Senior Molecular Diagnostics Scientist

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Growth opportunities

State-of-the-art labs

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Molecular Biologist to lead diagnostic assay development in Sandton. You will design and optimize PCR/qPCR and sequencing-based methods, conduct advanced molecular experiments, and contribute to validation and regulatory readiness of diagnostic platforms.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and stay at the forefront of molecular diagnostics, applying your expertise to improve patient outcomes and public health.

Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology or related field required.
• ≥5 years post-PhD in molecular biology with diagnostics focus.
• Proven expertise in assay development and validation for molecular diagnostics.
• Hands-on experience with molecular techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize molecular assays for diagnostic applications (PCR, qPCR, sequencing).
• Perform complex molecular biology experiments including nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection.
• Validate assay performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, robustness).
• Troubleshoot experimental issues and optimize protocols for efficiency and reliability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product development, QA, clinical affairs).
• Stay updated on advancements in molecular diagnostics and literature.

Skills

Molecular biology

Assay development

PCR/qPCR

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology or related field

Tools

PCR instruments

Sequencing instruments

Nucleic acid extraction methods

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Molecular Biologist to lead diagnostic assay development in Sandton. You will design and optimize PCR/qPCR and sequencing-based methods, conduct advanced molecular experiments, and contribute to validation and regulatory readiness of diagnostic platforms.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and stay at the forefront of molecular diagnostics, applying your expertise to improve patient outcomes and public health.