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Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.
Job Title: Bioinformatics Scientist/Engineer – DRAGEN Array
Location: UK or Germany preferred
Job Type: Full-time
Experience Level: Senior
Are you passionate about developing innovative bioinformatics solutions that advance precision medicine? Do you enjoy solving complex scientific challenges through algorithm development, statistical modelling, and software engineering? Do you want to work alongside world-class scientists and engineers on technologies that have a meaningful impact on human health? If so, you could be the perfect fit for our Bioinformatics Scientist / Engineer role within the DRAGEN Array team.
Position Summary
The DRAGEN Array team at Illumina is seeking a bioinformatics professional to drive innovation across algorithm development, statistical modelling, and production-quality software engineering for genotyping and genetics products. This role supports the development of new solutions that advance translational research and precision medicine, delivering scalable computational workflows and analytical capabilities for array and next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications.
Working closely with wet-lab scientists, bioinformaticians, product teams, and software engineers, you will develop and implement robust bioinformatics solutions, integrating established community tools alongside novel methods. You will also contribute to software engineering best practices, including testing automation, CI/CD, observability, and software lifecycle management, helping to ensure DRAGEN Array software is reliable, scalable, and ready for production deployment across local and cloud-based environments.
What You'll Do
- Lead the design and development of algorithms and probabilistic models for analysis of array and NGS data supporting genotyping and genetics applications.
- Apply statistical, computational, and machine‑learning methods to large‑scale genetic and epigenetic datasets (e.g., genotyping, sequencing, copy number, methylation).
- Design and develop production‑grade software that automates analytical workflows and enables robust analysis at scale.
- Contribute to and help shape software testing automation, including unit, integration, and regression testing of bioinformatics pipelines.
- Define and maintain CI/CD workflows to support continuous integration, validation, and reliable delivery of DRAGEN Array software.
- Implement and evolve telemetry, logging, and monitoring to improve observability, diagnostics, and operational robustness.
- Execute and improve Software Lifecycle (SLC) practices, including requirements traceability, design documentation, verification, and validation.
- Use tools such as JAMA (requirements and traceability) and JIRA (planning and execution) to support structured, high‑quality software development.
- Collaborate closely with wet‑lab scientists, product management, and engineering teams to translate scientific needs into validated computational solutions.
- For staff level, provide mentorship and technical guidance to other scientists and engineers, and contribute to best practices in algorithm design, software engineering, and data analysis.
Why You
You will bring deep expertise in bioinformatics algorithm development, statistical modelling, and computational genomics, with experience developing production-quality software within scientific or commercial environments. You thrive working across multidisciplinary teams and are passionate about translating complex genomic data into impactful solutions that advance translational research and precision medicine.
You will have experience with array and NGS technologies, machine learning approaches, and scalable software development practices including testing automation, CI/CD, and software lifecycle management. For staff-level candidates, experience providing technical leadership, influencing scientific direction, and mentoring colleagues will be highly valued.
You'll also bring:
- PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Bioengineering, or a related field
- Strong algorithm development and statistical modelling expertise
- Experience with genomic data analysis at scale
- Programming expertise in Python and/or R
- Experience with production software development practices
- Knowledge of testing automation, CI/CD and software lifecycle processes
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
What can you expect
Our team members are bright, energetic and dedicated - they are the driving force behind our innovation and impact. To attract the best and brightest, we offer a competitive employee benefits program. We view it as a smart investment in our people, one that recognizes the tremendous value they bring to our business every day. Living our values is central to how we work at Illumina. We are passionate about improving human health through genomics and believe that innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve complex challenges. In this role, you will collaborate across scientific and engineering disciplines, act with integrity and accountability, and contribute to an inclusive environment where curiosity, continuous learning, and bold thinking are encouraged. We are looking for individuals who are driven by impact, committed to excellence, and excited to help shape technologies that advance research and precision medicine worldwide.
The estimated base salary range for the Bioinformatics Scientist/Engineer – DRAGEN Array role based in United Kingdom is GBP 63.800 - 95.600.
The range reflects long‑term growth in the role; therefore, most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. This salary range applies to the primary posting location listed above. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range will be updated accordingly. Compensation ranges for other locations will differ to reflect local market competitiveness and will be shared with candidates if applicable during the recruitment process.
Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package.
We offer a thoughtfully designed benefits package that supports your wellbeing, flexibility, and life beyond work—combining globally differentiated offerings with locally tailored programs. This includes support during important life moments, flexible time off, opportunities to give back, and a weeklong company-wide summer shutdown. In the UK, we also offer flexible benefits, a company contribution of 10% into your pension, and private medical insurance, alongside additional benefits to support you and your family.
We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.