Associate Scientist, R&D

Natera; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 68,880 - 78,523; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

401k plan

Fertility care

Free testing for employee and family

Job summary

Natera in San Carlos, CA is seeking an Associate Scientist for a six‑month contract in our Organ Health group, focused on assay development and validation in a lab setting.

The role involves working closely with senior scientists, Lab operations, automation engineers, and biostatisticians to advance cutting‑edge technologies. Potential to extend or convert to full‑time based on performance.

Qualifications

• Education: BS with 2-5 yrs, MS with 2+ yrs, or PhD with 0-2 yrs industry experience.
• Proven industrial experience with NGS‑based assays and protocols.
• Extensive lab experience with nucleic acid techniques including DNA/RNA quantitation, PCR, library prep.

Responsibilities

• Support planning, design, execution, and reporting of assay development and validation studies under design control quality system.
• Prepare and characterize contrived clinical samples at whole blood, plasma, or cfDNA levels.
• Write study plans, protocols, reports, and SOPs.
• Process laboratory specimens with attention to detail using LIMS and database queries for tracking and verification.
• Conduct independent experimentation including reagent prep and QC for NGS assays.
• Maintain notebooks and communicate findings through reports and lab meetings.

Skills

NGS assays

DOE

High-throughput processing

cfDNA technologies

Statistical analysis basics

Cross-functional collaboration

Excellent communication

Education

BS with 2-5 yrs

MS with 2+ yrs

PhD with 0-2 yrs

Tools

LIMS

Automation equipment

Database queries

Job description

This is a six‑month contract role located in San Carlos with the potential to extend or convert to full‑time based on performance and business needs.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Join our dynamic and fast‑paced assay development team as an Associate Scientist supporting the Organ Health business unit. In this predominantly laboratory‑based role, you will be crucial to the project, conducting vital assay development and validation activities. You will engage deeply in the scientific process, conduct meticulous experiments, and collaborate closely with a cross‑functional team of senior scientists, Lab operation, automation engineers, biostatisticians, and lab directors to advance cutting‑edge technologies.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the planning, design, execution, and reporting of assay development and validation studies under the design control quality system
• Prepare and characterize contrived clinical samples at the whole blood, plasma, or cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) levels
• Write clear and comprehensive study plans, execution protocols, research reports, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Process laboratory specimens with meticulous attention to detail, employing advanced techniques in LIMS, database queries for accurate tracking and verification
• Conduct independent experimentation, including reagent preparation and Quality Control (QC) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) assays
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks, document results accurately, and communicate findings through comprehensive research reports and lab meeting presentations

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education & Experience: B.S. degree with 2-5 years of experience, M.S. degree with 2+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. with 0-2 years of industry experience
• Proven industrial experience with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) based assays and protocols
• Extensive hands‑on laboratory experience with nucleic acid and DNA/RNA molecular biology techniques, including extractions, PCR, NGS library preparation, hybrid capture, and DNA quantitation

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Experience with high‑throughput sample processing and automated liquid handling equipment in a CLIA lab environment
• Familiarity and experience with cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) technologies
• Experience in Design of Experiments (DOE), including stability testing, guard banding, and reproducibility/repeatability validations
• Previous experience working in a regulated environment
• Experience utilizing basic statistical analysis for experimental data
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and time management skills, with a proven ability to produce work of exceptional accuracy
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, highly collaborative, and cross‑functional team culture

This pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.

Remote USA

$50 - $57 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world‑class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

WHAT WE OFFER

Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

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