Senior Bioinformatics Scientist - Algorithm Development #2834

GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. GRAIL is focused on alleviating the global burden of cancer by developing pioneering technology to detect and identify multiple deadly cancer types early. The company is using the power of next-generation sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to enhance the scientific understanding of cancer biology, and to develop its multi-cancer early detection blood test. GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. GRAIL, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN). For more information, please visit www.grail.com.

Grail is seeking a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist to join the Bioinformatics and Data Science team. The candidate will be part of a cross-functional team that develops bioinformatics data processing tools in an effort to create new and improved cancer diagnostic tests. In this role, you analyze sequencing data to identify sources of cancer signal, translate these findings into algorithmic approaches, and write robust software for execution as part of bioinformatics analysis pipelines. 

An ideal candidate will have a background in pioneering new methodologies for deriving clinically actionable insights from high volumes of sequencing data. A deep understanding of existing bioinformatics algorithms for handling genetics data is a plus.


Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and validate innovative algorithms and statistical methods to analyze large-scale data sets based on insights in cancer biology and genomics
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians and scientists in the team to perform end-to-end analysis of experiments that includes design, data gathering, processing, analysis, and presentation of results.
• Develop common tools, libraries, and infrastructure to assist in scaling bioinformatics research efforts.
• Productionize methods for execution as part of regulated diagnostic products. 
• Enforce sound engineering principles and reproducible research practices in all development activities.

Required Skills

• MS with 8+ years relevant experience or PhD with 5+ years relevant experience in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• Advanced problem-solving capabilities with extensive experience in developing algorithms, applying statistical learning methods, and analyzing sequencing data.
• Knowledge and experience handling and analyzing biological data (e.g. epigenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Expert in R or Python programming,  and at least one system-level programming language like Go, Java, or C++.
• Working knowledge of standard bioinformatic tools used in NGS pipelines
• Experience with a pipeline workflow engine, like Reflow or NextFlow.
• Familiarity with modern software engineering best practices.
• Strong communicator with the ability to present complex technical concepts to cross-functional colleagues and capture solutions in technical documentation.

Desired Skills

• Experience developing software for regulated products. 
• Background in cancer biology or immunology. 

The estimated, full-time, annual base pay scale for this position is $139,000 - $191,500.  Actual base pay will consider skills, experience, and location. 

Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.

In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.

GRAIL is an Equal Employment Office and Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.


Following extensive monitoring, consideration of business implications, and advice from internal and external experts, GRAIL US has made the decision to require that all U.S. employees be “Fully Vaccinated” with the COVID-19 vaccine. “Fully Vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks since a single-dose vaccine (e.g. Johnson & Johnson) has been administered. Absent a qualifying exemption, all GRAIL US employees are to comply with this requirement, including providing documentation of such vaccination status, as a condition of employment. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration by GRAIL.