Bioinformatics Jobs in California
Bioinformatics jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in the life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic research sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level research associate through senior computational scientist. The greatest volume of hiring comes from the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where major employers such as Genentech, Illumina, and the University of California system maintain deep bioinformatics teams. Genomics, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, and clinical data pipeline development are among the most consistently in-demand specialties across California listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Discover Impactful Work
You will be an integral part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team of scientists and engineers working towards cutting edge scientific solutions in Bioinformatics of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
Location
This is a fully onsite position based in Pleasanton, CA, and relocation assistance is not available. Candidates outside the local area may be considered for positions based at other Thermo Fisher Scientific sites or remote opportunities.
A Day in the Life
- Represent software in program core team and interacting with colleagues from diverse functions such as molecular biologist, algorithm developers and product manager
- Translate custom needs to software product requirements and product specifications
- Effectively track project timelines and complete all required documentation with high quality in a timely manner
- Develop test plans and test cases to verify and validate software product requirements and specifications
- Algorithm testing for NGS data analysis pipelines
- Develop verification tools to increase testing automation coverage
- Promptly troubleshoot and resolve issues reported by both internal and external users
Keys to Success
Education
Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or related biological field with 8+ years of experience in bioinformatics, with focus on NGS applications and oncology; OR Advanced Degree with 6+ years of experience
Experience
- Diverse knowledge and experiences in developing NGS applications
- Experience in bioinformatics tools and algorithms used in NGS analysis
- Prior experience in software design and development with a good understanding of software testing best-practices
- 5+ years of hands on software development experience with Java, Python, and Perl
- Expertise working in Linux/Unix environments and relational databases
- Understanding of clinical and regulatory requirements for diagnostic applications
Other
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check and drug screen
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $129,400.00–$172,500.00.This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Discover Impactful Work
You will be an integral part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team of scientists and engineers working towards cutting edge scientific solutions in Bioinformatics of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
Location
This is a fully onsite position based in Pleasanton, CA, and relocation assistance is not available. Candidates outside the local area may be considered for positions based at other Thermo Fisher Scientific sites or remote opportunities.
A Day in the Life
- Represent software in program core team and interacting with colleagues from diverse functions such as molecular biologist, algorithm developers and product manager
- Translate custom needs to software product requirements and product specifications
- Effectively track project timelines and complete all required documentation with high quality in a timely manner
- Develop test plans and test cases to verify and validate software product requirements and specifications
- Algorithm testing for NGS data analysis pipelines
- Develop verification tools to increase testing automation coverage
- Promptly troubleshoot and resolve issues reported by both internal and external users
Keys to Success
Education
Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or related biological field with 8+ years of experience in bioinformatics, with focus on NGS applications and oncology; OR Advanced Degree with 6+ years of experience
Experience
- Diverse knowledge and experiences in developing NGS applications
- Experience in bioinformatics tools and algorithms used in NGS analysis
- Prior experience in software design and development with a good understanding of software testing best-practices
- 5+ years of hands on software development experience with Java, Python, and Perl
- Expertise working in Linux/Unix environments and relational databases
- Understanding of clinical and regulatory requirements for diagnostic applications
Other
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check and drug screen
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $129,400.00–$172,500.00.This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
See All 42 Bioinformatics Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Bioinformatics JobsBioinformatics Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Bioinformatics Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Research
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in bioinformatics jobs across California.
- Advanced degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in Python, R, or Perl for genomic data analysis and pipeline development
- Experience with next-generation sequencing data processing tools such as GATK, STAR, or Bowtie
- Familiarity with high-performance computing environments and cloud platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud
- Knowledge of statistical methods for genomics, including differential expression and variant calling
- Experience working in a regulated biotech, pharma, or clinical research environment preferred
Bioinformatics Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a bioinformatics in California?
Most bioinformatics positions in California require at least a master's degree, with doctoral degrees expected for senior research roles at biotech and academic institutions. California does not have a state-issued license for bioinformaticians, so hiring decisions center on demonstrated computational skills, published research or project portfolios, and domain expertise in genomics or proteomics. Candidates coming from computational biology, statistics, or computer science programs at UC San Diego, UCSF, UC Berkeley, or UCLA are well positioned for the California market.
How much do bioinformaticses make in California?
Bioinformaticses in California earn a median of about $113,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,770 for the lowest 10% to over $189,710 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire bioinformaticss in California?
Employers hiring bioinformaticss in California right now include LatchBio, Roche, and Illumina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's dense concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical companies, particularly around San Diego's Torrey Pines corridor and the Bay Area's Mission Bay district, means consistent demand across both early-stage startups and large established research organizations.
Which California cities have the most bioinformatics jobs?
The California cities with the most bioinformatics openings are San Francisco, San Diego, and Pleasanton. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of its concentration of major biotech headquarters and UCSF research centers, San Diego follows closely due to the large cluster of genomics and pharmaceutical companies anchored around the Torrey Pines Mesa, and Los Angeles draws demand from research hospitals, UCLA, and a growing biotech corridor.
Are there remote bioinformatics jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 54% of bioinformatics openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the largely computational nature of the work. Pipeline development, data analysis, and software engineering tasks within bioinformatics translate well to remote settings, while roles that require direct wet lab coordination or on-site HPC cluster access are more likely to be fully in-person.
How can I get hired as a bioinformatics in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research associate or junior bioinformatics analyst role, often posted by California biotech companies as an explicit new-graduate position. Large employers such as Genentech, Illumina, and the UC Health system run rotational research programs and co-op pipelines that accept candidates with a strong undergraduate thesis or capstone project in computational biology. Building a public GitHub portfolio demonstrating NGS data workflows and contributing to open-source genomics tools strengthens applications significantly for California hiring managers who review code before interviewing.
Where can I find and apply to bioinformatics jobs in California?
You can find and apply to bioinformatics jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to California employers. Search the listings below to see roles that match your background, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 42 Bioinformatics Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Bioinformatics Jobs