How to Apply to Tempus AI

Key Takeaways

Tempus AI is a leading AI healthcare company with approximately 3,800 employees, focused on precision medicine through the world's largest clinical and molecular data library — understanding this mission is essential for any application
The company uses Workday as its ATS, so optimizing your resume for clean parsing, keyword alignment, and complete profile fields is critical for getting past initial screening
With 126 active roles spanning ML engineering, computational biology, pharma R&D, clinical sales, IT compliance, and marketing, Tempus offers diverse career paths — but each requires tailored application materials
Technical interviews at Tempus are commonly rigorous and multifaceted, often including coding assessments, research presentations, or case studies depending on the role — thorough preparation is essential
Demonstrating cross-functional collaboration experience and the ability to bridge technical and clinical/business domains is highly valued across nearly all Tempus roles
Quantifying your impact with specific metrics and outcomes aligns with Tempus's data-driven culture and helps your resume stand out to both ATS filters and human reviewers
Mission alignment matters — candidates who can authentically articulate why they want to work at the intersection of AI and healthcare, and how their skills contribute to patient outcomes, tend to resonate with Tempus hiring teams

About Tempus AI

Tempus AI is a leading technology company at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare, primarily focused on precision medicine. Founded in 2015 by Eric Lefkofsky, Tempus has grown to approximately 3,800 employees and has built one of the world's largest libraries of clinical and molecular data. The company leverages AI and machine learning to analyze clinical and molecular data at scale, helping physicians make more informed treatment decisions, particularly in oncology, cardiology, and other therapeutic areas. Tempus went public in 2024, further solidifying its position as a major player in the AI healthcare space. The company partners with pharmaceutical companies, health systems, and academic medical centers to advance drug discovery, clinical trial matching, and real-world evidence generation. Tempus is widely recognized for its data-driven culture, scientific rigor, and mission to bring the power of data and artificial intelligence to healthcare. The company's culture typically emphasizes innovation, collaboration across disciplines, and a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes through technology.

Application Process

Explore Open Positions on the Tempus Careers Page
Begin by visiting the official Tempus careers page at https://www.tempus.com/careers/. With approximately 126 active job postings spanning roles in computational biology, machine learning, clinical operations, pharma R&D, IT, marketing, and revenue cycle management, you'll want to carefully filter by department, location, and role type. Tempus commonly lists positions across scientific, engineering, commercial, and operational functions. Take time to read each job description thoroughly, noting specific qualifications, required experience levels, and preferred skills. Many roles at Tempus are highly specialized — for example, distinguishing between a Staff Machine Learning Engineer focused on Oncology Foundation Models versus a Data Scientist in Real World Evidence — so understanding the nuances of each posting is essential before applying.
Create or Log Into Your Workday Profile
Tempus uses Workday as its Applicant Tracking System (ATS). When you click 'Apply' on a job listing, you'll typically be redirected to the Workday application portal. You'll need to create a candidate profile if you're a first-time applicant. This involves entering your personal information, uploading your resume, and potentially filling in additional fields. Workday allows you to save your profile for future applications, so take the time to complete it thoroughly. Ensure your resume is in a Workday-friendly format (PDF or Word document with clean formatting) to maximize accurate parsing of your information. Double-check that all parsed fields — job titles, dates, education — are correctly populated after upload.
Submit a Tailored Application with Supporting Materials
Customize your resume and any optional cover letter for the specific Tempus role you're targeting. Highlight relevant experience in AI, healthcare, genomics, precision medicine, data science, or the specific functional area of the role. Many Tempus positions require domain-specific expertise, so be explicit about your experience with relevant technologies, methodologies, and therapeutic areas. If the role involves pharma R&D or real-world evidence, emphasize your experience with clinical datasets, regulatory frameworks, or pharmaceutical partnerships. For engineering roles, highlight specific ML frameworks, cloud platforms, and data pipeline experience. Some roles may also ask screening questions within the Workday application — answer these carefully and completely.
Initial Screening and Recruiter Contact
After submission, your application will typically be reviewed by Tempus's talent acquisition team. Based on common patterns reported by applicants, initial screening often involves a recruiter phone call or video call lasting 20-30 minutes. During this conversation, expect questions about your background, motivation for joining Tempus, understanding of the company's mission in precision medicine, and salary expectations. Recruiters commonly assess cultural fit and baseline qualifications during this stage. Response times can vary, but many applicants report hearing back within one to three weeks. Maintaining an updated LinkedIn profile that aligns with your resume can be beneficial, as recruiters at tech-forward companies like Tempus often cross-reference candidate profiles.
Technical or Functional Interviews
Candidates who pass the recruiter screen typically advance to one or more technical or functional interviews. For scientific and engineering roles (e.g., Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Senior Scientist in Computational Biology, Data Scientist), this commonly includes technical assessments, coding challenges, case studies, or presentations of past research. For commercial roles (e.g., Clinical Account Executive, Marketing Manager), expect scenario-based questions, sales presentations, or strategic marketing case discussions. These interviews are often conducted via video call and may involve multiple team members, including hiring managers and cross-functional stakeholders.
On-Site or Virtual Panel Interviews
For many positions, Tempus typically conducts a final round of interviews that may be on-site at their Chicago headquarters or conducted virtually. This round commonly involves meeting with multiple team members, senior leaders, and potential cross-functional collaborators over the course of several hours. Candidates may be asked to present a technical talk, complete a case study, or participate in whiteboard sessions depending on the role. This stage is designed to assess both deep technical competence and cultural alignment with Tempus's mission-driven, fast-paced environment. Preparing a concise narrative about how your skills directly contribute to Tempus's goals in AI-driven healthcare is highly recommended.
Offer, Background Check, and Onboarding
Successful candidates typically receive a verbal offer followed by a formal written offer. Tempus is known to offer competitive compensation packages that may include base salary, equity, and benefits. Given the company's public listing, equity components may be particularly relevant. A background check is commonly part of the process, especially for roles involving clinical data or regulatory compliance (e.g., IT Compliance Auditor, Molecular Technologist). Once the offer is accepted, onboarding at Tempus typically includes orientation on the company's data platform, mission, and team-specific workflows.

