Sr Bioinformatics Scientist - Computational Biology (Protein Design)

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

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.

Senior Bioinformatics Scientist - Computational Biology (Protein Design)

Cambridge, UK - Onsite

The role is fixed-term for 6 months and based at Cambridge, England. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of Illumina’s continued growth.

Why us

Illumina’s mission is to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our people and our technology change lives by driving advancements in life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging markets. Wide application of our technology in addressing the ongoing pandemic is a live example of how our technology contributes to solving the most critical global issues.

The proprietary sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) biochemistry forms part of the core technology that powers Illumina’s sequencing platforms. This position provides the opportunity to directly contribute to development of this core technology.

We are an established company with a track record of phenomenal growth. Our revenue grew from $10 million in 2002 to more than 3 billion in 2020. We offer a competitive remuneration package which includes annual bonus scheme, generous pension, company share purchase scheme and first-class fitness club membership.

Position summary

We are seeking a talented and driven Senior Bioinformatics Scientist - Computational Biology (Protein Design) – to join our dynamic interdisciplinary protein engineering group that is responsible for the development of novel protein reagents for high-throughput sequencing. The successful candidate will initiate, execute, and analyze research in the area of Computational Biology / Bioinformatics applied to high-throughput sequencing, collaboratively working with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and apply tailored bioinformatics tools and pipelines to design, engineer, and/or discover novel enzymes.
• Enable enzyme activity and/or property predictions using state-of-the-art AI/ML approaches.
• Evaluate application, development, and implementation of novel computational methods to leverage protein sequence, structure, and/or experimental data for enzyme engineering.
• Participate in multi-disciplinarily protein engineering projects and interact with engineers, chemists, biophysicists, and protein scientists, to deliver protein variants with desired properties.

All listed tasks and responsibilities are deemed as essential functions to this position; however, business conditions may require reasonable accommodations for additional task and responsibilities.

Education, Experience & Attributes required:

• Ph.D. in computational chemistry, computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science or related fields, or equivalent work & educational experience.
• Solid programming skills in at least one of the major programming languages (e.g., C/C++, Python, R).
• In-depth knowledge of protein sequence or structure modelling, protein-ligand interaction predictions and/or molecular simulations.
• Understanding of AI/ML methods and practical experience in adopting AI/ML-driven protein-design models.
• Strong fundamentals in statistical modelling, algorithm design, data analysis, and/or visualization methods.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Collaborative, open and self-aware, team player, and able to rapidly integrate into cross functional teams.
• Highly motivated individual with proven ability in thinking innovatively and the proven track record of productive research and development.

Preferred experiences and attributes

• Practical experience with AI/ML model development for protein design.
• Experience with experiments within protein engineering, e.g. directed-evolution, high-throughput screening.
• Experience in using one or more commonly used molecular modelling software, e.g. Rosetta.
• Knowledge of best software development practices and code version control, e.g. Git.
• Knowledge of UNIX environment and shell scripting.
• Experience with high-performance computing, job schedulers, and/or GPU hardware.
• Broad knowledge of bioinformatics, genomics, and/or proteomics database, tools, and/or algorithms.
• Knowledge of biochemistry, enzymology, and/or molecular biology.
• Familiarity with next generation sequencing technologies, tools, and/or workflows.

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. At Illumina, we push boundaries. We think beyond the conventional. We dream big. With the energy of so many bright and accomplished people, the opportunities are endless.

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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.