Opportunity

Bioinformatics Manager – Oncology Diagnostics Career Growth in Columbus

Location Columbus
Company Natera
Source jobicy
Posted 2026-11-02 11:53:47

Career & Market Insight

Career Trajectory: This is a mid-to-senior management role at the intersection of bioinformatics, oncology diagnostics, and team leadership. It positions you well for future Director-level or VP of Bioinformatics roles within precision medicine or genomics companies — a rapidly expanding sector driven by liquid biopsy adoption and FDA regulatory activity around ctDNA.

Compensation vs. Market: The $140,000–$175,000 range aligns with or slightly lags top-tier biotech compensation for a Bioinformatics Manager with Ph.D. credentials in the US (market median ~$155K–$185K in Bay Area; somewhat competitive in other US regions). Equity/RSUs are notably absent from the job posting, which may be a consideration for candidates comparing offers from startups.

Skills Developed: This role builds a rare combination of high-value capabilities:

  • ctDNA / liquid biopsy algorithm development — one of the hottest areas in molecular diagnostics
  • NGS pipeline optimization and variant calling — broadly transferable to genomics, pharma, and research settings
  • LDT (Laboratory Developed Test) regulatory navigation — increasingly valuable as FDA oversight expands
  • Cross-functional technical leadership — critical for senior individual contributors and future executives

Culture Signals: Natera is a publicly traded, growth-stage precision medicine company (~1,000+ employees). The language — "stretched and challenged," "work hard and grow quickly" — signals a high-performance culture. This suits ambitious professionals but may mean limited work-life balance guardrails.

Green Flags: Meaningful mission (cancer diagnostics), IP contribution opportunities, free genetic testing for employees, and strong brand recognition in the cfDNA space. Watch for: No mention of equity, and the management experience bar (1–2 years) is relatively low, which may mean a competitive applicant pool.

Natera is currently seeking a Bioinformatics Manager to join the Bioinformatics team focused on Oncology Product Development. In this role, the individual will manage a team of Bioinformaticians and Data Scientists and provide technical leadership in the design, development, and validation of ctDNA-based diagnostic tests. This position requires extensive cross-functional collaboration with biostatistics, molecular biology, software engineering, and commercial departments. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in bioinformatics and data science, optimally with experience in the LDT assay development space, and an established record of project and technical leadership.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Provide technical leadership for product development projects by representing the bioinformatics team in cross-functional interactions and moving products through the full development process through validation and commercial launch.
  • Lead the effort to optimize workflows, improve tools, and pressure-test analysis pipelines for diagnostic tests, including the detection of cancer-associated variants and the implementation of evidence-based quality control thresholds.
  • Supervise bioinformatics scientists and data scientists, managing their technical contributions, prioritizing resources, and taking responsibility for their technical and professional development.
  • Provide input on experiment design, analysis, and interpretation based on expert understanding of Natera's technology and relevant mathematical principles.
  • Work at a high level of independence and responsibility in carrying out assignments.
  • Contribute to the company's intellectual property portfolio.
  • Set standards for rigorous data analysis and lead the production of high-quality documentation.

Qualifications:

Requirements:

  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline (bioinformatics, engineering, applied mathematics, statistics, or similar).
  • Minimum of 4–8 years of post-graduate experience in a data science and/or bioinformatics role, and 1–3 years of experience as a technical lead in diagnostics or a related field.
  • Experience moving algorithm-based products through commercialization and launch in a medical or biological application such as diagnostic testing, medical imaging, or biotechnology.
  • 1–2 years of management experience leading a technical team, with demonstrable evidence of leadership and team management skills.

Desirable, But Not Required:

  • Prior experience analyzing cancer-associated variant detection data.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Experience using Python or R for scientific data analysis and visualization.
  • Strong foundation in statistical modeling/machine learning, including probability theory and estimation/classification methods.
  • Experience with analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, preferably including algorithm development or optimization.
  • Proven ability to apply mathematical principles to solve real estimation problems and implement practical solutions.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to independently make sound judgments and find creative solutions to moderately complex problems.
  • Experience leading technical projects, including defining and meeting project milestones, delegating tasks to more junior team members, and ensuring the quality of technical deliverables.
  • Excellent communication skills and the desire to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications, and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.

Remote USA

$140,000—$175,000 USD

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 their 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 genetic testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401(k) benefits, commuter benefits, and much more. A generous employee referral program is also offered.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Bioinformatics Manager role fully remote?
Yes, the position is listed as Remote USA, meaning candidates must be based in the United States. There is no requirement to work from a specific office location.
What is the salary range for this role?
The posted compensation range is $140,000–$175,000 USD annually. Actual offers depend on factors such as skill set, years of experience, certifications, and location within the US.
What level of management experience is required?
The role requires 1–2 years of management experience leading a technical team, along with 1–3 years as a technical lead in diagnostics or a related field.
Do I need a Ph.D. to apply for this position?
A Master's degree or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline such as bioinformatics, engineering, applied mathematics, or statistics is required. A Ph.D. is not strictly mandatory.
What benefits does Natera offer for this role?
Natera offers comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; free genetic testing for employees and immediate family; fertility care benefits; 401(k); commuter benefits; parental leave; and an employee referral program.
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