About the job
Senior Bioinformatics QA Engineer
Location: Houston, TX (Remote, CST Hours)
Duration: Full-Time
About BigRio:
BigRio is a remote-based, technology consulting firm with headquarters in Boston, MA. We deliver software solutions ranging from custom development and software implementation to data analytics and machine learning/AI integrations. As a one-stop shop, we attract clients from a variety of industries due to our proven ability to deliver cutting-edge, cost-effective software solutions.
About the Role
The Senior Bioinformatics QA Engineer will be responsible for ensuring the quality, accuracy, and performance of bioinformatics pipelines used in genomic data analysis. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in bioinformatics, software testing, and quality assurance methodologies. This role involves supporting the testing of in-house developed bioinformatics pipelines operating on local high-performance computing (HPC) environments. The engineer will also be responsible for creating and reviewing documentation related to bioinformatics pipeline validation and other testing results, ensuring compliance with internal quality management requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Additionally, the QA engineer will work closely with bioinformatics development and operations teams to identify and resolve potential issues within internal bioinformatics software.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the testing and validation of in-house bioinformatics pipelines on HPC and other computational environments.
- Develop, execute, and maintain comprehensive test plans and test cases for bioinformatics pipelines, including unit, integration, and system-level testing.
- Conduct functional, performance, and scalability testing on bioinformatics workflows and software.
- Collaborate closely with bioinformatics developers to understand pipeline requirements and ensure appropriate testing strategies.
- Validate data outputs for consistency, accuracy, and biological relevance across diverse datasets.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., CLIA, CAP, HIPAA) in bioinformatics workflows.
- Analyze and document test results, identify issues, and work with development teams to resolve defects.
- Implement version control best practices, manage testing environments, and ensure reproducibility of results.
- Support the release process by ensuring that updates to bioinformatics software and pipelines meet quality standards.
Required Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with bioinformatics pipelines, data analysis, and scientific computing environments.
- Proficiency in programming and scripting languages such as Python, R, or Bash.
- Strong understanding of software testing methodologies, including automated testing and CI/CD pipelines.
- Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and frameworks (e.g., Nextflow, Snakemake, Galaxy).
- Experience with version control systems such as Git and Azure DevOps.
- Knowledge of biological data formats (e.g., FASTQ, BAM, VCF) and sequencing technologies.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience with statistical analysis or machine learning in a biological context.
- Understanding of regulatory standards in clinical bioinformatics (e.g., CLIA, CAP).
- Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
- Experience with the Illumina Dragen Bio-IT Platform is a plus.
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, and Agile methodologies is a plus.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
BigRio is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. BigRio makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.