Principal Scientist, Optical Design & Microscopy

Vertex Pharmaceuticals; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 217,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards benefits

Paid time off

Commuting subsidy

Equity awards

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, located in San Diego, seeks a Principal Scientist to lead optical design and advanced imaging instrument development within the Engineering & Applied Physics group. You will work with physicists, biologists, chemists, and software specialists to create custom instruments that accelerate drug discovery.

The role requires a PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience in optics and imaging, including modalities like widefield, confocal, light sheet, super-resolution, or

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with 8+ years of experience.
• Proven hands-on experience designing imaging platforms or technologies, e.g., optical table setups, in biological research.
• Proficiency in programming for data analysis and instrument control.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to understand project needs and identify opportunities for custom instrumentation.
• Align stakeholders and propose new projects to senior leaders.
• Design and build prototype optical instruments.
• Conduct proof-of-concept experiments and optimize assays with biologists and chemists.
• Work with engineers to specify, design, and build production-ready instruments for automated drug discovery.
• Communicate findings through reports, presentations, and discussions.

Skills

Optical design

Ray tracing

ABCD matrices

Gaussian beams

Optical aberrations

Automation & high-throughput

Biological imaging modalities

Mentoring & supervision

Communication

Education

PhD in Physics/Physical Chemistry/Bioengineering

Job description

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, located in San Diego, seeks a Principal Scientist to lead optical design and advanced imaging instrument development within the Engineering & Applied Physics group. You will work with physicists, biologists, chemists, and software specialists to create custom instruments that accelerate drug discovery.

The role requires a PhD with 8+ years of relevant experience in optics and imaging, including modalities like widefield, confocal, light sheet, super-resolution, or