This is an exciting opportunity at Natera (a global leader in precision medicine and genomics testing), for a Senior Bioinformatics & Genomics Data System Engineer position inside our Data Science Production Engineering (DSPE) department. You will have the opportunity to work with Natera's diverse and ultra-large data sets (up to PB size), build bioinformatics & genomics software tools and data systems for the most cutting-edge medical diagnostics and genomics applications, and make real impact by delivering reliable, efficient, high performance solutions to support Natera's Lab Operations and Genetic Counselor/Lab Director teams, and ultimately impact patients' medical outcomes.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:As a Senior Bioinformatics & Genomics Data System Engineer of our Data Science Production Engineering (DSPE) department, you will contribute directly to the design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, optimization and upgrade of our bioinformatics and genomics software tools and data systems.
Technical- Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of DSPE's bioinformatics and genomics software tools and systems with correct and robust functionality.
- Contribute directly to the design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, optimization and upgrade of DSPE's bioinformatics and genomics software tools and data systems.
- Working with DSPE leadership teams, create suitable system architecture and cloud infrastructure design documents that can be efficiently implemented and maintained.
- Maintain and optimize DSPE's bioinformatics and genomics software/system performance, by monitoring and studying different solutions' impacts on key system metrics, such as AWS cost, latency, network I/O, disk I/O, RAM usage, CPU usage, disk space usage, etc.
- Contribute to technical documentation's creation, maintenance, distribution, and updates for all DSPE's bioinformatics and genomics software tools and data systems.
- Create training materials, and contribute to training activities, for DSPE's bioinformatics and genomics software tools and data systems.
- Train and coach DSPE team members on new tools, technologies, procedures, and guidelines/best practices.
- Represent our DSPE team in stakeholder meetings.
- Minimal Bachelor's Degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees preferred.
- Minimal 6 years of relevant industry experience for candidates with only a Bachelor's Degree. Minimal 3 years of relevant industry experience for candidates with a Master's Degree. Minimal 2 years of relevant industry experience for candidates with a Doctorate degree.
- Minimal 3 years of working experience in a highly regulated environment, e.g., CLIA and/or FDA compliant settings.
- Minimal 3 years of working experience in developing bioinformatics or genomics software tools or data systems.
- Demonstrable experience in developing and maintaining production-use (i.e., not prototype or research-use) bioinformatics or genomics software tools or data systems.
- Demonstrable experience in creating software design specification documents, verification and validation documents, and user manuals for bioinformatics or genomics software tools or data systems.
- Excellent understanding of key bioinformatics and genomics concepts, and NGS technologies.
- Excellent Python programming skills, with demonstrable bioinformatics or genomics application and/or automation system development experience.
- Excellent understanding of AWS services relevant to bioinformatics and genomics applications.
- Working experience with key AWS services, such as Batch, ECS, S3, EC2, HealthOmics, etc., preferably in developing for-production software tools/systems.
- Proficient with RDBMS systems such as PostgreSQL and/or MySQL, and demonstrable working experience in for-production database-based application development.
- Working experience with bioinformatics and genomics-specific file types, such as BCL, FASTQ, BAM, VCF files.
- Working knowledge in optimizing system architecture and individual components for performance, scalability, and/or reliability, especially for genomics-scale data.
- Working knowledge in tool/system performance evaluation methods, and familiar with the key factors, such as RAM, Disk IO, Network IO's impact on system/tool's performance, especially for bioinformatics and genomics applications.
- Working knowledge in SDLC and software development and testing methodologies.
- Working knowledge in Linux command line skills, and past Linux application development experience.
- Proficiency in Git workflow and version control systems like GitHub and/or GitLab.
- Past experience in developing automation solutions.
- Preferred but not required: IaC skills and experiences, such as CloudFormation, Terraform, and/or Ansible.
- Good documentation practices and coding style.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong integrity.
- Team player.
Compensation & Total Rewards
This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera’s robust Total Rewards program, including:
Annual performance incentive bonus
Long-term equity awards
Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
401(k) with company match
Generous paid time off and company holidays
Additional wellness and work-life benefits
OUR OPPORTUNITY
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.
The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.
WHAT WE OFFER
Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!
For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.
Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/
Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.
For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field
- At least 6 years of relevant industry experience with a bachelor’s degree, 3 years with a master’s degree, or 2 years with a doctorate
- At least 3 years of experience in a highly regulated environment such as CLIA or FDA-compliant settings
- At least 3 years of experience working in a software engineering or DevOps team
- Experience developing and maintaining custom software tools or systems for production environments
- Experience creating software design specifications, verification and validation documents, and user manuals
- Strong Python programming skills with bioinformatics, genomics, or automation system development experience
- Experience with AWS services relevant to bioinformatics and genomics, including Batch, ECS, S3, EC2, or HealthOmics
- Experience with PostgreSQL or MySQL and production database application development
- Experience with BCL, FASTQ, BAM, and VCF file types
- Working knowledge of Linux command-line tools, software development and testing methodologies, SDLC, Git workflows, and automation solutions
- Advanced degree in a relevant field
- Experience with high-throughput systems involving heavy traffic or high computational loads
- Experience using AWS services to develop production bioinformatics or genomics systems
Natera Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Natera and has not been reviewed or approved by Natera.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical plan choice, fertility support, and free Natera tests for employees and families are emphasized alongside dental, vision, and life/disability coverage. These elements indicate robust core health coverage.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan is available, and equity is described as a significant part of compensation in some roles. This accessibility to ownership can meaningfully augment overall pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A flexible, no‑accrual PTO policy and parental leave are positioned as part of the package. This breadth suggests meaningful time‑off provisions are included.
Natera Insights
What We Do
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives. Where some set out to build a test, we set out to achieve a mission: change the management of disease worldwide by using DNA testing to proactively inform treatment. Through a cfDNA technology platform approach, we've pioneered noninvasive testing in unlimited applications—each with their own potential to revolutionize care for patients. #TeamNatera includes clinicians, scientists, biostatisticians, researchers, and laboratory professionals from around the world. Our diverse teams blend a passion for patients with deep clinical, scientific, and technological roots. Natera’s tests are validated by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate high accuracy.
