Bioinformatics Team Leader - Genomics and Fieldable Analytics

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Parsons is seeking a Bioinformatics Team Leader - Genomics and Fieldable Analytics to lead bioinformatics, computational biology, pipeline-development, and software-engineering support for NMRC BDRD. This key-personnel position will guide a multidisciplinary bioinformatics team supporting pathogen genomics, biosurveillance, emerging-threat response, and fieldable analytical capabilities.

The successful candidate will provide senior technical leadership for automated pipelines, genomic analysis, AI and machine-learning methods, fieldable software, international laboratory support, and operational reach-back.

• Lead a team of bioinformatics analysts and engineers supporting genomic and infectious-disease research.
• Develop, validate, benchmark, and maintain automated bioinformatics pipelines.
• Perform or oversee genome assembly, annotation, taxonomic profiling, phylogenetics, and molecular epidemiology.
• Guide bioinformatics analysis of clinical, environmental, wastewater, animal, vector, bacterial, viral, and bacteriophage samples.
• Lead the testing and evaluation of bioinformatics software and methods for DoD applications.
• Develop or improve fieldable bioinformatics software and analytical workflows.
• Apply AI or machine-learning methods to biological and genomic data.
• Establish reproducible methods, documentation, source-control practices, and quality standards.
• Develop user guides, training materials, and technical documentation.
• Support field demonstrations and training for laboratory personnel and field operators.
• Coordinate scheduled reach-back support, including support outside standard business hours when required.
• Collaborate with CONUS and OCONUS partners in resource-limited or potentially austere environments.
• Communicate technical findings through reports, briefings, publications, and presentations.

• Ph.D. or master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science combined with biology or bioinformatics experience, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years of hands-on bioinformatics experience.
• Demonstrable multiyear experience in computer science, genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology.
• Expert programming ability using languages and statistical tools such as Java, Perl, Python, and R.
• Familiarity with NGS platforms and technologies such as MiSeq, Nova Seq, Next Seq, iSeq, Mini Seq, MiSeq i100/i100 Plus, Pac Bio, and ONT platforms such as MinION or GridION.
• Familiarity with microarray and/or single-cell sequencing technologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, independent judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work under deadlines.
• Ability to provide occasional after-hours support based on assigned mission requirements.
• Ability to travel internationally and perform in potentially austere environments.
• U.S. citizenship due to federal contract requirements.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance and required Government access.

• Experience leading bioinformatics or scientific software-development teams.
• Experience with pathogen genomics, metagenomics, bacteriophages, or biosurveillance.
• Experience with workflow engines, version control, containerization, cloud or high-performance computing, and reproducible analysis.
• Experience developing disconnected or fieldable analytical software.
• Experience with AI/ML model development and validation using biological data.
• Experience training international laboratory personnel or field operators.
• Experience supporting DoD, NMRC, Navy Medicine, or another federal laboratory.
• An active Secret security clearance.

This key-personnel position is expected to be primarily on-site at Fort Detrick and is contingent upon contract award. Participation in scheduled on-call or after-hours reach-back may be required outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays. The final support schedule and service levels must be confirmed before publication.