Senior Bioinformatics Scientist - SynBio

USA - South San Francisco, CA

Senior/Staff Bioinformatics Scientist – SynBio (Hybrid in South San Francisco)

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Senior/Staff Bioinformatics Scientist to join our R&D team focused on synthetic biology product development. In this role, you will work at the intersection of computational and molecular biology, developing advanced DNA sequence analysis pipelines, gene design algorithms, and predictive models to optimize DNA synthesis and assembly.

You will collaborate with molecular biologists, product teams, and manufacturing engineers to refine Twist’s core synthetic biology platform, troubleshoot assembly challenges, and improve DNA synthesis efficiency. This position emphasizes predictive modeling, algorithm development, and data-driven approaches to enhance synthetic biology workflows.

Key Responsibilities

Synthetic Biology & DNA Assembly

  • Develop bioinformatics methods supporting DNA assembly strategies and synthetic biology workflows.
  • Apply machine learning and predictive modeling to improve DNA assembly success rates and optimize synthesis parameters.
  • Collaborate with wet-lab scientists to analyze and troubleshoot molecular biology processes.
  • Develop bioinformatics approaches for diagnosing and resolving complex DNA synthesis and assembly issues.

NGS Pipeline Development & Data Science

  • Build and maintain NGS analysis pipelines (e.g., Nextflow) to support quality control and performance tracking of synthetic biology products.
  • Leverage Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), Illumina, or PacBio sequencing to analyze and optimize synthesis workflows.
  • Develop predictive models to identify challenging sequences and recommend optimizations to improve synthesis efficiency.
  • Ensure pipeline accuracy, reproducibility, and scalability in research environments.

Data Analysis & Insights

  • Apply advanced statistical and machine learning methods to evaluate improvements in synthetic biology product iterations.
  • Use Python, R, and visualization tools to generate actionable insights and present findings to stakeholders.
  • Design and implement novel bioinformatics algorithms for sequence analysis and synthetic biology applications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner with R&D, manufacturing, and product development teams to troubleshoot assay issues and implement data-driven solutions.
  • Support the broader Bioinformatics team by integrating synthetic biology workflows with existing genomic data processing pipelines.
  • Assist with customer-facing analyses related to synthetic biology assay performance.

Required Qualifications

  • Educational Background & Experience:
    • Bachelor’s/Master’s degree with 6–8 years of industry experience, or a Ph.D. with 3+ years of industry experience in Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Genomics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
  • Bioinformatics & NGS Expertise:
    • Experience with ONT, Illumina, or PacBio sequencing technologies.
    • Proficiency in workflow management tools (Nextflow, Snakemake).
    • Hands-on experience designing predictive models for sequence design & synthetic biology applications.
  • Technical Skills:
    • Expertise in Python (Pandas, NumPy, SciPy) and visualization libraries (Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly).
    • Experience with machine learning frameworks (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch) applied to biological sequence data.
    • Familiarity with R, SQL, or other statistical tools.
  • Molecular Biology & Synthetic Biology Knowledge:
    • Understanding of DNA assembly, cloning techniques, and molecular biology workflows.
    • Ability to interpret experimental data and provide feedback on laboratory procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience developing design algorithms for synthetic biology applications.
  • Familiarity with deep learning approaches for biological sequence analysis.
  • Exposure to high-throughput experimental design and laboratory automation.
  • Hands-on experience with gene synthesis and synthetic biology assay development.

About Twist Bioscience

Twist Bioscience synthesizes genes from scratch, known as “writing” DNA. Just as children learn to both read and write, the next phase of development for the genomics revolution is the ability to write DNA.

At Twist Bioscience, we work in service of people who are changing the world for the better. In fields such as health care, agriculture, industrial chemicals and data storage, our unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform provides precision at a scale that is otherwise unavailable to our customers.

Twist Bioscience Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Twist Bioscience Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law.

 

The base cash compensation for this California-based role is below. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package. Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate skill, experience, expertise, and location and may vary from the amount listed above. Compensation may be different in other locations.

San Francisco Bay Area Pay Range

$150,000 - $186,103 USD

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