Postdoctoral Fellow – Materials Engineering & Advanced Microfabrication - Next-Gen Sequencing a[...]

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche Diagnostics invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position in Santa Clara, CA, focusing on next-generation sequencing technologies and integrated microfluidic systems. You will design, fabricate, test, and optimize advanced materials and bonding methods, harnessing microfabrication techniques to drive innovation in DNA sequencing platforms.

The role is onsite in Santa Clara, with salary in the established range and strong opportunities for collaboration within a global biotech

Qualifications

• PhD in a related discipline with a thesis on solving a chemical or molecular biology problem using materials engineering and advanced microfabrication techniques.
• Solid understanding of physics, engineering and chemistry fundamentals.
• Experience with lithography, deposition, etching, and bonding in microfabrication.
• Experience porting biochemical assays onto microfluidic systems and optimizing performance.
• Python scripting for instrument control.
• Strong curiosity about science, business and market trends.
• Ability to set priorities and work with urgency.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and assemble custom devices, fixtures, and breadboards using rapid prototyping tools.
• Develop and implement advanced microfabrication processes including lithography, deposition, etching, bonding, and testing.
• Create and characterize new materials and bonding methodologies.
• Test, characterize, and troubleshoot complex fluidic systems and devices.
• Develop and optimize workflows on these systems and analyze data to drive progress.
• Generate test plans, protocols, reports, and invention disclosures.
• Select, procure, install, validate, operate, repair, and maintain lab equipment and instrumentation.

Skills

PhD fundamentals

Microfabrication

Python scripting

Biochemical assays on fluidics

Experiment design

Prioritization & urgency

Education

PhD in Materials Engineering/Materials Science/Bioengineering or related

Tools

qPCR

dPCR

Bioanalyzer/TapeStation

Qubit

NanoDrop

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters. The Position A healthier future. It's what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That's what makes us Roche. At Roche, we are developing the next-generation of sequencing systems. By accelerating clinical research, streamlining workflows, and expanding assay menus, we are also broadening access to genomic data and lowering barriers to adoption. From robust sample isolation and preparation tools to novel sequencing technology and advanced bioinformatics, we are developing differentiated, highly integrated end-to-end solutions for next-generation sequencing workflows. We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with a proven track of excellence in developing novel technology using advanced materials and microfabrication techniques. Joining our Systems Technology Group, you will play a major role in the Research and Early Development of new technology, devices, and instruments associated with our next-generation DNA sequencing and molecular diagnostic platforms. At the heart of these instruments are highly integrated microfluidic systems capable of automating intricate workflows and handling complex biochemistry. To gear up for these ambitious goals, your near-term focus will involve deep, hands-on training with our foundational efforts. You will assist with current projects to master our chemistry, materials, and methods, gaining critical expertise in how we design, fabricate, bond, simulate, operate, characterize, and troubleshoot complex systems and processes. This is a hands-on, interdisciplinary role designed to bridge the gap between biochemical applications and cutting-edge instrumentation. Collaborating closely with a small, agile team and the broader organization, you will solve challenging problems, invent new technology, and ultimately advance the state-of-the-art in DNA sequencing systems.

Your Role and Responsibilities:

• Design, fabricate, and assemble custom devices, fixtures, and breadboards using various rapid prototyping tools, including custom equipment.
• Develop and implement advanced microfabrication processes, including photolithography, deposition, etching, drilling, bonding, and dicing—and utilize precision metrology instruments to characterize components and evaluate manufacturing methodologies.
• Create and characterize new materials and bonding methodologies.
• Test, characterize, and troubleshoot complex fluidic systems and devices.
• Develop and optimize workflows on these systems while collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to drive technical progress.
• Generate comprehensive test plans, protocols, technical reports and invention disclosures to document findings and methodology.
• Select, procure, install, validate, operate, repair, and maintain lab/fab equipment and custom instrumentation.

Who You Are: Required Qualifications

• You have a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Biophysics, Nanotechnology, Micro-Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline with a thesis focused on solving a chemical or molecular biology problem with clever materials engineering and advanced microfabrication techniques.
• You have a solid understanding of physics, engineering and chemistry fundamentals.
• You have demonstrated experience with advanced microfabrication techniques (lithography, thin-film deposition, wet and dry etching of metals and inorganic materials, and thermal fusion bonding processes).
• You have demonstrated success porting complex chemical or biochemical assays or workflows onto novel fluidic systems and optimizing performance using a systematic approach.
• You have demonstrated experience with Python scripting for instrument hardware control.
• You have a demonstrated passion for science and technology; you have a natural curiosity regarding technical, business, and market trends.
• You have experience setting priorities, working with a sense of urgency and being proactive.

Preferred Qualifications

• You have a solid publication record, including at least one first-authored and peer-reviewed publication in a top-tier journal.
• You have experience designing and testing microfluidic systems with active components and integrated sensors.
• You have experience building, operating, and troubleshooting fixtures or breadboards with fluidic, pneumatic, thermal, and optical subsystems.
• You have a demonstrated level of proficiency in operating and interpreting data from analytical instruments (e.g., qPCR, dPCR, Bioanalyzer/TapeStation, Qubit, NanoDrop).
• You have a solid understanding of molecular biology and sequencing fundamentals.
• You have experience work with complex problems, the demonstrated ability to see the bigger picture and a desire to challenge the status quo.

About Roche Diagnostic’s Postdoctoral Program

Elevate your research career to new heights with Roche Diagnostic’s Postdoctoral Program! Join a prestigious community of early career researchers and kick start your journey toward becoming a scientific leader in biotechnology and bioengineering. With competitive salaries and fully funded research expenses, you can dedicate yourself to groundbreaking research that aligns with Roche Diagnostics' strategic ambitions. Our program is designed to empower recent PhD graduates to conduct world-class research, publish in top-tier journals, and network within our robust scientific community. By joining us, you will receive the mentorship and support necessary to develop into an independent scientific investigator. As an added benefit, our program will be tied into the long-standing Genentech Postdoc Program with access to world class seminars and networking opportunities with leading scientists.

A cover letter is required for this position.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Santa Clara, CA is $100,000 - $106,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

This position is based onsite in Santa Clara, CA.

Relocation benefits are not provided for this role.

This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below: Roche Benefits #RMS2026NGS

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact. Let’s build a healthier future, together. Roche is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants. We believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives. We are courageous in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world. That is why we come to work each day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigor, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow. We are proud of who we are, what we do, and how we do it. We are many, working as one across functions, across companies, and across the world. We are Roche.