Senior Bioinformatics Scientist Jobs in California
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in the life sciences, biotechnology, and genomics sectors that anchor the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles metro regions. Employers like Genentech, Illumina, and AstraZeneca maintain deep California roots and consistently hire at the senior level for computational genomics, single-cell analysis, and multi-omics pipeline development. Demand runs from mid-career scientists stepping into lead roles through distinguished principal-level researchers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 23+ Senior Bioinformatics Scientist jobs
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 23 Senior Bioinformatics Scientist Jobs in California
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist 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
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior bioinformatics scientist jobs across California.
- Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, or closely related quantitative field required
- Proficiency in Python, R, and Linux command-line for genomic data processing pipelines
- Demonstrated experience analyzing next-generation sequencing data including RNA-seq and WGS
- Prior leadership of bioinformatics projects or direct mentorship of junior scientists expected
- Familiarity with cloud computing platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud for large-scale analysis
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally with wet-lab teams in a California biotech or pharma setting
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior bioinformatics scientist in California?
The typical California path starts with a Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field such as statistics or computer science, followed by postdoctoral or industry research experience. California does not require a state-issued license for this role. Most senior positions in Bay Area and San Diego biotechs expect several years of hands-on pipeline development and a publication or project record. Candidates who build expertise in single-cell sequencing, structural biology computing, or regulatory-grade data workflows move into senior roles faster in California's market.
How much do senior bioinformatics scientists make in California?
Senior bioinformatics scientists 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 senior bioinformatics scientists in California?
Employers hiring senior bioinformatics scientists in California right now include Roche, Illumina, and Predicine, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's density of genomics companies, oncology-focused biotechs, and large pharma R&D centers means hiring is sustained year-round rather than tied to single funding cycles.
Which California cities have the most senior bioinformatics scientist jobs?
San Diego, Pleasanton, and San Francisco account for the largest share of senior bioinformatics scientist openings in California. The Bay Area leads because it houses the global headquarters of major genomics and therapeutics companies, while San Diego's biotech cluster around Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley drives consistent demand, and Los Angeles openings reflect growth in academic medical centers and newer precision medicine startups.
Are there remote senior bioinformatics scientist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, because bioinformatics work is inherently computational and does not require physical lab access. About 50% of senior bioinformatics scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how naturally the role fits distributed work. Pipeline development, data analysis, and cross-team collaboration tasks transfer well to remote settings, though roles with regulatory submission duties or direct wet-lab integration tend to require at least partial on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a senior bioinformatics scientist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship at a California research university such as UC San Francisco, UC San Diego, or UCLA, which directly feeds the Bay Area and San Diego biotech pipelines. Many California biotechs also hire associate bioinformatics scientists or research associates with strong master's-level skills in Python and NGS analysis as a bridge role. Building a public GitHub portfolio with real sequencing workflows, contributing to open-source genomics tools, and networking through the Bay Area Bioinformatics community substantially improves candidacy without years of industry experience.
Where can I find and apply to senior bioinformatics scientist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior bioinformatics scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, genomics, and academic medical centers. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly.
See All 23 Senior Bioinformatics Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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