Senior Associate, Bioinformatics Programming

ROLE SUMMARY

The Translational Oncology (TO) department within the Pfizer Oncology Division is seeking a highly motivated applicant to join our Bioinformatics Programming team as a Senior Associate. In oncology, the rapid development and deployment of increasingly sophisticated molecular assays has created an unprecedented scale of biomarker data for patients in clinical trials. This data represents an enormous opportunity to guide drug development in a data-driven manner while advancing the science of precision medicine. The scale of this data also means that extracting truly applicable biological and clinical findings from statistical noise is a non-trivial task.

A successful applicant will join our automation team where they will be focused on developing R-based ETL scripts for basic data engineering and QC of clinical biomarker data.  They will also contribute to and expand the functionality of our custom-developed internal R package. This position will involve cross-functional teamwork to ensure streamlined data transfers, and a successful candidate will be able to communicate with technical and non-technical experts both within computer science and biology domains.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze data specification documents, design logic, and write coded ETL scripts in the R programming language.
• Test, debug and document software applications. Commit changes to git-based source version control.
• Maintain and ensure that ETL pipelines run as expected.
• Consult with users and stakeholders to ensure that requirements are met.
• Effectively communicate technical ideas to colleagues across functions and domains.
• Contribute to internal R package in a team environment. Coordinate with coworkers to ensure compatibility within code base.
• Work under general supervision using own judgment where needed.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• M.S. or equivalent in a technical field such as computer science, computer engineering or related field required.
• 1 year or more of software development work experience.
• Prior experience within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or a related life sciences industry.
• Fluency in the R programming environment and a comfort working in Linux.
• General familiarity with good coding/software development best practices and the use of Git/GitHub.
• Basic Python and SQL coding knowledge to support adjacent QC responsibilities.
• Be flexible and thrive in an evolving environment.
• Adapt to change quickly and adjust work accordingly in a positive manner.
• Excellent listening, time management, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment.
• Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal, and communication (verbal and written) skills that contribute to positive, efficient, productive, inclusive and supportive collaboration within a multi-discplinary team of diverse and experienced subject matter experts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience and comfort working in matrixed team structures.
• Familiarity with workflow languages such as Airflow/Nextflow/Snakemake/CWL.
• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS or Azure).
• Use of CI/CD integrations with GitHub.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to perform complex data analysis in a modern computing environment.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Translational Oncology (TO) – This is the primary group of contact as it encompasses Bioinformatics and Biomarker specialist colleagues that this position will engage with for day-to-day activities.
• Translational Sciences Operations (TSO) – A successful candidate will work with the TSO group to understand sample disposition for a given study and also to contextualize the implications of any bioinformatics outputs on potential diagnostic development.
• Global Biometrics and Data Management (GBDM) – A successful candidate will need to work with Data Managers and Statistics colleagues to ensure that input data to any bioinformatics workflows are properly QC’d and controlled.
• Pfizer Digital – The Bioinformatics group has extensive collaborations with Pfizer Digital to ensure that we have the appropriate compute and storage needs for our workflows.

RESOURCES MANAGED

• Financial Accountability: Any budgeting responsibilities will be managed at the level of clinical study teams or the Translational Oncology Bioinformatics group.
• Supervision: The position has no direct reports.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to perform complex data analysis in a modern computing environment.

Work Location Assignment: Hybrid

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $78,000.00 to $130,000.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 10.0% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations.  These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure.  Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act.  Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government.  If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.  Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.  Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.  This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

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