---
title: 'Bioinformatics Scientist -- NGS Assay Development (Remote) at Pillar Biosciences'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/bioinformatics-scientist-ngs-assay-development-remote-pillar-biosciences-united-p8ssfyaq1aqz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Bioinformatics Scientist -- NGS Assay Development (Remote) at Pillar Biosciences

- **Company:** Pillar Biosciences
- **Location:** United States
- **Compensation:** $90k–$120k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-08-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/pillarbiosciences/80c6a7fb-5d32-4db7-9a57-9a7461177786

## Job description

Our bioinformatics team develops and supports next-generation sequencing assays for oncology and other human genomic applications. We are seeking a hands-on bioinformatics scientist who can combine strong programming skills with human genomics expertise to support the design, evaluation, and improvement of targeted NGS assays. This role is well suited to someone who enjoys working directly with sequencing data, investigating unexpected assay behavior, developing reproducible analyses, and translating complex findings into clear technical conclusions. The scientist will work closely with molecular biology, software, product development, regulatory, and clinical teams. Responsibilities: Develop reproducible analyses and computational workflows in Python, R, and/or Bash to evaluate NGS assay performance. Analyze DNA and RNA sequencing data generated from targeted assays, including SNVs, indels, CNVs, fusions, coverage, assay artifacts, and other performance characteristics. Investigate assay failures and unexpected results using sequencing data, genomic context, experimental metadata, and appropriate statistical or computational approaches. Support development and optimization of targeted amplicon-based NGS assay workflows. Use public genomic and oncology resources such as ClinVar, gnomAD, TCGA/cBioPortal, dbSNP, and primary literature to research genomic targets and interpret assay results. Work closely with molecular biology scientists to translate experimental observations into testable computational analyses and assay improvements. Develop tools, scripts, and analytical methods that improve the efficiency, robustness, or interpretability of assay development. Maintain well-organized, reproducible analyses with clear version control, data provenance, and documentation. Communicate findings through concise technical reports, figures, presentations, protocols, and other documentation that can be understood by both computational and non-computational collaborators. Manage multiple development projects and analyses while maintaining clear records of assumptions, methods, results, and outstanding questions. Qualifications: MS or PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genetics, genomics, or a related field. Demonstrated hands-on programming experience in Python, R, or another general-purpose scientific programming language. Candidates should be comfortable writing their own analysis code rather than relying primarily on graphical or preconfigured analysis tools. Strong knowledge of human genomics and genetic variation. Experience analyzing human NGS data, including alignment, QC, variant analysis, and interpretation. Familiarity with common genomics file formats and tools such as FASTQ, BAM/CRAM, VCF, BED, BWA, samtools, bedtools, GATK, or equivalent tools. Demonstrated ability to independently investigate complex datasets, identify the source of analytical or experimental problems, and communicate conclusions. Strong scientific writing and documentation skills, with evidence of producing reproducible analyses, technical documentation, protocols, reports, publications, or similar work. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple analyses and development activities with appropriate documentation and follow-through. Ability to communicate effectively with molecular biologists, software engineers, and other cross-functional collaborators. Preferred Qualifications: Experience developing or analyzing targeted NGS assays using amplicon sequencing or hybrid capture. Experience with oncology genomics, somatic variant analysis, low-input DNA, FFPE, cfDNA, or other clinically relevant sample types. Experience evaluating assay performance metrics such as coverage, uniformity, sensitivity, specificity, background error, limit of detection, or variant-calling performance. Experience with primer/probe design, target-region design, or computational support of molecular assay development. Experience developing new algorithms or analytical methods for genomic data. Experience with reproducible development practices using Git, Jira, containers, or similar tools.

Please note: You must complete all application questions to be considered for the role Pillar Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer

## About Pillar Biosciences

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Pillar Biosciences provides kitted next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions designed to make genomic testing simpler, faster, and more accessible for clinical cancer diagnostics.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed)
- **Headquarters**: Natick, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founded**: 2014
- **Founders**: Zhaohui Wang (Cofounder); additional cofounder information is not publicly available.