Resume Tips for Tempus AI

Critical Emphasize AI and Healthcare Domain Expertise

Tempus operates at the unique intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Your resume should clearly demonstrate experience in one or both of these domains. For technical roles, highlight specific ML/AI projects, particularly those involving biomedical data, genomics, natural language processing of clinical records, or oncology-related modeling. For non-technical roles, emphasize your understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, precision medicine, or life sciences commercial strategy. Use specific terminology from the job description — terms like 'real-world evidence,' 'foundation models,' 'molecular diagnostics,' 'clinical genomics,' and 'precision medicine' are commonly found in Tempus job postings and should appear naturally in your resume where applicable.

Critical Quantify Impact with Metrics and Outcomes

Tempus is a data-driven organization, and your resume should reflect a similar mindset. Instead of listing responsibilities, quantify your achievements wherever possible. For example, 'Developed ML pipeline that reduced variant calling processing time by 40%' or 'Managed a $2M clinical account portfolio with 115% quota attainment' or 'Led RWE study that contributed to FDA regulatory submission.' Concrete metrics demonstrate the kind of results-oriented thinking that aligns with Tempus's culture of measurable impact in healthcare.

Critical Optimize for Workday ATS Parsing

Since Tempus uses Workday, your resume must be formatted for optimal ATS parsing. Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills), avoid tables, columns, text boxes, headers/footers, and complex graphics that Workday may not parse correctly. Use a clean, single-column layout in PDF or .docx format. Ensure dates are in a consistent format (e.g., 'Jan 2020 – Present') and that job titles, company names, and locations are clearly delineated. After uploading, always review the parsed data in Workday to correct any errors before final submission.

Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills

Many roles at Tempus require collaboration across scientific, engineering, clinical, and commercial teams. Your resume should demonstrate experience working across disciplines — for instance, a data scientist collaborating with oncologists, or a marketing manager partnering with R&D teams. Mention specific cross-functional projects, joint publications, or interdisciplinary initiatives. This is particularly important for roles like Data Scientist in Pharma R&D or Marketing Manager in Life Sciences, where bridging technical and business stakeholders is essential.

Include Relevant Publications, Patents, or Presentations

For scientific and research-oriented roles (Senior Scientist, Computational Biology; Staff Machine Learning Scientist), including a curated list of relevant publications, patents, conference presentations, or preprints can significantly strengthen your application. Focus on publications related to genomics, oncology, computational biology, machine learning in healthcare, or real-world evidence. If you have an extensive publication list, include only the most relevant 5-10 and note 'Selected publications; full list available upon request.'

Tailor Your Skills Section to the Specific Role

Avoid generic skills sections. Instead, tailor your technical skills to match the specific Tempus role. For ML Engineering roles, list specific frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), and relevant tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Spark). For Molecular Technologist roles, list laboratory techniques, sequencing platforms (Illumina, etc.), and relevant certifications. For commercial roles, list CRM tools, territory management experience, and relevant therapeutic area knowledge. This targeted approach helps both ATS keyword matching and human reviewers quickly assess your fit.

Demonstrate Mission Alignment and Passion for Patient Impact

Tempus's mission centers on improving patient outcomes through data and AI. While a resume is primarily factual, you can subtly convey mission alignment through your choice of highlighted projects, volunteer work in healthcare, or a brief professional summary that references your commitment to leveraging technology for patient benefit. This is especially impactful in a cover letter if one is accepted. Hiring teams at mission-driven companies commonly look for candidates who are genuinely motivated by the company's purpose beyond just the technical challenge.

