Pathology Informatics / LIS-LIMS Implementation Lead
Location: Skokie, IL
Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: Laboratory / Pathology Informatics
Reports To: Laboratory Leadership / Executive Team
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and technically capable Pathology Informatics / LIS-LIMS Implementation Lead to play a foundational role in building the technology and informatics infrastructure for a new, state-of-the-art laboratory in Skokie, Illinois.
This is an opportunity to join a growing startup laboratory at an early stage and have significant ownership over the development and implementation of its Laboratory Information System (LIS), Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), digital pathology infrastructure, laboratory interfaces, data workflows, and computational pathology capabilities.
The ideal candidate will bring a combination of pathology/laboratory knowledge, informatics expertise, technical implementation experience, and project leadership. This person will work closely with laboratory leadership, pathologists, IT teams, technology vendors, and other stakeholders to design and implement systems that are scalable, efficient, and ready to support the laboratory's growth.
Because this is a startup environment, the successful candidate must be comfortable working in an evolving organization, solving problems independently, and taking ownership of projects from initial planning through implementation and optimization.
Key Responsibilities
LIS / LIMS Implementation & Laboratory Informatics
- Lead the selection, implementation, configuration, integration, and optimization of the laboratory's LIS/LIMS environment.
- Work with laboratory leadership to define system requirements, laboratory workflows, functionality, reporting needs, and future-state capabilities.
- Translate laboratory and pathology workflows into effective LIS/LIMS configurations and technical solutions.
- Evaluate LIS/LIMS platforms and related laboratory information technologies based on operational, technical, regulatory, and scalability requirements.
- Coordinate with LIS/LIMS vendors, EHR vendors, IT teams, laboratory personnel, instrument vendors, and other external partners.
- Lead system testing, validation, user acceptance testing, training, and go-live activities.
- Develop workflows, system specifications, documentation, and standard operating procedures.
- Troubleshoot system and workflow issues and coordinate resolution with vendors and technical teams.
- Establish a scalable informatics infrastructure capable of supporting future laboratory growth, new testing capabilities, and additional sites.
- Help define processes for ongoing LIS/LIMS support, maintenance, upgrades, and optimization.
Digital Pathology
- Help develop and implement the laboratory's digital pathology strategy.
- Evaluate and support implementation of whole-slide imaging, image management, digital pathology software, and related technologies.
- Coordinate integration between digital pathology platforms, the LIS/LIMS, EHR, and other laboratory systems.
- Work with pathologists and laboratory personnel to design efficient digital workflows.
- Support validation and optimization of digital pathology systems and applications.
- Evaluate emerging digital pathology and computational pathology technologies.
Computational Pathology & Data
- Support the development and implementation of computational pathology and image-analysis workflows.
- Evaluate AI, machine learning, and image-analysis technologies applicable to pathology.
- Collaborate with pathologists, scientists, engineers, and technology vendors on computational pathology initiatives.
- Support development of data pipelines and analytical workflows.
- Assist with data extraction, reporting, analytics, and visualization.
- Help establish appropriate data standards, governance, security, and quality practices.
- Support the development of data infrastructure connecting LIS/LIMS, digital pathology, laboratory instruments, and other systems.
Interfaces & Systems Integration
- Coordinate integration between the LIS/LIMS, EHR, digital pathology platforms, laboratory instruments, middleware, and other systems.
- Work with technical teams on HL7, FHIR, APIs, and other interoperability requirements.
- Participate in interface design, testing, troubleshooting, validation, and implementation.
- Help ensure accurate and reliable movement of patient, specimen, order, result, and image data throughout the laboratory ecosystem.
- Support instrument and middleware connectivity and integration with the LIS/LIMS.
- Identify opportunities to automate manual workflows and improve data exchange between laboratory systems.
Startup / Build-Out Responsibilities
Because this is a new laboratory, the individual will have the opportunity to help build the informatics function from the ground up. Responsibilities may include:
- Helping define the laboratory's overall informatics and LIS/LIMS strategy.
- Participating in vendor evaluation and technology selection.
- Developing implementation timelines and project plans.
- Establishing system requirements and workflows before laboratory launch.
- Coordinating multiple vendors and implementation partners.
- Creating documentation, SOPs, validation plans, and system specifications.
- Supporting regulatory and accreditation readiness.
- Developing processes for ongoing LIS/LIMS and informatics support.
- Identifying opportunities for automation and operational efficiency.
- Establishing a roadmap for future digital and computational pathology capabilities.
- Helping determine how laboratory instruments, middleware, LIS/LIMS, digital pathology systems, EHRs, and data platforms should work together as the laboratory scales.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Health Informatics, Medical Laboratory Science, Bioinformatics, Pathology, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in pathology informatics, laboratory informatics, LIS/LIMS implementation, digital pathology, healthcare IT, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience with LIS or LIMS implementation, configuration, integration, or optimization.
- Experience working with laboratory or pathology workflows.
- Strong understanding of systems integration and healthcare/laboratory data workflows.
- Experience managing technology implementation projects involving multiple stakeholders.
- Strong communication and project management skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership in a startup environment.
Preferred
- Experience implementing an LIS/LIMS in a new laboratory, startup, or greenfield environment.
- Experience with digital pathology and whole-slide imaging.
- Experience with computational pathology, AI, machine learning, or image analysis.
- Experience with pathology LIS/LIMS platforms such as CoPath, Sunquest, Epic Beaker, Cerner, Orchard, SCC Soft, NovoPath, or similar systems.
- Experience with laboratory information management systems supporting specimen tracking, workflow management, accessioning, test management, inventory, or laboratory operations.
- Experience with HL7, FHIR, APIs, middleware, or laboratory interfaces.
- Experience with SQL, Python, R, or other programming/data-analysis languages.
- Experience integrating LIS/LIMS systems with EHRs, digital pathology platforms, instruments, or other laboratory systems.
- Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, FDA, and other applicable laboratory regulatory requirements.
- Pathology informatics, laboratory, or clinical background.
- ASCP certification is a plus but not required.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is excited by the opportunity to build something rather than simply maintain an existing system.
The ideal candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds — including pathology informatics, LIS/LIMS implementation, digital pathology, laboratory IT, computational pathology, clinical informatics, or healthcare technology — but should be able to operate comfortably across both the technical and laboratory sides of the organization.
This person should be:
- A hands-on problem solver
- Comfortable working in a startup environment
- Able to manage projects independently
- Strong at communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Comfortable working with vendors and implementation partners
- Able to understand laboratory workflows and translate them into technology requirements
- Interested in emerging digital and computational pathology technologies
- Willing to take ownership of projects from concept through implementation
- Comfortable working across LIS/LIMS, laboratory operations, digital pathology, and broader laboratory IT systems
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to join a new laboratory at a foundational stage and have a direct impact on how its technology infrastructure is designed and implemented.
Rather than inheriting legacy systems and workflows, this individual will have the opportunity to help build a modern laboratory informatics environment from the ground up, including the LIS/LIMS, digital pathology ecosystem, system integrations, laboratory data infrastructure, and future computational pathology capabilities.
The role offers significant visibility, ownership, and the opportunity to help shape the technology strategy of a growing laboratory.
About Lighthouse Lab Services
At Lighthouse Lab Services, we offer solutions to help start, grow, and run clinical laboratories. Our recruiting team has over 21 years of proven success placing job seekers in positions ranging from entry-level Medical Technologists to seasoned Laboratory Directors. We recruit nationwide for permanent and travel positions with clients ranging from small hospitals to large reference laboratories.
It is the policy of Lighthouse Lab Services to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual