Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit seeks a Lead Bioinformatician to guide Genomics research, building computational strategies for large-scale data and therapeutic insights. You will lead a team of bioinformaticians, collaborate with biologists and clinicians, and drive high-impact projects.

You will mentor juniors, advance NGS pipelines (WGS, RNA-Seq), manage data resources, and stay at the forefront of computational genomics, cloud and HPC solutions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field with focus on bioinformatics.
• 7+ years of experience in bioinformatics, with large-scale genomics data.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and shell scripting is required.
• Experience with NGS data analysis tools and software.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and application of computational pipelines for NGS data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Design and execute statistical analyses to identify genetic variants and pathways.
• Develop and maintain bioinformatics databases and visualization tools.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and data analysts; collaborate with experimental scientists.
• Stay updated on new methods in bioinformatics and genomics.

Skills

Python

R

Shell scripting

NGS data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Bioinformatics or related field

Master's in related field

Tools

BWA

GATK

STAR

DESeq2

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented Lead Bioinformatician to guide their Genomics research initiatives in Nelspruit . This leadership role will involve developing and implementing cutting-edge computational strategies for analyzing large-scale genomic datasets, driving biological discovery, and supporting therapeutic development. You will manage a team of bioinformaticians, collaborate closely with molecular biologists and clinicians, and contribute to high-impact scientific projects. This is a significant opportunity for an experienced bioinformatician to shape the future of genomic research within a growing organization in the scenic region of Nelspruit .

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and application of computational pipelines for analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq). Design and execute statistical analyses to identify genetic variants, gene expression patterns, and biological pathways. Develop and maintain robust bioinformatics databases and tools for data management and visualization. Mentor and guide junior bioinformaticians and data analysts, fostering technical expertise. Collaborate with experimental scientists to interpret genomic findings and guide future research directions. Stay abreast of emerging technologies and methodologies in bioinformatics and genomics.

Requirements

Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics , Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field. Minimum of 7 years of experience in bioinformatics, with significant experience in analyzing large-scale genomics data. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and shell scripting. Strong experience with NGS data analysis tools and software (e.g., BWA, GATK, STAR, DESeq2). Familiarity with cloud computing environments (AWS, GCP) and high-performance computing clusters. Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to lead projects effectively.

Benefits

Competitive salary package with performance-based incentives. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage. Generous vacation policy and retirement plan. Support for professional development, conferences, and further training. Access to advanced computational infrastructure. Opportunity to contribute to impactful genomic research in Nelspruit .