Senior Scientist, Product Development

Natera, Inc.; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Natera is seeking a Senior Scientist in Product Development for its Oncology Team. The role involves developing high-quality NGS assays, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring compliance with design control guidelines. Candidates should possess a PhD and relevant experience in assay development.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

401k benefits

Generous employee referral program

Qualifications

• PhD with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience or MS with 8 years, or BS with 10 years.
• Experience developing and validating workflows in a CLIA setting.
• Hands-on knowledge in molecular techniques.

Responsibilities

• Drive planning, execution, and analysis of feasibility studies.
• Collaborate with teams to develop automated workflows.
• Manage time across multiple experiments in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

NGS assay development

Molecular techniques

Data analysis

Education

PhD in genetics, molecular biology, or biochemistry

Tools

Illumina NGS platforms

Job description

Natera is seeking an innovative Senior Scientist, Product Development to join Natera’s Oncology Product Development Team. We are looking for a meticulous and dedicated candidate with experience in next generation sequencing (NGS) assay development that can work effectively in a fast-paced environment to ensure that the highest quality clinical assays are developed and launched for our patients.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive planning, execution, and analysis of feasibility and optimization studies. Prepare clear and concise study reports in compliance with Natera's guidelines. Present the results and key insights to cross-functional teams at weekly meetings.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, such as automation, engineering, R&D, bioinformatics, and lab operations, to develop robust, automated workflows.
• Lead the integration of automated workflows with digital systems such as LIMS and LabVantage (LV). Support the design and execution of integration testing to ensure data integrity between automation and digital systems.
• Assist in planning and execution of complex verification and validation studies under design control guidelines.
• Author and review SOPs, study reports, and transfer documents for production implementation.
• Train team members on new SOPs and automated workflows.
• Provide support to lab operations on issues related to automation, including troubleshooting and providing technical guidance.
• Manage time across multiple experiments and shifting priorities to meet deadlines in fast-paced environment.
• Communicate project status, key updates, and potential risks clearly to manager and cross-functional teams.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BS, MS. or PhD in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry or a closely related field. PhD with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience, a MS degree and minimum 8 years of relevant experience, or a BS degree and minimum 10 years of relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Stronge hands-on knowledge of Illumina NGS platforms. Experience with PacBio or Oxford Nanopore is a plus.
• Proficiency in molecular techniques such as PCR, qPCR, multiplex PCR, digital PCR, NGS, methylation, and target enrichment.
• Experience developing, validating, and deploying automated workflows in CLIA setting.
• Familiarity with Design Control and CLIA regulations.
• Proficient in data analysis tools, such as Excel, JMP, or R.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documentation, protocol development, and cross-functional team reporting.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with reagent QC development is a plus.

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.

$125,300 - $156,600 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!

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.

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.

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