Pathology Informatics / LIS Implementation Lead

Lighthouse Lab Services; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Lighthouse Lab Services in Skokie, IL is seeking a Pathology Informatics / LIS Implementation Lead to design and implement the laboratory's LIS and digital pathology ecosystem. The role combines informatics, systems integration, and project leadership in a startup environment.

The successful candidate will own LIS selection, configuration, validation, interfaces, data workflows, and at-scale deployment, working with pathologists, IT, vendors, and executives to enable growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., CS, bioinformatics, pathology).
• 5+ years experience in pathology informatics, LIS, digital pathology, or healthcare IT.
• Experience in LIS implementation, configuration, integration, or optimization.
• Experience translating laboratory workflows into technology requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead LIS selection, implementation, configuration, and optimization.
• Define system requirements, workflows, functionality, and reporting needs.
• Translate lab workflows into LIS configurations and technical solutions.
• Coordinate with LIS/EHR vendors, IT teams, and lab personnel.
• Lead testing, validation, training, and go-live activities.
• Develop documentation, SOPs, and validation plans.
• Troubleshoot issues and coordinate vendor resolution.
• Establish scalable informatics infrastructure for future growth.
• Develop and support digital pathology strategies and workflows.
• Integrate LIS with EHR, pathology platforms, and instruments.

Skills

Hands-on problem solver

Independent worker

Strong communication

Project management

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Health Informatics, Medical Laboratory Science, Bioinformatics, Pathology

Tools

SQL

Python

R

Job description

Pathology Informatics / LIS Implementation Lead

Location: Skokie, IL
Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: Laboratory / Pathology Informatics
Reports To: Laboratory Leadership / Executive Team

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically capable Pathology Informatics / LIS Implementation Lead to play a foundational role in building the technology and informatics infrastructure for a new, state-of-the‑art laboratory in Skokie, Illinois.

This is an opportunity to join a growing startup laboratory at an early stage and have significant ownership over the development and implementation of its Laboratory Information System (LIS), digital pathology infrastructure, laboratory interfaces, data workflows, and computational pathology capabilities.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of pathology/laboratory knowledge, informatics expertise, technical implementation experience, and project leadership. This person will work closely with laboratory leadership, pathologists, IT teams, technology vendors, and other stakeholders to design and implement systems that are scalable, efficient, and ready to support the laboratory's growth.

Because this is a startup environment, the successful candidate must be comfortable working in an evolving organization, solving problems independently, and taking ownership of projects from initial planning through implementation and optimization.

Key Responsibilities

LIS Implementation & Laboratory Informatics

• Lead the selection, implementation, configuration, and optimization of the laboratory's LIS.
• Work with laboratory leadership to define system requirements, workflows, functionality, and reporting needs.
• Translate laboratory and pathology workflows into effective LIS configurations and technical solutions.
• Coordinate with LIS vendors, EHR vendors, IT teams, laboratory personnel, and other external partners.
• Lead system testing, validation, user acceptance testing, training, and go‑live activities.
• Develop workflows, documentation, specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Troubleshoot system and workflow issues and coordinate resolution with vendors and technical teams.
• Establish a scalable informatics infrastructure capable of supporting future laboratory growth.

Digital Pathology

• Help develop and implement the laboratory's digital pathology strategy.
• Evaluate and support implementation of whole-slide imaging, image management, digital pathology software, and related technologies.
• Coordinate integration between digital pathology platforms, the LIS, EHR, and other laboratory systems.
• Work with pathologists and laboratory personnel to design efficient digital workflows.
• Support validation and optimization of digital pathology systems and applications.
• Evaluate emerging digital pathology and computational pathology technologies.

Computational Pathology & Data

• Support the development and implementation of computational pathology and image-analysis workflows.
• Evaluate AI, machine learning, and image-analysis technologies applicable to pathology.
• Collaborate with pathologists, scientists, engineers, and technology vendors on computational pathology initiatives.
• Support development of data pipelines and analytical workflows.
• Assist with data extraction, reporting, analytics, and visualization.
• Help establish appropriate data standards, governance, security, and quality practices.

Interfaces & Systems Integration

• Coordinate integration between the LIS, EHR, digital pathology platforms, laboratory instruments, middleware, and other systems.
• Work with technical teams on HL7, FHIR, APIs, and other interoperability requirements.
• Participate in interface design, testing, troubleshooting, and implementation.
• Help ensure accurate and reliable movement of patient, specimen, result, and image data throughout the laboratory ecosystem.

Startup / Build-Out Responsibilities

Because this is a new laboratory, the individual will have the opportunity to help build the informatics function from the ground up. Responsibilities may include:

• Helping define the laboratory's overall informatics strategy.
• Participating in vendor evaluation and technology selection.
• Developing implementation timelines and project plans.
• Establishing system requirements and workflows before laboratory launch.
• Coordinating multiple vendors and implementation partners.
• Creating documentation, SOPs, and validation plans.
• Supporting regulatory and accreditation readiness.
• Developing processes for ongoing system support and optimization.
• Identifying opportunities for automation and operational efficiency.
• Establishing a roadmap for future digital and computational pathology capabilities.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Health Informatics, Medical Laboratory Science, Bioinformatics, Pathology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in pathology informatics, laboratory informatics, LIS implementation, digital pathology, healthcare IT, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with LIS implementation, configuration, integration, or optimization.
• Experience working with laboratory or pathology workflows.
• Strong understanding of systems integration and healthcare data workflows.
• Experience managing technology implementation projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership in a startup environment.

Preferred

• Experience implementing an LIS in a new laboratory, startup, or greenfield environment.
• Experience with digital pathology and whole-slide imaging.
• Experience with computational pathology, AI, machine learning, or image analysis.
• Experience with pathology LIS platforms such as CoPath, Sunquest, Epic Beaker, Cerner, Orchard, SCC Soft, NovoPath, or similar systems.
• Experience with HL7, FHIR, APIs, middleware, or laboratory interfaces.
• Experience with SQL, Python, R, or other programming/data-analysis languages.
• Experience integrating LIS systems with EHRs, digital pathology platforms, instruments, or other laboratory systems.
• Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, FDA, and other applicable laboratory regulatory requirements.
• Pathology informatics, laboratory, or clinical background.
• ASCP certification is a plus but not required.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is excited by the opportunity to build something rather than simply maintain an existing system.

The ideal candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds — including pathology informatics, LIS implementation, digital pathology, laboratory IT, computational pathology, clinical informatics, or healthcare technology — but should be able to operate comfortably across both the technical and laboratory sides of the organization.

This person should be:

• A hands‑on problem solver
• Comfortable working in a startup environment
• Able to manage projects independently
• Strong at communicating with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Comfortable working with vendors and implementation partners
• Able to understand laboratory workflows and translate them into technology requirements
• Interested in emerging digital and computational pathology technologies
• Willing to take ownership of projects from concept through implementation

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a new laboratory at a foundational stage and have a direct impact on how its technology infrastructure is designed and implemented.

Rather than inheriting legacy systems and workflows, this individual will have the opportunity to help build a modern laboratory informatics environment from the ground up, including the LIS, digital pathology ecosystem, system integrations, data infrastructure, and future computational pathology capabilities.

The role offers significant visibility, ownership, and the opportunity to help shape the technology strategy of a growing laboratory.

About Lighthouse Lab Services

It is the policy of Lighthouse Lab Services to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual