Principal I, Microbiology & Toxicology

Alcon; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Alcon Fort Worth is seeking a Medical Device Toxicologist to lead biological safety evaluations for devices and materials across the product lifecycle. The role requires designing risk-based strategies and translating toxicology data into regulatory positions.

You will oversee external laboratories and contribute to global regulatory submissions, applying ISO 10993 principles and integrating chemical and extractables data to support patient safety.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Toxicology or related discipline.
• Experience in medical device development and regulatory submissions.
• Knowledge of ISO 10993 standards and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of phase-appropriate biological evaluation strategies per ISO 10993.
• Author and review Biological Evaluation Plans and Reports with data integration.
• Oversee external labs, CROs, and regulatory interactions.

Skills

Biocompatibility

Regulatory strategy

Cross-functional leadership

External lab oversight

Toxicology interpretation

Communication in English

Education

MS or PhD in Toxicology

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Statistical analysis

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Alcon, we're passionate about enhancing sight and helping people see brilliantly. With more than 25,000 associates, we innovate fearlessly, champion progress, and act swiftly to impact global eye health. We foster an inclusive culture, recognizing your contributions and offering opportunities to grow your career like never before. Together, we make a difference in the lives of our patients and customers. Are you ready to join us?

The Medical Device Toxicologist will serve as a scientific leader and subject matter expert for the biological safety evaluation of medical devices, combination products, materials, and components across the product lifecycle. The role will develop risk-based biocompatibility strategies, integrate chemical and biological evidence, and translate complex toxicology data into clear product-safety conclusions and global regulatory positions. The successful candidate will pair medical device toxicology expertise with toxicology judgment, strategic problem solving, cross-functional leadership, and effective oversight of external laboratories and consultants.

This role is on-site in Fort Worth, Texas and would include:

• Lead development and execution of phase-appropriate, risk-based biological evaluation strategies for new and existing medical devices, combination products, components, materials, manufacturing changes, and product modifications.
• Author and critically review Biological Evaluation Plans and Biological Evaluation Reports that integrate device categorization, nature and duration of contact, chemical characterization, toxicological risk assessment, existing data, and biological testing.
• Apply ISO 10993 principles, including ISO 10993-1, to determine relevant biological endpoints and establish scientifically justified testing, read-across, bridging, or testing-waiver strategies.
• Integrate device extractables and leachables data, chemical and material characterizations, and exposure information with toxicological hazard data to assess patient risk and support product safety conclusions.
• Develop toxicological risk assessments for identified constituents and establish health-based exposure limits using relevant toxicology principles, weight-of-evidence methods, and computational toxicology tools.
• Serve as the medical device toxicology and biocompatibility subject-matter expert on product development, lifecycle management, remediation, and regulatory-response teams.
• Critically evaluate complex or conflicting data, identify evidence gaps and product-safety risks, and recommend pragmatic, science-based paths forward that balance patient safety, regulatory expectations, program timing, and business needs.
• Lead biocompatibility workstreams and integrated project plans, including scope, milestones, dependencies, timelines, budgets, risks, and decision points.
• Contribute to global regulatory submissions and responses by authoring, reviewing, and defending medical device toxicology and biocompatibility content.

What You'll Bring to Alcon:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +13 yrs; Assoc.+9 yrs; B.S. +3 yrs; M.S.+2 yrs; PhD +0 yrs).
• The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English.
• 5 Years of Relevant Experience.
• MS or PhD in Toxicology or a related discipline (e.g., Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, etc.).
• Relevant experience in pharmaceutical and/or medical device development (industry, postdoctoral, or equivalent).
• Direct experience with medical device and/or combination product development across early development, design changes, registration, and postmarket lifecycle management.
• Experience preparing regulatory submission content and responding to questions from FDA and other global regulatory authorities.
• Knowledge of computational toxicology, including structure-activity relationship approaches, read-across, and weight-of-evidence assessment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledgeable of pertinent sections of REACH, the EU MDR, and Proposition 65 (hazardous substances regulations) as well as ICH and FDA Guidance Documents (e.g., application of Threshold of Toxicological Concern [TTC] and use of ISO 10993-1 and 10993-17 standards in risk assessments, etc.).
• Proficient with statistics and Microsoft suite of office applications.
• Demonstrated experience and/or in‑depth knowledge developing medical device biological evaluation strategies and applying ISO 10993 standards and related global regulatory expectations.
• Experience interpreting chemical characterization and toxicological risk assessment data in support of medical device safety.
• Experience overseeing external laboratories, CROs, consultants, or vendors and providing scientific oversight of studies and deliverables.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership, strategic problem solving, sound judgment, and the ability to lead cross‑functional projects in a matrixed environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence decisions and present complex scientific conclusions clearly.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and rapidly learn new products, systems, and processes.

Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Participates in E-Verify

Alcon takes pride in maintaining an inclusive environment that values different perspectives and our policies are non-discriminatory in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

At Alcon, we are committed to helping people see better. We believe patients should have access to quality eye care regardless of their economic circumstances; however, barriers to good eye health exist for patients in both developed and emerging markets. Alcon develops and manufactures innovative devices to serve the full life cycle of eye care needs. Its surgical group is one of the largest makers of equipment used for cataract removal and laser vision correction. Its consumer products include the well-known Opti-Free line of contact lens solutions and related products. Alcon, which was founded in 1945, sells its products in 180 countries worldwide.