborate with Wet-Lab, Software, CLIA Ops, and QA teams.
• Integrate AI coding tools to accelerate algorithm development.
• Draft specs guiding production-grade software for diagnostics.
• Maintain QMS-compliant documentation for CAP/CLIA audits.

Skills

Python/R/C++

Linux/Bash

Nextflow

AI coding tools

Git/CI/unit tests

Education

Master’s degree in related field

Ph.D. in related field

Tools

Docker/Singularity

Cloud environments

Workflow automation

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.### ### The Position **Principal Bioinformatics Scientist I** This role is a vital part of our Bioinformatics team, which is committed to advancing precision medicine by building cutting-edge computational tools for clinical diagnostics. As a member of this team, you will sit at the dynamic intersection of computational biology, assay development, and software engineering to translate complex genomic data into actionable health insights. You will have the opportunity to 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. **The Opportunity** As a Bioinformatics Scientist, you will lead the design, optimization, and clinical validation of innovative NGS data processing pipelines and algorithms. You will serve as the technical bridge between wet-lab innovation and production-grade software engineering, leveraging advanced statistical modeling and modern AI coding tools to deliver high-accuracy molecular diagnostics for patient care. * **Pipeline & Algorithm Development:** Design, benchmark, and optimize scalable, reproducible NGS bioinformatics pipelines using Nextflow, Docker/Singularity, and cloud environments.* **Analytical Validation:** Partner with Assay Development and CLIA lab teams to establish statistical analysis plans and validate novel diagnostic assays (ensuring high sensitivity, specificity, and precision).* **AI-Accelerated Engineering:** Routinely integrate AI coding tools and automated workflows to accelerate algorithm development, refactoring, and data analysis.* **Production Translation:** Draft clear functional and technical specifications to guide software engineering teams in transitioning research prototypes into robust clinical software.* **Quality & Regulatory Compliance:** Implement sample- and run-level statistical QC metrics while maintaining thorough QMS-compliant documentation for CAP/CLIA audits.* **Best Practices:** Enforce high-standard software engineering practices, including Git version control, continuous integration, unit testing, and modular architecture. **Who You Are** * **Education & Experience:** 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).* **Matrixed Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:** 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. *Technical Mastery** 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.* **Modern Workflow Adaptability:** Proven ability to leverage AI development tools to maximize productivity, alongside excellent communication skills suited for navigating complex, cross-functional organizational environments. Relocation benefits are not available for this position. The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Mississauga is 115,328.00 and 151,368.00 of hiring range. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors as determined by the company.We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants for this role.This posting is for an existing vacancy at Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.