Principal Scientist, Algorithm Lead

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 151,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work opportunity

Continuous learning and professional成长

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Principal Scientist, Algorithm Lead to drive the scientific and technical direction for clinical NGS algorithm development within a regulated diagnostics environment.

You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of assay algorithms, from requirements and risk analysis through validation, performance monitoring, and change control, with a focus on DNA and RNA variant calling in oncology and liquid biopsy testing.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in clinical NGS diagnostics, particularly in oncology.
• Expertise in SNV/indel, CNV, SV, fusion, and RNA analysis, along with NGS QC metrics.
• Leadership experience in analytical validation and regulatory submissions (CLIA, CAP, FDA, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML methods in NGS data analysis or biomarker development.
• Proficiency in Python and R with strong workflow orchestration skills.
• Published or presented research in computational genomics or NGS diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of clinical NGS algorithms under design control, from requirements through risk analysis
• Architect and lead automated analytical validation frameworks for multiple genetic variant types
• Define algorithm-level error models and drive improvements in detection and assay-specific artifact mitigation
• Establish statistically rigorous approaches for validation support, including reference materials and synthetic data generation
• Serve as the technical authority on algorithm changes, including re-validation and regulatory impact assessments
• Develop variant calling algorithms for DNA and RNA assays, especially in challenging contexts
• Track NGS quality control metrics to monitor analytical performance and stability

Skills

AI/ML methods in NGS

Regulatory submissions

Leadership experience

Analytical validation

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/CS/Statistics

Tools

Python

R

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Principal Scientist, Algorithm Lead to join the team of a leader in the Healthcare space.

This role will lead the scientific and technical direction for clinical NGS algorithm development within a regulated diagnostics environment. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of assay algorithms, from requirements and risk analysis through validation, performance monitoring, and change control. The work centers on advancing DNA and RNA variant calling capability, strengthening analytical rigor, and supporting reliable oncology and liquid biopsy testing.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $151,000 – $175,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of clinical NGS algorithms under design control, from requirements through risk analysis
• Architect and lead automated analytical validation frameworks for multiple genetic variant types
• Define algorithm-level error models and drive improvements in detection and assay-specific artifact mitigation
• Establish statistically rigorous approaches for validation support, including reference materials and synthetic data generation
• Serve as the technical authority on algorithm changes, including re-validation and regulatory impact assessments
• Develop variant calling algorithms for DNA and RNA assays, especially in challenging contexts
• Track NGS quality control metrics to monitor analytical performance and stability

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in clinical NGS diagnostics, particularly in oncology
• Expertise in SNV/indel, CNV, SV, fusion, and RNA analysis, along with NGS QC metrics
• Leadership experience in analytical validation and regulatory submissions (CLIA, CAP, FDA, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML methods in NGS data analysis or biomarker development
• Proficiency in Python and R with strong workflow orchestration skills
• Published or presented research in computational genomics or NGS diagnostics

Benefits

• Remote work opportunity
• Opportunity for continuous learning and professional growth
• Leadership role with significant impact on scientific and technical direction
• Engagement in cutting-edge research in oncology and liquid biopsy applications
• Collaboration with a team of experts in a dynamic field

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.