Microbiome Data Scientist (Full-time Contractor)

Master’s or PhD in a relevant field preferred ( e.g., data science, computational biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, microbiology)

3+ years of full-time, relevant experience following completion of a Master's, or 0-1+ years of relevant experience with a PhD.

Strong background in statistics, machine learning, and data visualization

Proficient in R and/or Python; experience with SQL and large datasets preferred

Experience with microbiome data analysis (e.g., 16S, shotgun metagenomics) is highly desirable

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Self-motivated, organized, and able to work independently in a remote-first environment

Previous experience in a fast-paced startup environment

Work experience in DTC health/wellness companies

Experience working remotely, with proficiency in Slack

Leverages AI in daily tasks while also understanding where its blind spots

Self-directed, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity

A mission that actually pulls people in Most people here could be doing something easier. They’re not, because this work makes the microbiome measurable and actionable at every life stage — and the results land on real people who write in to tell us that we are life-changing to them. That feedback loop is the perk. It’s not just a job.

Remote-first, real overlap We’re a very diverse, international team, although we only hire FTEs in North America. Core hours are 9am–6pm CST, shiftable by up to two hours either way — start at 7am or 11am, wrap at 4pm or 8pm. Pick your window; just be findable in it.

Written first, huddle second, meet last Default to a clear Slack post: say whether you need a decision, an approval, or nothing at all. When a thread starts ping-ponging, jump into a huddle — ten minutes of voice beats forty of paragraphs. Meetings are the expensive option, so each one needs a decision to make, a preread or strawman sent ahead, and only the people who can actually make that call.

Fast, but never sloppy We ask “how do we do the two-month thing in two weeks?” — and then we check the work. We’re a health company: results, science, and anything a customer or practitioner touches get a second set of eyes, always. Moving fast and being careful aren’t in tension here; shipping errors isn’t speed, it’s rework.

Shape what we build, not just how we build it There’s no playbook waiting for you — you’ll write it, and that’s most true the more senior you are. Ideas get judged on whether they’re executed right, not on who raised them, and the person closest to the problem is usually the one who should be proposing the fix. Bring the alternative, not just the objection.

Day One mentality Fewer titles, fewer layers, fewer moving parts. Real process exists where it counts — data, lab, science, compliance, money — and we follow it, but process is a guardrail, not a destination. Process bloat is never the reason something didn’t ship.

No hidden agendas Transparency mean you’ll always understand how decisions are being made, especially at the top. We spend less time on politics and more on impact. Numbers, misses, and hard calls get shared openly. Feedback works the same way: in real time, not stockpiled for a review cycle. It’s a no-surprises culture: you should always know where you stand, and if you don’t, ask.

High standards, genuinely fun people Our CEO has been described as goofy but serious, direct but likable — and that sets the temperature. We take the work seriously and ourselves much less so. High-performing and fun to be around isn’t a contradiction; it’s the hiring bar.

Is this pace for you? We’re a venture-scaled company on a steep trajectory, and the pace is part of the job. There’s no deep bench to absorb the overflow, which is exactly why the scope here is bigger than it would be anywhere else at your level. We protect flexibility fiercely — more than half of us have kids — and ask for intensity in spikes, not as a constant grind. There’s no defined ladder. Perform, and you’ll move faster here than anywhere else.

Learn Fast, Get Better - Find the root cause, not just the fix, and get better every time

Be Relentlessly Resourceful - Dig for the answer, move fast, and know when to ask for help

Think Like an Owner, Act with Urgency - Act like it’s your company, and do whatever it takes to win

Act with Honesty and Empathy - Say what’s true, and say it with care

Delight People by Anticipating Their Needs - Solve the problem, then get two steps ahead of it