Senior Research Associate

Natera; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Free cfDNA testing for employees and a

401k benefits and commuter program

Employee referral program

Job summary

Natera, based in Austin, TX, seeks a Product Development Sr. Research Associate to contribute to design, execution and participation in experiments supporting oncology product development and V&V studies under design control for next generation sequencing assays.

The role requires hands-on lab experience with DNA extraction, NGS library prep and Illumina sequencing platforms, plus strong data analysis, documentation and cross-functional collaboration in a regulated setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years lab experience or MS with 0–2 years experience.
• Experience with DNA extraction from blood, plasma, tissue.
• Experience with nucleic acid techniques and NGS workflows.
• Regulatory environment knowledge (IVD/CLIA/CAP) desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute low to moderate complexity experiments under supervision.
• Assist with development and V&V of oncology assays.
• Maintain electronic lab notebooks and records using Excel/Sheets.
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical tools and report results.
• Draft protocols, reports, SOPs; coordinate cross-team study execution.
• Adapt to multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced lab.

Skills

DNA extraction

PCR/qPCR

NGS library prep

Illumina sequencing

Automation/liquid handling

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Office/Docs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry or related field

MS in a related field

Tools

Illumina sequencing platforms

Qubit/BioAnalyzer/TapeStation

Job description

Position Summary

The Product Development Sr. Research Associate will contribute to the design, execution and participation in experiments/tasks to support oncology product development and verification and validation (V&V) studies under design control, for next generation sequencing (NGS) assays. We are looking for a meticulous and dedicated candidate with direct laboratory experience in assay development who can work effectively in a fast-paced environment to ensure the highest quality clinical assays are developed and launched for our patients. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and driven professional who is eager to learn, flexible, enjoys multi-tasking and possesses strong wet lab skills.

Primary Responsibilities

• With some supervision, design and execute low to moderate complexity experimental workflows, including cfDNA extraction, library preparation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) using both manual and automated platforms, employing various molecular biology and standard laboratory methods in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
• Assist with the design, plan and execution of experiments to support the development and V&V of oncology assays
• Maintain a detailed and organized electronic laboratory notebooks and accurate records of lab work using a variety of software including Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, and internal databases
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical and analytical tools
• Assist in drafting documentation including study protocols, reports, SOPs and work instructions
• Coordinate across multiple internal teams to ensure the timely execution of the studies.
• Adapt to handle multiple tasks and priorities, and perform other duties as assigned
• Learn the science behind ongoing research projects while actively completing increasingly complex tasks

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry or related field with a minimum of 4 years of laboratory and/or relevant industry experience or MS with 0-2 years of relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Must have hands‑on experience with DNA extraction from biological samples, e.g. blood, plasma, tissue and BLS1, BLS2 experience
• Must have hands‑on experience with nucleic acid techniques (purification, quantification, amplification using PCR, qPCR, Quant‑IT/Qubit, BioAnalyzer or TapeStation)
• Hands‑on experience with NGS library preparation and Illumina sequencing platforms is highly preferred
• Experience in a regulatory environment under IVD, CLIA/CAP is highly desired
• Experience in implementing, optimizing, and troubleshooting high‑throughput automated assays using liquid handling techniques
• Knowledge of statistical methods and techniques to contribute to analytical studies is desired
• Ability to operate independently in a fast‑paced lab under minimal supervision, managing multiple tasks and priorities with minimal errors is highly desired
• Effective communication skills, including gathering information from different teams, communicating with suppliers, writing protocols, and summarizing results in reports or presentations
• Excellent with Microsoft Office programs and Google Drive including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
• Ability to think creatively and analytically with strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective working relationships within functional areas

The pay range is listed and actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years & depth of experience, certifications and specific office location. This may differ in other locations due to cost of labor considerations.

Austin, TX

$69,700—$87,100 USD

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Natera™ is a global leader in cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world‑class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.

What We Offer

• Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
• Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits.
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more.
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!

For more information, visit www.natera.com.

Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/

Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.

For More Information

• BBB announcement on job scams
• FBI Cyber Crime resource page