Software Test Analyst 2

Cellanome; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous stock options

Health plans

401(k) with company match

Flexible work options

Job summary

Cellanome in San Diego, CA is seeking a Software Test Analyst 2 to bridge biology and software testing for instrument control and data analysis software. You will own test coverage across UI, control software, and cloud/desktop analysis, applying solid biology knowledge to design meaningful tests.

The role reports to the Associate Director of Software QA and requires experience with test design for fluidics, imaging, and biological variability, plus a proactive QA mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 2+ years of relevant work experience plus a related degree; or an advanced degree with no experience.
• Experience with defect tracking tools.
• Solid understanding of SDLC.
• Ability to clearly communicate testing status, risks and issues to software engineers and stakeholders.
• Experience with cell biology, flow cytometry, fluidics, or fluorescence imaging.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain test cases and plans for instrument software areas (UI workflows, fluidics, imaging, data analysis).
• Operate the instrument during test execution, configuring runs and interpreting behavior.
• Execute functional, regression, integration, and exploratory tests.
• Design test scenarios considering reagent types, flow cells, cell concentrations, and imaging params.
• Identify, document, and track defects to resolution.
• Contribute to requirement reviews and sprint planning from a QA perspective.
• Collaborate with engineers on new features and hardware changes affecting testing.
• Analyze results to distinguish software defects from instrument variability.
• Maintain organized test docs across releases, including configuration and environment details.
• Comply with personal protective equipment requirements.

Skills

Cell biology

Flow cytometry

Fluidics

Fluorescence imaging

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology or related field

Tools

Python

Job description

We’re a well-funded start-up . You’ll get a chance to wear many hats, be a part of a growing team, and have the potential for exciting financial and career growth. Here’s what sets us apart. We’ve set our sights on some of the biggest challenges facing biology today. We’re amassing a world class team of engineers, scientists, team builders and problem solvers to tackle these challenges heads-on. We’re passionate about developing the next generation technologies that will unravel the complexities of biology. This is a unique opportunity to build, be part of an exciting start-up and be surrounded by good humans who are super capable, humble and down-to-earth. The Software Test Analyst 2 is a unique position that bridges the gap between biology and software, providing critical insights into the performance and functionality of our instrument. Reporting into the Associate Director of Software QA, this role owns test coverage for assigned areas across the operator UI, instrument control software, and cloud or desktop analysis software. A solid working knowledge of cell biology and instrument operation is required , and is applied directly to test design — informing which conditions to test, which results are meaningful, and which anomalies warrant a defect report.

Essential Duties

• Develop and maintain test cases and test plans for assigned instrument software areas — including UI workflows, fluidics control sequences, flow cell operations, imaging acquisition, and data analysis outputs — based on requirements and specifications.
• Operate the instrument independently as part of test execution, configuring runs, loading reagents and flow cells, and interpreting instrument behavior to assess whether observed results reflect software issues or expected system responses.
• Execute functional, regression, integration, and exploratory test cycles.
• Design test scenarios that account for instrument-specific variables such as reagent types, flow cell configurations, cell concentrations, and imaging parameters.
• Identify, document, and track defects through to resolution.
• Participate in requirement reviews and sprint planning to provide QA perspective and flag testability risks related to fluidics, imaging, or biological variability early in the development cycle.
• Collaborate with software engineers to understand new features or hardware changes and their implications for software testing.
• Analyze test results to distinguish software defects from instrument variability, reagent issues, or expected biological noise.
• Maintain organized, up-to-date test documentation across releases, including instrument configuration details and environmental conditions relevant to test outcomes.
• Ability to comply with personal protective equipment requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Typically requires at least 2 years of relevant work experience plus a Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, a related field; or an advanced degree and no experience.
• Solid working knowledge of cell biology, flow cytometry, fluidics, or fluorescence imaging.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, thorough, and maintainable test cases derived from software requirements.
• Experience with defect tracking tools.
• Solid understanding of SDLC.
• Ability to communicate testing status, risks, and issues clearly to both software engineers and scientific stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on laboratory experience operating flow cytometers, automated imaging platforms, or microfluidic instruments.
• ISTQB Foundation Level certification.
• Exposure to test management tools.
• Exposure to image analysis concepts such as segmentation, object detection, or fluorescence quantification.
• Familiarity with Python or other programming languages.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $75,000 - $90,000/year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

What you can expect from us

You’ll feel the energy when you walk in our door - we work hard, we have fun and we have ambitious plans to grow.

Cellanome offers a comprehensive employment package that includes a competitive salary, generous stock options, great individual, and family health plans, a 401(k) and flexibility to balance work and life.

• competitive salary
• generous stock options
• great individual, and family health plans
• a 401(k) and flexibility to balance work and life

We embrace and celebrate the diversity of our employees.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Please contact us to request accommodation.