Senior Scientist R&D

Tempus AI, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 94,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive compensation

Restricted stock units

Medical benefits

Job summary

Tempus AI, Inc. is seeking a Senior Scientist in Molecular Assay Development to co-lead assay design and development for IVD and CDx programs. The role involves project management of research and development activities, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing scientific leadership across teams.

The ideal candidate will possess a PhD in a relevant field with significant industry experience and strong capabilities in assay development and regulatory knowledge. The position offers a competitive salary package in Illinois.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry experience in assay development.
• Demonstrated leadership in FDA-regulated environments.
• Technical expertise in nucleic acid technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of assays for IVD & CDx programs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on project deliverables.
• Manage and lead R&D design documents and validation teams.

Skills

Leadership in assay development

Nucleic acid technologies (NGS, PCR, qPCR)

Quality control and assurance principles

Understanding of regulatory requirements (FDA, EUA)

Organization and attention to detail

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Education

PhD in Nucleic Acids Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field

MS with relevant industry experience

Job description

Senior Scientist, Molecular Assay Development in R&D

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.

We are looking for a Senior Scientist within the Molecular Assay Development group to co‑lead the design and development of assays in support of IVD & CDx programs. In this role you will lead projects with staff scientists that lead the wet lab efforts during development and guide documentation specialists to assist in IVD documentation efforts. You will rise to the challenge of designing, supporting and documenting V&V studies for molecular assays, ensure project deliverables are compliant with applicable regulations, and provide technical reports to support FDA submissions. You are expected to collaborate cross‑functionally with members of technology development, bioinformatics, quality control, regulatory affairs, and the clinical lab.

What you’ll do

• Maintain overall knowledge of the assay characteristics
• Provide scientific leadership to cross‑functional teams
• Manage and lead generation of R&D design documents
• Lead validation team from project inception through launch including sample selection, hands‑on laboratory validation, establishing workflow and SOPs, and authoring validation plans and summaries
• Ensure activities are consistent with project critical path and respond appropriately to changing priorities
• Assist in developing and tracking project budgets
• Design assay performance specifications
• Ensure assay development process meets milestones and timelines
• Troubleshoot and solve technical issues
• Maintain compliant laboratory documents and procedures
• Proactively improve efficiency, quality and effectiveness of R&D efforts

Qualifications

• PhD in Nucleic Acids Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field with 3+ years industry experience -or- MS with industry experience commensurate with requirements
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in assay development in an FDA‑regulated environment for IVD products under design controls
• Strong technical expertise and hands‑on experience with nucleic acid technologies, with a preference toward NGS, PCR, and qPCR techniques
• Proven ability to apply principles of quality control and quality assurance to development activities
• Strong understanding of FDA, EUA, and other global regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated technical and project leadership expertise
• Good organization skills, detailed‑oriented mindset
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Team driven

Salary: $94,000.00-$135,000.00 (Illinois) – may vary for other locations (California, Colorado, New York). Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience.

Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.