Senior Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Health insurance

Flexible hours

Funding for courses/conferences

Home office setup allowance

Access to computational resources

Career growth in a global team

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician to join a globally distributed, remote-first research team. The role centers on analyzing large-scale genomic datasets to advance disease understanding and therapeutic development while leveraging state-of-the-art computational tools.

You will collaborate with molecular biologists, clinicians, and other experts, mentor junior staff, and stay current with genomics and computational biology advances in a fully remote environment.

Qualifications

• Master or Ph.D. in bioinformatics or related quantitative field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with large-scale genomic data.
• Strong Python or R programming and libraries.
• Experience with NGS data types and HPC environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable bioinformatics pipelines for NGS data.
• Analyze genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic data.
• Identify genetic variants and biomarkers across diseases.
• Collaborate with biologists, geneticists, and clinicians.
• Maintain databases and knowledge bases for genomic info.
• Visualize complex data for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to new computational methods and algorithms.
• Ensure quality and reproducibility of analyses.
• Mentor junior staff and researchers.
• Stay updated with genomics and computational biology advances.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics

Genomics

Machine Learning

Remote collaboration

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/Genomics/CS

Tools

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

High-performance computing (HPC)

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneer in computational biology and personalized medicine, is looking for a talented Senior Bioinformatician to join their globally distributed research team. This fully remote position offers the exciting opportunity to analyze large-scale genomic datasets, contributing to significant advancements in understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic strategies. You will work within a dynamic, collaborative environment, leveraging state-of-the‑art computational tools and methodologies. This role is ideal for an experienced professional in George, Western Cape, ZA , who thrives in a remote‑first setting and is passionate about making a difference in human health through data‑driven insights. Your expertise will be crucial in interpreting complex genomic data and translating findings into actionable biological insights.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement scalable bioinformatics pipelines for next‑generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis.
• Perform comprehensive analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic data.
• Identify genetic variations, biomarkers, and regulatory elements associated with various diseases.
• Collaborate with molecular biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to design and interpret experiments.
• Develop and maintain databases and knowledge bases for genomic information.
• Visualize and present complex genomic data in an understandable format for both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of new computational methods and algorithms for genomic analysis.
• Ensure the quality and reproducibility of bioinformatics analyses.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and research staff.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology.

Requirements

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on analyzing large‑scale genomic datasets.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with bioinformatics libraries and packages.
• Solid understanding of NGS technologies and their associated data types.
• Experience with command‑line interfaces and high‑performance computing environments.
• Familiarity with statistical methods and machine learning techniques applied to biological data.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a fully remote environment.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across different disciplines.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including a generous bonus structure.
• We offer full health, dental, and vision insurance coverage tailored for remote employees.
• A flexible working hours policy is in place to accommodate different time zones and personal needs.
• Professional development is strongly encouraged, with funding available for courses, conferences, and certifications.
• A dedicated home office setup allowance is provided to ensure a productive work environment.
• Employees also have access to cutting‑edge computational resources and extensive scientific literature databases.
• Our client is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and providing opportunities for career advancement within a globally distributed team, ensuring a great work‑life balance.
• Retirement savings plans with company contributions are also part of the package.