Computational Biologist / Data Scientist

About Hexagon Bio:

Hexagon Bio leverages its proprietary platform to discover new medicines by mining microbial genomes for their therapeutic potential. Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise in genomics, synthetic biology, machine learning, and drug discovery to accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics.

Location: Menlo Park, CA

Job description:

We are seeking a Computational Biologist / Data Scientist with deep expertise in evolutionary biology and natural product genomics to join our data science and genomics team.

In this role, you will analyze large-scale microbial genomic datasets to identify, characterize, and prioritize biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that encode novel chemistry. You will apply comparative genomics and evolutionary frameworks to Hexagon Bio’s proprietary collection of over 100,000 fungal genomes, transforming genomic patterns into actionable hypotheses that drive experimental discovery and therapeutic development.

You will work closely with biologists, chemists, and engineers to connect genomic insights with experimental design, pathway engineering, and downstream chemical and biological validation. This is an onsite role at Hexagon’s office in Menlo Park, California.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and apply computational methods to predict, classify, and prioritize biosynthetic gene clusters from large genomic datasets.

• Perform comparative genomics and evolutionary analyses across diverse, non-model fungal and bacterial species.

• Apply evolutionary and phylogenetic frameworks to identify novel biosynthetic potential and guide discovery strategy.

• Build, maintain, and scale robust Python-based pipelines for genome mining and data analysis.

• Integrate genomic insights with chemical, biological, and metabolomic data to support compound discovery and annotation.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to translate computational results into experimentally testable hypotheses and program decisions.

• Communicate findings clearly through analyses, visualizations, and presentations to multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Computational Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, or a related field.

• Demonstrated expertise in biosynthetic gene cluster prediction and natural product genomics.

• Strong background in genome evolution and evolutionary biology, particularly in non-model organisms.

• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, pipeline development, and algorithm implementation.

• Experience developing statistical or computational approaches to extract biological insight from genome-scale data.

• Experience analyzing or interpreting metabolomic data in the context of natural product discovery is a plus.

• Prior exposure to experimental microbiology, metabolomics, or natural products chemistry is a plus.

• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., Google Cloud, AWS) is a plus.

• Experience building production-quality software or scalable analysis pipelines is a plus.

• Experience applying or developing machine learning methods is a plus, but not required.

What We Offer:

• A collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with strong scientific ownership and impact.

• A transparent culture supported by regular All Hands meetings.

• Competitive compensation, equity, and comprehensive benefits.

• Opportunities for rapid growth and career development.

• Support for attending scientific conferences and external collaborations.

• Access to Menlo Park Labs amenities, including shuttle service, gym, climbing wall, pool, sports courts, café, bike storage, and EV charging.

• Team-building events such as Hexagon Happy Hours and company celebrations.

Additional Information:

The salary range is dependent on the level of Data Scientist that is hired. The salary range for this position is $150,000- $230,000. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across California locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Hexagon Bio is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workplace. All applicants will be considered equally without regard to race, color, ethnicity, veteran status, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, membership in an organization, or any other non-merit factors

Note to External Recruiters: Submission of unsolicited resumes prior to an agreement set in place does not create any implied obligation.