Senior Bioinformatician specializing in Genomics Analysis

Placements24; Midrand; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Midrand, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Bioinformatician to lead genomic data analysis within a cutting-edge R&D team. The role focuses on developing scalable pipelines for NGS data, applying ML methods, and translating results for biology teams.

You will mentor junior staff, collaborate with clinicians, and contribute to publications and grants, while leveraging HPC and cloud resources in a dynamic, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of bioinformatics experience with a strong genomics/NGS focus.
• Proficiency in Python, R, or Perl.
• Experience with bioinformatics tools and databases (GATK, Samtools, BEDTools, Ensembl, UCSC).
• Strong statistical and ML skills; HPC and cloud experience.
• Ability to work independently and in a team, with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable bioinformatics pipelines for NGS data analysis (variant calling, expression profiling, epigenomics).
• Conduct statistical analyses and ML tasks on large genomic datasets.
• Collaborate with biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to translate questions into analyses.
• Develop algorithms and software tools for genomic data processing.
• Ensure quality, reproducibility, and proper documentation of analyses.
• Stay updated on advances in bioinformatics and genomics.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation and grant proposals.
• Provide mentorship to junior bioinformaticians and research staff.

Skills

Python

R

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or MSc in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology

Tools

GATK

Samtools

BEDTools

Ensembl

UCSC Genome Browser

HPC

Cloud computing

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge biotechnology firm, is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Bioinformatician to join their dynamic Research and Development team in Midrand, Gauteng . This role is pivotal in driving our client's genomic research initiatives forward. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing sophisticated computational strategies to analyze large-scale genomic datasets, contributing directly to groundbreaking discoveries in personalized medicine and disease research. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and contributing to the intellectual property of the organization. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the rapidly evolving field of bioinformatics within a supportive and innovative setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable bioinformatics pipelines for next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, including variant calling, gene expression profiling, and epigenomic analysis.
• Perform complex statistical analyses and machine learning tasks to identify patterns and biomarkers in large genomic datasets.
• Collaborate closely with molecular biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to translate biological questions into computational analyses and interpret results in a biological context.
• Develop and implement algorithms and software tools to support genomic data processing and analysis.
• Ensure the quality, accuracy, and reproducibility of all computational analyses.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in bioinformatics, genomics, and computational biology, and evaluate their potential application within the organization.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication and grant proposals.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior bioinformaticians and research staff.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on genomics and NGS data analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics, such as Python, R, and/or Perl.
• Extensive experience with bioinformatics tools and databases (e.g., GATK, Samtools, BEDTools, Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods and machine learning techniques applied to biological data.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments and cloud computing platforms.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively present complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Experience in a commercial R&D environment is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
• Access to cutting-edge research infrastructure and technologies.
• A collaborative and stimulating work environment fostering innovation and growth.
• Potential for career advancement within a rapidly expanding organization.
• Relocation assistance may be available for highly qualified candidates.