Senior Development Scientist I

Freenome; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Cash bonuses

Medical benefits

Job summary

Freenome seeks a Senior Development Scientist I to advance clinical-grade NGS assays within our Genomics Late Development team. You will develop, optimize, verify, and validate assays across manual and automated workflows, collaborating with cross-functional teams to transfer protocols into high-throughput production.

The role reports to the Senior Manager of Genomics Development and is onsite in Brisbane. Strong emphasis on data analysis, documentation, and cGLP/cGDP quality practices will be

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics or related field with 4+ years in life sciences, or 10+ years with a Bachelors/Masters.
• Experience designing/leading verification and validation studies for IVD assays in regulated clinical labs (GLP).
• Hands-on experience with NGS-based automated assay development incl. extraction, library prep, target capture, sequencing.
• Experience with ctDNA/cfDNA as analyte in NGS workflows.
• Strong data analysis, independent troubleshooting, and ability to present results.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize DNA-focused assays using NGS across genome-wide and targeted approaches.
• Lead experiments, define strategy, plan timelines, and deliver results.
• Document protocols, present results cross-functionally, and ensure data integrity.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges and drive process improvements in lab workflows.
• Plan projects, define milestones, and mitigate risks in evolving programs.
• Collaborate with computational scientists, engineers, and clinical teams to transfer protocols to production, including automation and SOP development.
• Apply cGLP and cGDP to maintain high scientific rigor and quality.

Skills

Molecular biology

NGS

Assay development

Data analysis

Scientific presentation

Mentorship

cGLP/compliance

Regulatory IVD knowledge

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

PhD in molecular biology

Bachelor's/Master in life sciences

Tools

PCR

qPCR

Tapestation

Qubit

Fragment Analyzer

Job description

About this opportunity:

At Freenome, we are seeking a Senior Development Scientist I to help grow the Freenome Genomics Late Development team. You will develop, optimize, verify, and validate clinical-grade assay technologies for Freenome’s multiomic platform, advancing our mission to detect cancer earlier. Working across manual and automated workflows, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and transfer robust NGS-based assays into a regulated, high-throughput production environment. You are passionate about developing life saving diagnostics using NGS technologies, and you will have a significant impact on the continued growth of an organization dedicated to changing the entire landscape of cancer.

The role reports to the Senior Manager of Genomics Development. This role will be an onsite role based in our Brisbane, California headquarters.

What you’ll do:

• Apply knowledge of molecular biology, nucleic-acid biochemistry, and next-generation sequencing to develop assays for DNA, including genome-wide and targeted approaches.
• Oversee and lead mission-critical experiments to optimize, characterize, verify, and validate NGS-based assays, owning scientific strategy, experimental design, planning, timelines, execution, and delivery.
• Design and execute high-impact experiments, generate detailed documentation, perform data analysis, create summary presentations, and present results cross-functionally.
• Troubleshoot complex technical challenges, identify root causes, and drive process improvements to assay performance and laboratory workflows.
• Drive project planning and prioritization by defining milestones, identifying and mitigating risks, and adapting to evolving program needs.
• Build productive working relationships and partner cross-functionally with computational scientists, engineers, and clinical laboratory team members to transition development protocols into clinical production, including automation, validation experiments, and SOP development.
• Document product development requirements and author study protocols and reports. Diligently apply current Good Laboratory and Documentation Practices (cGLP, cGDP) to maintain high standard of scientific rigor and quality.

Must haves:

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, or a related field with at least 4 years of professional experience in the life sciences, or a Bachelors or Masters degree with at least 10 years of professional experience. Prior experience in clinical diagnostics and/or working in a start-up environment is preferred.
• Experience designing and leading the execution of verification and validation studies for IVD assays in a regulated clinical laboratory environment (GLP).
• Extensive hands‑on experience in Next-gen sequencing (NGS) based automated assay development including extraction, library preparation, target capture, and sequencing. Experience working with automated platforms and liquid handlers.
• Extensive hands‑on experience in nucleic acid preparation, amplification, and quantification (DNA/RNA extraction and purification, PCR, qPCR, Qubit, Fragment Analyzer, Tapestation). Experience in working with ctDNA/cfDNA as an analyte in NGS workflows.
• Proven track record of designing, planning, and executing successful experiments, including performing independent data analysis and giving effective scientific presentations.
• High attention to detail and ability to record accurate and detailed observations, assess impact, and lead independent troubleshooting investigations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication. Proactive communicator with ability to foster collaboration in a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible and highly motivated to learn new skills and comfortable adapting to changing priorities.
• Experience providing technical mentorship and training to other scientists and research associates to contribute to a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Nice to haves:

• Experience in working with with methylated ctDNA/cfDNA as an analyte in NGS workflows.
• Familiarity with scientific programming or data analysis tools such as Python or R, and experience contributing to publications, patents, or other scientific innovations.

Benefits and additional information:

The US target range of our base salary rate for new hires is (Insert range here, low of Tier 3 and high of Tier 1). You will also be eligible to receive equity, cash bonuses, and a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the position offered. Please note that individual total compensation for this position will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion and may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to, location, skill level, years and depth of relevant experience, and education. We invite you to check out our career page freenome.com/job-openings/for additional company information.

Freenome is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, and we value diversity. Freenome does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

• Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

California applicants please review the CCPA Notice at Collection here:

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

#LI-ONSITE