New Product Scientist | DNA

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Plasmidsaurus is seeking a New Product Scientist to define the future of DNA sequencing. You will identify opportunities, design experiments, and turn concepts into scalable products that empower researchers worldwide.

The role emphasizes autonomous product development, with attention to both scientific rigor and rapid iteration. Onsite at our South San Francisco, CA headquarters with travel.

Qualifications

• PhD preferred in a life sciences field with relevant industry experience.
• Strong molecular biology and assay development background.
• Proven ability to innovate and launch products or scientific technologies.
• Excellent bench skills and laboratory rigor.
• Experience with sequencing workflows and reagent development.

Responsibilities

• Identify promising DNA sequencing opportunities through literature review, market analysis, and scientific insight.
• Design and execute experiments to assess technical feasibility and sequencing performance.
• Develop and validate new library preparation methods to expand the sequencing portfolio.
• Determine which methods can be translated into scalable, automated production processes.
• Collaborate with Product, Bioinformatics, Production, Automation, Marketing, Platform, and UI/UX teams to bring new products to market.
• Guide research associates and laboratory technicians as needed.
• Share product development insights to inform R&D decisions.

Skills

Molecular biology

Assay development

Product launch experience

Bench-level laboratory skills

Data analysis programming

Mentoring/leadership

Sequencing workflows

Reagent development

Biotech industry experience

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biomedical Engineering, or related field

Bachelor's or higher degree with industry experience in relevant roles

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Automation workflows

Data analysis tools

Job description

About Plasmidsaurus

Plasmidsaurus is on a mission to accelerate new cures and promote a healthier planet by unlocking a new level of productivity for scientists. Our sequencing services are used daily by thousands of innovators, including Nobel laureates, Fortune 100 pharma, and over 70,000 scientists.

We began by revolutionizing plasmid sequencing, making it exponentially cheaper and faster, with innovative sequencing technologies and a global network of laboratories that turn samples into answers in hours, not weeks.

Now we are expanding that same disruptive model across all of genomics. With the launch of our new RNA-seq service, we are taking a bold step toward our vision to sequence everything, providing scientists everywhere with faster, simpler, and more affordable access to the data that powers discovery.

Every team member at Plasmidsaurus plays a crucial role in driving the future of biotech research. Together, we are building the world’s most efficient sequencing engine that operates overnight, scales globally, and helps scientists make breakthroughs faster than ever before.

Role Overview

R&D is the engine behind Plasmidsaurus's long-term growth. As a New Product Scientist, you will help define what DNA sequencing looks like next. Your work will create entirely new capabilities for customers, opening new applications, expanding our product portfolio, and shaping how scientists use sequencing to solve problems.

This is a highly autonomous product development role for a scientist who wants to build, not maintain. You will identify promising opportunities, design and test new approaches, and turn successful concepts into scalable products. The path from idea to customer impact is short, and the best ideas can quickly become products used by scientists around the world.

We're looking for someone who is excited by unanswered questions, moves quickly from hypothesis to experiment, and wants to contribute directly to the technologies that drive Plasmidsaurus' next phase of growth.

What You'll Do

Develop New DNA Sequencing Products

• Identify and evaluate new DNA sequencing opportunities through literature review, market analysis, and original scientific insight.
• Design and execute experiments to assess technical feasibility and sequencing performance.
• Develop and validate new library preparation methods that expand the Plasmidsaurus DNA sequencing portfolio.

Scale and Productize

• Determine which methods can be translated into scalable, automated production processes.
• Advance successful concepts from proof-of-concept through scaled production-ready workflows.
• Contribute expertise that helps shape Plasmidsaurus’ product launch process.

Collaborate Across the Business

• Partner with Product, Bioinformatics, Production, Automation, Commercial, Platform, Custom, Marketing, UI/UX, and Website teams to bring new products to market.
• Guide the work of research associates and laboratory technicians when needed.
• Share product development insights that improve decision-making across the R&D organization.

Expected Outcomes

First 3 Months

• Identify and prioritize promising new DNA sequencing opportunities within the first two weeks.
• Demonstrate successful sequencing using a new approach within the first four weeks.
• Establish a clear path toward a scalable product within seven weeks.
• Begin scaling a validated workflow within ten weeks.
• Build strong working relationships with key cross-functional partners.

First 6 Months

• Advance multiple DNA sequencing concepts through development and validation.
• Contribute to at least one product launch or product-ready workflow.
• Demonstrate a repeatable process for evaluating and prioritizing new technical opportunities.
• Influence product development decisions through technical expertise and scientific judgment.

First Year

• Launch new DNA sequencing products that expand the portfolio.
• Generate measurable customer adoption and revenue from newly launched products.
• Increase customer stickiness through differentiated DNA sequencing capabilities.
• Raise the effectiveness of the broader R&D team through stronger product and process development practices.

What You'll Bring

• Ideally a PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. If not a PhD, you should have an undergraduate or advanced degree combined with meaningful industry experience with relevant roles and technology.
• 5-10 years of industry experience, depending on relevance of roles and education
• Strong molecular biology and assay development expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and develop new molecular biology workflows.
• Experience launching products, processes, or scientific technologies.
• Excellent bench-level laboratory skills.
• Experience programming for data analysis or laboratory instrumentation is a strong plus
• Experience guiding the work of others, including research associates or laboratory technicians.
• Experience in sequencing, reagent development, scientific services, or related biotechnology environments.
• Experience at organizations such as sequencing service providers, reagent companies, or similar R&D-focused biotechnology organizations is strongly preferred.

Ways of Working

Build

• Think from first principles to uncover the underlying problem and develop complete solutions.
• Pursue novel approaches and challenge conventional assumptions when building new products.

Own

• Take responsibility for outcomes and drive work independently.
• Maintain clear priorities and focus effort on the highest-impact opportunities.

Move

• Test ideas quickly, make decisions with available information, and learn through execution.
• Balance scientific rigor with urgency to advance promising opportunities.

Participate

• Collaborate openly across functions.
• Share ideas early, contribute to healthy debate, and incorporate feedback to strengthen outcomes.

Inspire

• Raise the standard of scientific thinking and product development within R&D.
• Contribute to a high-performance environment by bringing expertise, curiosity, and strong execution.

This role is onsite in our South San Francisco, CA headquarters and will require ~10% travel

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you need additional accommodations to feel comfortable during your interview process, please let us know at [e-mail].