Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Biochemistry – NGS Assay Development

Sarmal; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Company-paid life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Employee perks and discount programs

Job summary

Sarmal, Inc. in San Diego seeks a Scientist/Sr. Scientist to develop and optimize biochemistry for the Trailblazer NGS platform.

You will work on sequencing assay development, flow cell chemistry, surface-attached oligonucleotide reactions, and reagent optimization, collaborating with engineering and systems teams to translate research into commercial products. The role requires two years or more of hands-on experience with NGS or similar surface-based sequencing, including development of

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, or related field with 1–3 years of industry experience; or MS with 3–5+ years of industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing biochemical assays, sequencing assays, or molecular biology workflows.
• Experience with flow cell technologies, fluorescence detection, surface chemistry, reagent development, or sequencing consumables is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize NGS sequencing assays and biochemical workflows.
• Develop and optimize sequencing reagent formulations including enzymes, buffers, nucleotides, oligos, and fluorescent/luminescent reagents.
• Design experiments involving surface-attached oligonucleotides and flow cell chemistry.
• Optimize sequencing reactions and fluorescence/luminescence signal generation.
• Characterize sequencing performance including read quality, signal intensity, phasing/pre-phasing, background, and error rates.
• Develop and optimize flow cell assays and surface chemistry.
• Evaluate reagent stability and sequencing consumable performance.
• Support integrated instrument testing with engineering and systems teams.
• Collaborate with optics, software, microfluidics, and hardware engineers during product development.
• Analyze sequencing datasets to identify assay performance improvements.

Skills

Molecular biology

Biochemistry

Nucleic acid chemistry

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

Technical communication

Hands-on wet-lab experience

Education

Ph.D. in Biochemistry / Molecular Biology / Chemistry / Bioengineering

MS with 3–5+ years of industry experience

Tools

Flow cells

Surface-attached oligonucleotides

Fluorescence detection systems

Sequencing reagents development

Job description

Company Overview

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights.

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights. We are a highly collaborative, R&D-driven team operating in a fast-paced, early-stage environment. Our scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve complex technical challenges and translate innovation into scalable, real-world applications. At Sarmal, we value scientific rigor, curiosity, and a builder mindset. We are looking for individuals who are energized by ambiguity, motivated by impact, and excited to help bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

About The Job

The Scientist/ Sr. Scientist will develop and optimize biochemistry for Sarmal's Trailblazer NGS platform. Responsibilities include sequencing assay development, flow cell biochemistry, surface-attached oligonucleotide reactions, sequencing reagent optimization, optical detection, and assay characterization. The scientist will design experiments to improve sequencing performance, optimize reagent formulations, characterize assay robustness, and evaluate analytical performance using integrated sequencing instrumentation. Working collaboratively with engineering, optics, software, manufacturing, and systems teams, the individual will help translate research concepts into commercial sequencing products. Ideal candidates possess two years or more of hands-on experience with existing NGS technologies, or similar surface-based sequencing technologies, including development of sequencing reagents, flow cells, fluorescence assays, or integrated genomic instrumentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize NGS sequencing assays and biochemical workflows.
• Develop and optimize sequencing reagent formulations including enzymes, buffers, nucleotides, oligos, and fluorescent/luminescent reagents.
• Design experiments involving surface-attached oligonucleotides and flow cell chemistry.
• Optimize sequencing reactions and fluorescence/luminescence signal generation.
• Characterize sequencing performance including read quality, signal intensity, phasing/pre-phasing, background, and error rates.
• Develop and optimize flow cell assays and surface chemistry.
• Evaluate reagent stability and sequencing consumable performance.
• Support integrated instrument testing with engineering and systems teams.
• Collaborate with optics, software, microfluidics, and hardware engineers during product development.
• Analyze sequencing datasets to identify assay performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in molecular biology, biochemistry, or nucleic acid chemistry.
• Hands-on experience developing biochemical or molecular assays.
• Two years or more of relevant experience with next-generation sequencing assay development or sequencing chemistry.
• Experience working with flow cells, surface-attached oligonucleotides, or solid-phase biochemical reactions.
• Experience with fluorescence- and luminescence-based assays, fluorescent dyes, or optical detection systems.
• Experience developing or optimizing sequencing reagents and consumables.
• Understanding of hybridization kinetics, enzymology, polymerase-based reactions, and nucleic acid surface chemistry.
• Experience working with integrated laboratory or diagnostic instrumentation.
• Strong experimental design, statistical analysis, troubleshooting, and technical communication skills.

Education & Experience

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline with 1–3 years of industry experience, or M.S. with 3–5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing biochemical assays, sequencing assays, or molecular biology workflows.
• Experience with flow cell technologies, fluorescence detection, surface chemistry, reagent development, or sequencing consumables is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting product development from feasibility through verification and commercialization is preferred.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary product development teams is preferred.

Benefits & Perks

Sarmal offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off
• Access to additional voluntary benefits, employee perks, and discount programs
• We are committed to supporting the well-being of our employees and providing a strong foundation for both professional and personal success.

$110,000 - $145,000 a year

California Pay Transparency Statement. The anticipated salary range for this position is $110,000 – $145,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skill set, and internal equity considerations.

EEO Statement Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and consider all qualified candidates in accordance with applicable laws.

Why Join Sarmal

• Work on cutting-edge genomics and molecular detection technologies
• Collaborate with a deeply technical, cross-functional team
• Contribute to foundational platform development at an early stage
• Have visibility into and impact on core technical and strategic decisions
• Help shape the infrastructure, culture, and future direction of the company

Closing Statement

Join us in advancing the next generation of genomic technologies and shaping the future of precision health.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.