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Biotechnology, Precision Oncology, Molecular Diagnostics
- Target customers: B2B – clinical laboratories, hospitals, academic research institutions, and biopharmaceutical partners
- Mission or purpose statement: To make NGS more actionable and accessible for laboratories across the globe, accelerating the adoption of precision medicine by addressing key challenges in sample processing, data analysis, and workflow efficiency [pillarbiosci.com](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/company/our-story/).

## Products & Services
- **[oncoReveal® Portfolio]**: A broad range of 20+ oncology-focused NGS kitted panels covering solid tumors, hematologic cancers, and liquid biopsy. Designed for reliable results even from challenging or low-quality samples. Available in both IVD and RUO formats [pillarbiosci.com](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/company/our-story/).
- **[SLIMamp® Technology]**: Proprietary library preparation technology that uses overlapping multiplex PCR in a single tube. It streamlines the NGS workflow, reduces hands-on time, and supports automation and high-throughput genomic testing across multiple sequencing platforms [pillarbiosci.com](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/company/our-story/).
- **[PiVAT® Technology]**: Proprietary bioinformatics and data analysis platform designed to deliver robust analytical performance from NGS testing [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company)
- **Key Metric – Total Funding**: USD $114.4 million across 6 rounds (Seed through Venture), as of mid-2026. Most recent round: $14.0M in May 2026. Prior notable round: $34.5M in June 2025 [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: ORI Capital (led a 2016 round), ZhenFund (led the 2014 Seed round), AstraZeneca (expanded liquid biopsy access partnership to China in Dec 2025) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).
- **Growth Signals**: 11.1% headcount growth year-over-year (as of early 2026); expanded partnership with AstraZeneca into China; automated NGS library preparation method launched on Hamilton Microlab STAR; Illumina expanded its clinical oncology portfolio with Pillar’s technology [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary SLIMamp® Technology**: Enables simple, single-tube NGS library prep that is platform-agnostic and automatable, reducing complexity and turnaround time compared to traditional methods.
- **Broad, Kitted Portfolio**: Over 20 oncology panels in both IVD and RUO formats, allowing laboratories to perform complex testing in-house with reliable performance, even from degraded DNA.
- **Focus on Accessibility**: By localizing NGS testing and reducing turnaround times from weeks to days, Pillar addresses critical barriers in logistics, infrastructure, and cost that limit precision medicine adoption globally.

## Strategic Focus
- **Companion Diagnostic (CDx) Development**: Partnering with biopharmaceutical companies to align biomarker strategies with scalable NGS testing.
- **Global Expansion**: Deepening partnerships (e.g., AstraZeneca in China) and broadening market reach for its kitted panels.
- **Workflow Automation & Efficiency**: Continuously improving automation capabilities (e.g., Hamilton Microlab STAR integration) to reduce hands-on time and operational costs for labs.
- **AI & Informatics**: Investing in AI-driven data analysis through its VP of Informatics & AI to enhance bioinformatics capabilities [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Mission**: Employees work at the forefront of cancer diagnostics and precision medicine, contributing to technology that directly impacts patient care and treatment decisions. The company emphasizes collaboration among geneticists, bioinformaticians, clinicians, and data scientists [pillarbiosci.com](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/careers/).
- **Growth & Stability**: With $114M+ in funding and consistent headcount growth (11% YoY), the company is scaling and investing in its team.
- **Employee Ratings**: 4.0/5.0 on employer review platforms, with strong marks for career development (4.2) and a balanced culture (Work-Life: 3.9, Culture: 3.9, Compensation: 3.9) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences).
- **Work Environment**: Hybrid/office presence in Natick, MA (HQ); 5 US-based offices. The company uses AI tools to support parts of the hiring process but emphasizes human judgment in final decisions [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/pillarbiosciences).
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge NGS technology with a clear mission; collaborative culture that values innovation and scientific rigor.

## Sources
1. [pillarbiosci.com – Our Story](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/company/our-story/)
2. [pillarbiosci.com – Careers](https://www.pillarbiosci.com/careers/)
3. [jobs.lever.co – Pillar Biosciences Careers](https://jobs.lever.co/pillarbiosciences)
4. [linkedin.com – Pillar Biosciences Company Page](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences)
5. [linkedin.com – Pillar Biosciences Financials & Workforce Data](https://linkedin.com/company/pillar-biosciences)