Sr Scientist - Biomarker Development

Kelly Services; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical is seeking a Senior Scientist – Biomarker Development in San Diego for a contract-to-hire role. You will define biomarker plans, develop and qualify assays, and oversee clinical testing with internal labs and CROs to evaluate drug effects on biomarkers across programs.

The role emphasizes hands-on assay development, regulatory support, and collaboration across gene therapy and small molecule teams. Remote-friendly schedule with strong scientific leadership opportunities.

Qualifications

• MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years in a lab setting performing or managing molecular/cell-based experiments.
• Hands‑on experience developing and qualifying ligand‑binding assays including ELISA and MSD methods.
• Experience overseeing assay design for gene therapy, small molecules, or protein products.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize molecular and protein-based assays for quantitation of therapeutic proteins, target engagement markers, and pharmacodynamic markers.
• Evaluate emerging biomarker technologies and analytical approaches.
• Manage assay development plans, qualification protocols, reports, and SOPs.
• Oversee clinical biomarker sample testing at CRO partners and manage data review.

Skills

Biomarker development

Molecular assays

Protein-based assays

Regulatory contributions

Scientific writing

Education

MS with 6+ years or PhD with 3+ years in molecular/cell biology

Tools

ELISA

MSD electrochemiluminescence

Job description

Senior Scientist – Biomarker Development

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Senior Scientist – Biomarker Development for a contract-to-hire position at a cutting-edge client in San Diego, CA. If you're passionate about bringing the latest scientific discoveries to life and are ready to take the next step in your career, trust The Experts at Hiring Experts.

Pay: $130-170k

Schedule: Remote M-F

Overview

Our Client is an industry-leading, clinical-stage biotherapeutics company that’s leading the way in developing breakthrough neuroprotective therapeutics for highly prevalent, blinding diseases that currently have no good therapeutic alternatives. Using novel approaches, our Client is advancing first-in-class and best-in-class protein therapeutics and gene therapy solutions poised to significantly impact patients’ lives.

In this role, you will join a growing team as a Senior Scientist focused on biomarker development and testing, spanning research through early clinical development. You will help define fit-for-purpose biomarker plans for both gene therapy and small molecule therapeutic candidates, develop and qualify the assays that support those plans, and oversee execution of clinical testing through internal and external laboratories — including evaluating how a given drug impacts its target biomarker across both small molecule and biologic programs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize molecular and protein-based assays for quantitation of therapeutic proteins, target engagement markers, and pharmacodynamic markers, including refinement of assay conditions, sample volume requirements, and matrix interference.

• Evaluate emerging biomarker technologies and analytical approaches based on their ability to address meaningful development questions.

• Manage and review assay development plans, qualification protocols, qualification reports, and SOPs.

• Assist in the maintenance of critical reagents, qualification of new materials, lot-to-lot bridging, and reference standard lifecycle.

• Oversee clinical biomarker sample testing at CRO partners, including sample logistics and chain of custody, data review, and vendor performance management.

• Define sample collection, processing, shipping, and storage requirements for each sample type.

• Serve as the biomarker representative and point of contact on internal teams, providing strategic biomarker input to program-level decision making based on the specifics of each assay or output of testing.

• Author biomarker sections of clinical protocols, laboratory manuals, or other regulatory documents as needed.

• Maintain accurate and detailed experimental notes in an electronic laboratory notebook or other report systems.

Qualifications

• MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years, of experience in a laboratory setting performing or managing molecular and/or cell-based experiments.

• Hands‑on experience developing and qualifying ligand‑binding assays, with demonstrated proficiency in ELISA and MSD electrochemiluminescence methods, including troubleshooting sensitivity, background, matrix, and interference issues.

• Experience overseeing or collaborating on in vitro and in vivo assay design to test gene therapy, small molecule, or protein products.

• Experience taking assays from early development through qualification and into use for nonclinical or clinical sample testing.

• Direct or CRO management experience involving sample testing procedures.

• Preferred: experience supporting programs across multiple stages of clinical development and contributing biomarker content to IND or other regulatory submissions.

• Prior experience documenting laboratory results in written or electronic laboratory notebooks and writing formal study reports.

• Proven problem‑solving skills with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a strong command of written English for scientific writing.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work and communicate effectively within the organization.

• High personal integrity and strong work ethic.

• Ability to operate with substantial latitude in a fast‑paced environment.

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As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly ® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affluent Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.