Senior Scientist, cfDNA Assay Development & Leadership

natera; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance incentive bonus

Long-term equity awards

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Natera is a global leader in cfDNA testing, seeking a Senior Scientist to advance assay development within the R&D department. You will lead cross-functional teams, plan and execute high-precision molecular assays, and drive studies under design control to improve product portfolios for oncology, women's health, and organ health.

You will mentor junior scientists, leverage automation, and contribute to data-driven decision-making with a focus on quality and regulatory readiness in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Typically requires a university degree and a minimum of 8+ years of related experience or an MS degree with 6 years or a PhD with 4 years of related experience.
• Knowledge of high-throughput NGS workflows or genetic testing in clinical settings.
• Experience in developing and validating molecular assays for CLIA lab testing.
• Experience with automation of molecular workflows or assay transfer to automated platforms.
• Experience in managing projects.
• Very strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical projects and timelines as a subject matter expert and represent the assay development group in cross-functional project teams.
• Drive planning, design, execution, and reporting of feasibility, development, verification and validation studies under the design control quality system.
• Collaborate with research scientists, automation engineers, biostatisticians and data scientists to develop new molecular assays.
• Communicate and document experimental data, scientific findings, and recommendations to R&D and other functions including Lab Operations, Scientific Affairs, Product Management, Quality, and Regulatory groups.
• May manage Research Associates.

Skills

NGS assay development

qPCR

ddPCR

multiplex PCR

Long-range PCR

Long-read sequencing

Automation of molecular workflows

Project management

Data analysis (Python, R)

JMP, Excel

Bioinformatics tools

Design verification/validation (US/EU)

Strong communication

Collaborative work

Education

MS in Molecular Biology or related field

PhD in a related field

BS in life sciences

Tools

Illumina sequencing platforms

Automated liquid handling systems

CLIA lab equipment

Job description

Natera is a global leader in cfDNA testing, seeking a Senior Scientist to advance assay development within the R&D department. You will lead cross-functional teams, plan and execute high-precision molecular assays, and drive studies under design control to improve product portfolios for oncology, women's health, and organ health.

You will mentor junior scientists, leverage automation, and contribute to data-driven decision-making with a focus on quality and regulatory readiness in a fast-paced