ATS System: Workday

Workday is one of the most widely used enterprise Applicant Tracking Systems, employed by thousands of companies including Tempus AI. When you apply through the Tempus careers page, your application is routed through Workday, which parses your resume, stores your candidate profile, and enables recruiters to search, filter, and manage applicants. Workday uses keyword matching and structured data fields to help recruiters identify qualified candidates. Understanding how Workday processes your application can give you a meaningful advantage in ensuring your resume is accurately represented in the system.

Use a clean, single-column resume format without tables, text boxes, graphics, or columns — Workday's parser handles simple formatting most reliably and may misread or skip content in complex layouts.
Mirror keywords and phrases from the Tempus job description naturally throughout your resume. Workday enables recruiters to search by keywords, so including terms like 'precision medicine,' 'oncology,' 'machine learning,' 'real-world evidence,' or 'genomics' where genuinely applicable improves your visibility.
After uploading your resume, carefully review every auto-populated field in the Workday application form. Correct any parsing errors in job titles, dates of employment, education details, and company names before submitting — inaccurate parsed data can cause your application to be filtered incorrectly.
Complete all optional fields in the Workday profile, including skills, certifications, and additional information sections. Recruiters often use these fields as filters, and incomplete profiles may be deprioritized in candidate searches.
Save your Workday candidate profile for future Tempus applications. If you apply to multiple roles over time, having a complete and updated profile streamlines the process and ensures consistency across applications.
Submit your resume in .docx or PDF format. While Workday accepts both, .docx files are sometimes parsed more reliably. If using PDF, ensure the text is selectable (not a scanned image) so the parser can extract content accurately.

Complete Workday Resume Guide

Interview Culture

Tempus AI's interview culture typically reflects its identity as a fast-paced, mission-driven organization operating at the frontier of AI and healthcare. Based on common patterns reported by candidates, the interview process tends to be rigorous and multifaceted, designed to assess both deep technical expertise and alignment with the company's mission of leveraging data to improve patient outcomes. For technical roles such as Staff Machine Learning Engineer or Data Scientist, candidates commonly report multi-stage processes that include coding assessments, system design discussions, and presentations of past research or projects. Machine learning roles, particularly those focused on oncology foundation models, may involve discussions about model architecture choices, training data considerations in healthcare contexts, and the ethical implications of AI in clinical decision-making. Candidates are often expected to demonstrate not just technical proficiency but also an understanding of how their work translates to clinical impact. For scientific roles like Senior Scientist in Computational Biology, the process may include a research seminar or technical presentation to a panel of scientists and engineers. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their publications, methodological approaches, and how their expertise applies to Tempus's genomic and clinical data assets. Commercial roles such as Clinical Account Executive or Marketing Manager typically involve scenario-based interviews, role-playing exercises, and discussions about territory strategy, stakeholder management, and the competitive landscape in precision medicine diagnostics. Culturally, Tempus is commonly described as intellectually stimulating, collaborative, and fast-moving. Interviewers often look for candidates who are comfortable with ambiguity, can operate independently, and are genuinely passionate about the intersection of technology and healthcare. The company values intellectual curiosity, scientific rigor, and a bias toward action. Candidates who can articulate how their specific skills contribute to Tempus's broader mission of making healthcare smarter tend to stand out in the process.

What Tempus AI Looks For

Deep domain expertise in AI/ML, genomics, computational biology, oncology, or the specific functional area of the role — Tempus values specialists who can contribute meaningfully from day one
Genuine passion for the mission of improving patient outcomes through data and artificial intelligence, demonstrated through career choices, projects, or personal motivation
Ability to work cross-functionally across scientific, engineering, clinical, and commercial teams in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment
Strong quantitative and analytical skills with a track record of data-driven decision making and measurable impact
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to operate effectively in a rapidly evolving company that is scaling its technology platform and commercial operations simultaneously
Excellent communication skills — the ability to translate complex technical or scientific concepts for diverse audiences including clinicians, pharma partners, and business stakeholders
Entrepreneurial mindset and bias toward action, reflecting Tempus's startup-rooted culture even as the company has grown to nearly 4,000 employees
Relevant educational credentials and continuous learning orientation, particularly for scientific and engineering roles where advanced degrees (MS, PhD, MD) are commonly preferred

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of roles does Tempus AI typically hire for?

