Manager, Data Science

Natera; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Long-term equity awards

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Fertility care benefits

Free testing for employees and depend,

Job summary

Natera is seeking a Data Science Manager in R&D Operations to lead a team of data scientists, shaping the data science roadmap, and delivering scalable data solutions. You’ll own governance, mentor staff, and collaborate with data engineering to enable data-driven decisions across R&D.

You’ll apply ML/AI to forecast demand, optimize resources, and automate processes while ensuring reproducibility and strong stakeholder engagement. Strong leadership and domain knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of data science experience in biotech, life sciences, or operations research.
• Demonstrated people-management experience with coaching on performance and career growth.
• Experience owning a data science roadmap and communicating progress to executives.
• Domain knowledge in biology or life sciences strongly preferred to partner effectively with R&D Operations.
• Experience working with laboratory or operational data (e.g., LIMS, inventory, procurement, or equipment operations).
• Track record of driving process improvement through algorithms, tools, or new solutions.
• Strong background in data processes, SOPs, and governance frameworks.
• Expertise in Python (pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch) and SQL.
• Hands-on ML/AI applied to real-world problems with production deployment & monitoring.
• Experience with Snowflake and dbt.
• Ability to write clear requirements and partner with Data Engineering.
• Clear communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, and develop a team of data scientists, including hiring and performance management.
• Set the technical direction and advance ML/AI capabilities for the data science team.
• Own the DS roadmap for R&D Operations and report progress to stakeholders.
• Translate data analytics pain points into solutions and drive implementation for efficiency gains.
• Own sample governance end-to-end and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Develop ML models, optimization strategies, and AI solutions to forecast demand and optimize resources.
• Lead development of new data products and provide training to grow self-service capabilities.
• Design and implement data governance, integrity, and reproducibility practices across R&D Operations.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering and Analytics managers to translate business needs into governed data solutions.
• Write clear, testable requirements and define path from prototype to production with Data Eng.

Skills

Data science leadership

People management

ML/AI in practice

Python & SQL

Cloud data warehousing

Data governance

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Advanced degree in biology or life sciences

Operations research

Tools

Python

SQL

Snowflake

dbt

LIMS

TensorFlow/PyTorch

Job description

Natera is a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, advancing diagnostics in oncology, women’s health, and organ health to support better patient care. As a Data Science Manager in R&D Operations, you will lead a team of data scientists to design and implement data solutions to accelerate R&D at Natera. You will take ownership of operational data workflows, establish scalable processes and SOPs, and apply ML and/or AI expertise to enable informed decision-making and drive efficiency. You will work closely with our Data Engineering Manager and Data Analytics Manager to deliver integrated, reliable data solutions across the team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct, mentor, and develop a team of data scientists, including hiring, performance management, and career development
• Set the technical direction for the data science team and advance its ML/AI capabilities
• Own the data science roadmap for R&D Operations, define success metrics, and report progress and status to R&D Operations and executive stakeholders
• Translate pain points and opportunities surfaced by data analytics into solutions–process changes, algorithms, or new tools–and drive their implementation to deliver measurable process improvement, championing efficiency gains in turnaround time and cost per activity across R&D Operations
• Own the sample governance process end-to-end, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and accountability, and manage the associated stakeholder relationships
• Develop and oversee machine learning models, optimization strategies, and AI solutions to forecast demand, optimize resource allocation, and automate operational processes
• Lead the development of new data products, as well as the training and enablement around them to grow visibility, self-service, and data-driven decision-making across R&D Operations
• Design, document, and implement processes for data governance, data integrity, and reproducibility across R&D Operations
• Partner with the Data Engineering and Data Analytics Managers and collaborate cross-functionally across R&D and supporting functions to translate business needs into governed, reliable data solutions
• Write clear, testable requirements (e.g. acceptance criteria, data contracts) and define the path from prototype to production in partnership with Data Engineering

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7+ years of experience in data science in biotechnology, life sciences, or operations research
• Demonstrated people-management experience, including hiring, mentoring, and developing data scientists through coaching on performance and career growth
• Experience owning a data science roadmap and communicating progress to senior and executive stakeholders
• Working knowledge of a relevant scientific or operational domain–biology or life sciences strongly preferred, operations research a close second–sufficient to partner effectively with R&D Operations stakeholders
• Experience working with laboratory or operational data (e.g., laboratory informatics management system (LIMS), sample management, inventory, purchasing/procurement, or equipment operations)
• Track record of driving process improvement–identifying root causes and delivering solutions through process changes, algorithms, or new tools
• Strong background in building data processes, SOPs, and governance frameworks
• Expertise in Python (including pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch) and SQL
• Hands‑on expertise in machine learning and/or AI applied to real‑world problems, setting technical direction for predictive modeling and optimization solutions
• Experience taking ML models or data products from prototype to production, including monitoring and maintenance
• Experience with modern cloud data warehouse and transformation tooling (e.g. Snowflake, dbt)
• Experience partnering with peer functions such as engineering and analytics to deliver end‑to‑end solutions, including writing requirements or technical specifications
• Clear, direct communication skills to translate complex data insights into actionable business recommendations
• Strong critical thinking and a drive for learning and problem‑solving

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or operations research
• Familiarity with data integrity and audit‑readiness practices in a regulated (GxP/GCLP) environment

Compensation & Total Rewards

This range reflects a good‑faith estimate of the base pay we reasonablyexpect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

This positionis also eligible for additional compensation and benefits throughNatera’s robust Total Rewards program, including:

Annual performance incentive bonus

Long‑term equity awards

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off and company holidays

Additional wellness and work‑life benefits

Compensation Range

$150,100 - $187,600 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world‑class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

Important information for California residents.

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @ natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Natera’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.