Staff Bioinformatics Scientist

Caris Life Sciences; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Caris Life Sciences in Tempe, AZ is seeking a Staff Bioinformatics Scientist to lead a team delivering next-generation sequencing bioinformatics pipelines and workflows in a clinical/translational genomics setting.

The role partners with laboratory, software, IT, and clinical teams to translate biological requirements into scalable, compliant analytical solutions and drive operational excellence in genomic testing.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Genomics, Molecular Biology, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of bioinformatics scientists; oversee NGS pipeline development, validation, and production.
• Manage day-to-day bioinformatics operations and ensure timely delivery of analytical solutions.
• Collaborate with software engineering, IT, and clinical teams to implement scalable workflows.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Python

Bash

SQL

R

Cloud computing

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

PhD in a related field

Tools

AWS

Job description

Tempe, AZ - 85281

Full time

JR105606

At Caris, we understand that cancer is an ugly word—a word no one wants to hear, but one that connects us all. That’s why we’re not just transforming cancer care—we’re changing lives.

We introduced precision medicine to the world and built an industry around the idea that every patient deserves answers as unique as their DNA. Backed by cutting-edge molecular science and AI, we ask ourselves every day: “What would I do if this patient were my mom?” That question drives everything we do.

But our mission doesn’t stop with cancer. We're pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose.

Join us in our mission to improve the human condition across multiple diseases. If you're passionate about meaningful work and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, Caris is where your impact begins.

Position Summary

The Staff Bioinformatics Scientist leads a team of bioinformatics scientists responsible for the development, validation, implementation, and support of next-generation sequencing (NGS) bioinformatics pipelines and analytical workflows within a clinical or translational genomics environment. This role combines technical expertise, project leadership, and people management to ensure delivery of reliable, scalable, and compliant bioinformatics solutions supporting research, assay development, validation activities, and clinical operations. This role partners closely with laboratory, clinical, software engineering, IT, quality, and scientific stakeholders to advance genomic testing capabilities and operational excellence.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of bioinformatics scientists, including hiring support, onboarding, performance management, career development, and workload prioritization.

• Manage day-to-day bioinformatics operations and ensure timely delivery of high-quality analytical solutions across development, validation, and production activities.

• Establish project plans, priorities, timelines, and resource allocations for team initiatives and cross-functional programs.

• Oversee development, optimization, validation, and maintenance of NGS bioinformatics pipelines and workflows.

• Support end-to-end genomic data analysis, including quality control, alignment, variant calling, annotation, filtering, interpretation support, and reporting workflows.

• Lead analytical development and validation activities for NGS assays, including performance assessment, reproducibility studies, concordance analysis, quality metrics, and documentation.

• Drive implementation of scalable, automated, and reproducible computational workflows using software development and bioinformatics best practices.

• Collaborate with software engineering and IT teams to support cloud-based infrastructure, workflow execution, data storage, monitoring, and system performance.

• Ensure bioinformatics processes comply with applicable quality, regulatory, documentation, privacy, and security requirements.

• Partner with laboratory scientists, molecular pathologists, clinical teams, statisticians, and researchers to translate scientific and clinical requirements into analytical solutions.

• Monitor project progress, identify risks and dependencies, communicate status updates, and facilitate resolution of technical and operational challenges.

• Investigate and resolve complex pipeline, assay, and data quality issues while supporting production operations as needed.

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for bioinformatics workflows, genomic analyses, and assay validation efforts.

• Stay current on emerging technologies, tools, methodologies, and industry best practices in genomics and bioinformatics.

Required Qualifications

• PhD degree with experience in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Genomics, Molecular Biology, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of hands-on bioinformatics experience supporting NGS pipeline development, validation, or production operations.

• Minimum of 2 to 4 years of people leadership experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing projects and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders.

• Strong knowledge of NGS data analysis methods, quality metrics, bioinformatics workflows, and genomic data interpretation.

• Strong programming and scripting skills using Python, Bash, SQL, R, or equivalent tools.

• Experience with AWS or other cloud computing platforms supporting genomic data processing and storage.

• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting both research and clinical bioinformatics environments.

• Experience with liquid biopsy, MRD, cancer early detection, ctDNA analysis, or related applications.

• Experience with multi-omic data integration and advanced genomic analyses.

• Experience working in CLIA, CAP, NYSDOH, FDA, ISO, or comparable regulated environments.

• Experience preparing validation reports, technical documentation, regulatory support materials, or scientific publications.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.

Training

• All required training will be assigned based on job responsibilities.

Other

• May require occasional travel, after-hours support, and participation in on-call activities.

Conditions of Employment: Individual must successfully complete pre-employment process, which includes criminal background check, drug screening, credit check ( applicable for certain positions) and reference verification.

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Caris Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Caris Life Sciences is a leading innovator in molecular science and artificial intelligence focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation.

Caris is committed to quality and excellence at our state-of-the-art laboratories. Learn more about our tissue lab and the advanced technologies that are helping improve the lives of cancer patients.