Director of Bioinformatics and Machine Learning

About the role

Natera's mission is to change the management of disease worldwide by using information from a simple blood draw to detect disease early and proactively inform treatment. We are seeking a Director of Bioinformatics and Machine Learning to lead technology and biomarker research for our cancer early detection programs. This leader will head a team of bioinformatics and machine learning scientists developing the foundation of our next generation of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) assays across multi-cancer early detection (MCED), tissue-free molecular residual disease (tfMRD), and single-cancer screening.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on scientific leader who sets technical direction and stays close to the work by challenging analyses, reviewing models, and prototyping when needed. They combine deep expertise in bioinformatics and machine learning with experience translating research into clinical diagnostics.

Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute research roadmaps for cancer early detection in partnership with Research, Product, Clinical, and Assay Development stakeholders.
• Lead, hire, and develop a team of machine learning and bioinformatics scientists, building a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, and ownership.
• Own the computational design of research studies, including cohort selection, confounder control, and validation strategies that prevent overfitting and data leakage.
• Partner with molecular biology teams to design experiments that generate data capable of answering the key scientific and clinical questions.
• Serve as the computational subject matter expert for leadership and cross-functional partners, communicating tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Advance Natera's scientific leadership through publications, conference presentations, and intellectual property.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of post-PhD experience in industry or academic research, including 5+ years of direct people management leading technical teams of 5 or more scientists.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and deploying machine learning and statistical models on high-throughput sequencing data.
• Deep understanding of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data and large-scale genomic datasets, including sources of technical bias and batch effects.
• Strong communication skills, with experience influencing scientific direction at a senior level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in clinical diagnostics, including contributing to assays that reached analytical or clinical validation.
• Domain expertise in oncology, epigenomics, or cfDNA/liquid biopsy.
• Publication and/or patent record in computational oncology or machine learning.

Compensation & Total Rewards

This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera's robust Total Rewards program, including:

• Annual performance incentive bonus
• Long-term equity awards
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Additional wellness and work-life benefits

Compensation Range $228,600—$285,800 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 our 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 testing in addition to fertility care benefits.
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more.
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!

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.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

Link

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