Bioinformatics Engineer (Hybrid)

Overview

About Haystack Oncology

Haystack Oncology, now part of Quest Diagnostics, is a next-generation liquid biopsy company focused on advancing tumor-informed minimal residual disease (MRD) testing. Our proprietary technology enables highly sensitive and specific detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), improving patient outcomes through earlier detection of residual disease.

As we continue to expand our assay portfolio and bring cutting-edge diagnostics to the public, we are seeking a skilled Bioinformatics Engineer to join our growing team. This role will play a critical part in supporting clinical production testing, clinical trials, and assay R&D for Quest Diagnostics laboratories in the US and Europe.

Role Overview

As a Bioinformatics Engineer, you will develop and maintain cloud-based computational infrastructure for the analysis of genomic data from our proprietary MRD assays. You will work cross-functionally with laboratory, LIMS, and IT teams to ensure seamless integration of bioinformatics workflows with clinical and research operations.

This professional can work in a Hybrid capacity with 2-3 days in office a week.

Responsibilities

• Develop & maintain cloud infrastructure for scalable and efficient genomic data analysis.
• Implement and optimize Python and Nextflow bioinformatics workflows
• Integrate bioinformatics pipelines with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to streamline data processing.
• Ensure compliance with IT security and privacy controls, aligning with Quest Diagnostics' corporate policies.
• Apply software engineering best practices, contributing to the scalability, robustness, and maintainability of bioinformatics pipelines.
• Develop and manage databases and applications for quality control (QC) and assay performance monitoring.
• Document and validate bioinformatics systems in compliance with regulatory and quality standards for clinical diagnostics.

Qualifications

Required Work Experience:

1+ year similar experience in an industrial or academic setting working with clinical and biological data or equivalent and underlying technologies including bioinformatic methods, database development, query/scripting/programming languages, cloud development, agile methodology, DevOps and other data analysis tools.

At least 1 year of experience working in a regulated industrial life sciences environment.

Professional software development or technical engineering experience

• Background in software or infrastructure engineering, with experience in bioinformatics.
• Proficiency in bioinformatics pipeline workflow management, particularly Nextflow (preferred), Cromwell, or CWL.
• Hands-on experience developing cloud-native infrastructure (AWS preferred) for storage, batch computing, and serverless applications.
• Expertise in infrastructure as code (IaC) technologies such as Terraform or AWS CDK.
• Strong programming skills in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, R, or other relevant scripting languages.
• Experience with API development and integration, particularly JSON-based RESTful APIs.
• Deep understanding of version control (Git), CI/CD best practices, and software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a multi-disciplinary environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience in a clinical diagnostics or regulated environment (e.g., CLIA, CAP, IVDR, FDA) with knowledge of software validation and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of controlled processes, environment management, and quality control systems in a clinical setting.
• Familiarity with DevOps methodologies.

Why Join Haystack Oncology?

• Work on cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology that directly impacts cancer patient care.
• Collaborate with industry-leading experts in bioinformatics, genomics, and clinical diagnostics.
• Be part of a high-growth environment with opportunities for professional development.
• Contribute to innovation at the intersection of bioinformatics, cloud computing, and clinical diagnostics.

EEO

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets or any other legally protected status.