Job Description
The Clinical R&D Bioinformatician will play a pivotal role in advancing genomic technologies and clinical testing. As part of one of Australia's leading translational teams, the candidate will work at the forefront of genomics, supporting the development of new assays, optimising existing tests, and improving patient outcomes globally.
The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Head of Clinical Bioinformatics, the R&D team at VCGS, and the Sequencing Services and Development Platform team. They will gain valuable experience in cutting-edge technologies, along with an understanding of the regulatory environment and translational challenges. The candidate will contribute to the future of genomic diagnostics, influencing how genomic testing is delivered both in Australia and around the world.
Responsibilities
* Work collaboratively with laboratory staff and MCRI researchers to understand their needs and develop suitable requirements
* Evaluation of genomic technologies, including raw data analysis, exploratory analysis, summarisation of findings, and writing of evaluation reports
* Development of quality control, reporting, and interpretation support tools
* Implementation and execution of approaches for validation and accreditation under guidance from VCGS experts
* Development of bioinformatic pipelines using pipeline workflow languages
* Education and training to upskill wider staff in understanding new technologies
* Implementation of unit tests, functional tests, and end-to-end workflow tests
* Broad software maintenance of operational systems, applications, and integrations
* Documentation of systems and methodologies applied
Requirements
* An advanced degree (Masters or PhD), or substantial equivalent experience in Bioinformatics or a closely related field
* Strong data analysis skills and understanding of the principles behind machine learning and statistical testing
* Demonstrated experience in analysing next-generation sequencing data
* Knowledge of underlying methods and sequencing technologies
* Experience/understanding of modern best practice methods for software development
* Familiarity with common workflow languages used to develop bioinformatics pipelines (e.g., Nextflow, WDL, Bpipe, Snakemake)
* Knowledge of Unix, bash scripting, command-line operations, and containerization technologies
* Strong knowledge of one or more core programming languages required in the role, including Python, Java/Groovy, Typescript, or related languages
* Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn new technologies and programming languages
* Broad software engineering knowledge and skills (e.g., front-end development skills) are advantageous
* Experience/knowledge of clinical genomic testing is highly advantageous