How to hire a principal bioinformatics specialist

How to hire a principal bioinformatics specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step principal bioinformatics specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a principal bioinformatics specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new principal bioinformatics specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a principal bioinformatics specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The principal bioinformatics specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a principal bioinformatics specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a principal bioinformatics specialist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of principal bioinformatics specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Principal Bioinformatics Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Principal Bioinformatics Specialist		$27-61
   Genomics Scientist	Genomics scientists are healthcare professionals who are responsible for examining the samples of the nucleic acid of patients to identify genetic and genomic alterations that may cause inherited diseases or conditions. These scientists are required to examine cells for possible anomalies in the fetus where single-gene disorders have been identified through DNA analysis of families... Show more	$26-68

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • DOD
   • Risk Assessments
   • Purchase Orders
   • Project Controls
   • EPC
   • Technical Guidance
   • Business Processes
   • Customer Service
   • LNG
   • Compliance Issues
   • Engineering Drawings
   • User Community

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate on project to develop LIMS for managing biochemical assays and analyses.
   • Design LNG pipe-in-pipe wall thickness.
   • Perform strategic planning for H1N1, CBRNE, responses for DHS.
   • Work with cancer genomic data like RNA-seq to look at immune pathways and mechanisms.
   • Design directory structure and various naming conventions to organize, process, and store various NGS data.
   • Support Abbott EHS personnel and manufacturing plants for industrial hygiene monitoring and ergonomic reviews.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your principal bioinformatics specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A principal bioinformatics specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, principal bioinformatics specialists' average salary in florida is 40% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level principal bioinformatics specialists earn 55% less than senior-level principal bioinformatics specialists.
   • Certifications. A principal bioinformatics specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a principal bioinformatics specialist's salary.

   Average principal bioinformatics specialist salary

   $86,953yearly

   $41.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level principal bioinformatics specialist salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average principal bioinformatics specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$106,601	$51
   2	New York	$101,961	$49
   3	Texas	$101,127	$49
   4	New Jersey	$99,257	$48
   5	Alaska	$93,057	$45
   6	Virginia	$90,227	$43
   7	Illinois	$89,327	$43
   8	Maryland	$87,923	$42
   9	Arizona	$87,845	$42
   10	Georgia	$83,316	$40
   11	Pennsylvania	$82,622	$40
   12	Minnesota	$82,614	$40
   13	Colorado	$82,321	$40
   14	California	$81,620	$39
   15	Missouri	$80,198	$39
   16	Washington	$79,364	$38
   17	Oklahoma	$77,059	$37
   18	Ohio	$73,651	$35
   19	Alabama	$72,005	$35
   20	Florida	$64,851	$31

   Average principal bioinformatics specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Boehringer Ingelheim	$129,046	$62.04	29
   2	Regeneron	$118,681	$57.06	6
   3	Sanofi US	$118,593	$57.02	17
   4	Morgan Stanley	$116,351	$55.94
   5	Energy Transfer	$115,998	$55.77	8
   6	Amazon	$112,827	$54.24	425
   7	Salesforce	$112,085	$53.89	28
   8	Technip USA Corporation	$106,492	$51.20
   9	QAD	$106,353	$51.13
   10	MathWorks	$105,921	$50.92
   11	Sierra Nevada	$103,266	$49.65	13
   12	Northrop Grumman	$100,678	$48.40	681
   13	PTC	$98,323	$47.27	13
   14	Textron	$97,356	$46.81	7
   15	Chicago Public Schools	$96,687	$46.48	3
   16	Medtronic	$96,293	$46.29	540
   17	Pinnacle Technical Resources	$94,847	$45.60	2
   18	Fifth Third Bank	$94,440	$45.40	6
   19	Grant Thornton	$94,431	$45.40
   20	Fluor Corporation	$93,898	$45.14	19

4. Writing a principal bioinformatics specialist job description

   A principal bioinformatics specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a principal bioinformatics specialist job description:

   Principal bioinformatics specialist job description example

   Make banking a Fifth Third better We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.
   GENERAL FUNCTION:
   Performs brokerage and insurance regulatory sales supervision functions for the broker-dealer and insurance agency subsidiaries of the Bancorp. Mitigate risk of loss and regulatory risk incurred by Fifth Third Securities.
   
   Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues, and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types.
   
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   Approves or rejects a subset of business processes including rollovers, securities and / or insurance transactions for the broker-dealer, investment advisor and insurance agency.Determines whether transactions are in conformance with regulatory requirements, as well as firm and industry standards.Determines whether recommended securities and/or insurance transactions are suitable for, and in the best interest of, the client.Seeks additional information and related follow-up to evidence the review process, in conformance with requirements.Assists with regulatory exams and requests; assists with the maintenance of the department procedure manual.The sales supervision review process includes but is not limited to the following: reviewing all variable insurance products and fixed annuities including Variable and Indexed annuities, Variable Universal Life, Long Term Care Products and Immediate Annuities.As assigned, reviews all other securities products that appear on the respective blotters including but not limited to Stock, ETF's, Mutual Funds, UIT's, Structured Products, Bonds and Options, review of brokerage new account applications, review of margin and option account applications, review of brokerage account maintenance documents including but not limited to Power of Attorney documents, Limited Trading Authority authorizations, Corporate Resolutions and Transfer of Death designations, review of advisor email correspondence, review of and approval of mutual fund trade corrections, review of new business forms for the Registered Investment Advisor and review of 529 College Savings Plan applications.As assigned, reviews rollovers in accordance with Firm RegBI processes and procedures.Partners with the Compliance, Brokerage Operations, Technology and Sales leaders in the organization to ensure a best-in-class sales supervision program.Conducts informal business practice reviews to identify trends and/or irregular trading activity.Any and other duties as assigned by departmental supervisors or other leaders as appropriate.
   
   MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
   High school diploma or equivalent required.Bachelors degree in Finance, Economics or related field preferred.2 years brokerage or related work experience.Series 7, 63, and 24 are required to be obtained as documented in the Fifth Third Securities Licensing Guidelines. Strongly encouraged to obtain Series 4, 53 and 66, as well as a life and health insurance license.Extensive knowledge of the following investment products: Annuities, Stocks, ETF's, ETN's, Mutual Funds, UIT's, Structured Products, Corporate Bonds, Government Bonds, Municipal Bonds, Brokerage CD's and Options preferred.Knowledge of FINRA, SEC, MSRB and State Securities rules and regulations.Familiarity with National Financial Services and FIS Protegent Prosurv systems preferred.
   #LI-JS1
   
   Principal Review Specialist
   
   Total Base Pay Range 50,100.00 - 95,400.00 USD Annual
   
   LOCATION -- Virtual, Ohio 00000
   
   Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right principal bioinformatics specialist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your principal bioinformatics specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit principal bioinformatics specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting principal bioinformatics specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new principal bioinformatics specialist

   Once you've selected the best principal bioinformatics specialist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a principal bioinformatics specialist?