Tempus hires across a wide range of functions including machine learning engineering, data science, computational biology, molecular laboratory operations, clinical and commercial sales, pharma R&D partnerships, IT and compliance, marketing, and revenue operations. Current openings include specialized roles like Staff Machine Learning Engineer for Oncology Foundation Models, Data Scientist in Real World Evidence, Clinical Account Executives, Molecular Technologists, and IT Compliance Auditors. The diversity of roles reflects Tempus's position as a full-stack AI healthcare company that spans from wet lab genomics to advanced AI modeling to commercial go-to-market.

Does Tempus require advanced degrees for scientific and engineering roles?

Many scientific and engineering roles at Tempus commonly list advanced degrees (MS or PhD) as preferred or required qualifications, particularly for positions like Senior Scientist in Computational Biology or Staff Machine Learning Scientist. However, requirements vary by role and level. Some positions may accept equivalent professional experience in lieu of an advanced degree. For commercial and operational roles, a bachelor's degree with relevant industry experience is more commonly the baseline requirement. Always check the specific job posting for exact qualification requirements.

How long does the Tempus hiring process typically take?

Based on common patterns reported by candidates, the Tempus hiring process typically takes between 3 to 8 weeks from initial application to offer, though this can vary significantly depending on the role, level, and hiring urgency. Senior scientific and engineering positions may involve more interview rounds and take longer, while some operational or commercial roles may move more quickly. Following up with your recruiter after each stage is generally appropriate and can help you stay informed about timeline expectations.

What is the work environment like at Tempus AI?

Tempus is commonly described as having a fast-paced, intellectually stimulating work environment that blends startup energy with the scale of a publicly traded company. The culture tends to emphasize innovation, scientific rigor, and cross-functional collaboration. The company is headquartered in Chicago with additional offices and remote positions available for certain roles. Tempus's culture reflects its dual identity as both a technology company and a healthcare company, attracting professionals who are motivated by the challenge of applying cutting-edge AI to real-world clinical problems.

How should I prepare for a technical interview at Tempus?

For machine learning and data science roles, prepare to discuss your experience with relevant frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow), large-scale data processing, model development and evaluation, and ideally applications in healthcare or genomics. Be ready for coding assessments and system design questions. For scientific roles, prepare a research presentation and be ready to discuss your publications and methodological expertise in depth. For all technical roles, understanding Tempus's products — including its genomic sequencing platform, clinical data structuring capabilities, and AI-driven insights — demonstrates genuine interest and preparation. Review recent Tempus publications, press releases, and product announcements before your interview.

Can I apply to multiple positions at Tempus simultaneously?

Yes, Workday typically allows candidates to apply to multiple positions. However, it's generally advisable to be strategic rather than applying broadly. Focus on roles that genuinely match your qualifications and experience. Applying to too many disparate roles (e.g., both a Machine Learning Engineer and a Marketing Manager) may signal a lack of focus to recruiters. If you're qualified for 2-3 related roles, applying to each with a tailored resume is a reasonable approach. Your Workday candidate profile will track all your applications.

What makes Tempus different from other AI healthcare companies?

Tempus distinguishes itself through the scale and depth of its clinical and molecular data library, which is commonly cited as one of the largest in the world. The company operates across the full value chain — from genomic sequencing and clinical data structuring to AI model development and commercial partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and health systems. This integrated approach, combined with its focus on multiple therapeutic areas (oncology, cardiology, infectious disease, and more), positions Tempus uniquely in the AI healthcare landscape. Understanding these differentiators and articulating why they matter to you can strengthen your application.

Does Tempus offer remote work options?

Work arrangements at Tempus vary by role and function. Some positions, particularly in software engineering, data science, and certain commercial roles, may offer remote or hybrid flexibility. However, laboratory-based roles (e.g., Molecular Technologist), certain on-site operational positions, and roles requiring in-person collaboration may require regular presence at Tempus facilities. Each job posting on the careers page typically specifies the location requirements and work arrangement. Check the specific listing for details and discuss flexibility with your recruiter during the screening process.

How important is healthcare industry experience for non-clinical roles at Tempus?

While healthcare industry experience is highly valued and often preferred, it is not always strictly required for non-clinical roles at Tempus. For example, a strong machine learning engineer with experience in other data-intensive domains may be considered for ML roles if they demonstrate the ability to learn healthcare-specific context quickly. Similarly, marketing or operations professionals from adjacent industries (biotech, pharma, health tech) may find their experience translates well. However, demonstrating genuine interest in healthcare and an understanding of Tempus's mission is commonly important regardless of your background. Candidates who can articulate how their transferable skills apply to healthcare challenges tend to be more competitive.

Sample Open Positions

Sources

Tempus AI Official Careers Page — Tempus AI
Tempus AI Company Overview and Mission — Tempus AI
Tempus AI IPO and Public Company Information — NASDAQ
Workday Applicant Tracking System Overview — Workday
Tempus AI LinkedIn Company Page — LinkedIn