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Assay Development Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Responsibilities include development of new assay platforms, benchmarking current approaches ... Experience with matrix management and peer to peer coaching. Preferred Experience and Skills:

Responsibilities include development of new assay platforms, benchmarking current approaches ... Experience with matrix management and peer to peer coaching. Preferred Experience and Skills:

Scientist - Companion Animal Vaccines

Portage, MI · On-site

$33 - $41.50/hr

Experience in cell line development, assay development, in vivo models, and vaccine development is ... Excellent skills in the following competencies: organizing, planning, time management, record ...

Configure LIMS modules to support workflows, including assay development, plate results, sample management, stability, and analytical testing processes * Design, configure, and validate assay ...

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Assay Development Manager information

What is an assay development manager?

An Assay Development Manager is a scientific professional responsible for leading the design, development, validation, and optimization of laboratory assays, which are tests used to measure the presence or amount of a substance in biological samples. They manage teams of scientists and collaborate closely with research, quality, and regulatory departments to ensure assays meet scientific and regulatory requirements. Their work is vital in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, supporting drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and product development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an assay development manager?

To thrive as an Assay Development Manager, you need a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field, typically with an advanced degree and experience in assay design and validation. Familiarity with laboratory automation, data analysis software, and quality management systems is essential, along with relevant certifications like GLP or ISO standards. Strong project management, leadership, and communication skills help drive cross-functional teams and ensure effective collaboration. These competencies are crucial for delivering reliable assays that meet scientific, regulatory, and business objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by an assay development manager during the early stages of a new project?

One of the main challenges Assay Development Managers encounter in the early phases of a project is balancing the need for high sensitivity and specificity with practicality and scalability. They often need to troubleshoot unexpected assay variability, optimize protocols, and ensure the reproducibility of results under tight deadlines. Additionally, coordinating input from cross-functional teams—such as R&D scientists, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs—can present logistical hurdles. Effective communication and project management skills are essential to navigate these complexities and drive the project forward.

What is the difference between Assay Development Manager vs Laboratory Supervisor?

AspectAssay Development ManagerLaboratory Supervisor
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Life Sciences, relevant certificationsBachelor's in Life Sciences or related field, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, biotech or pharma companiesLaboratories, clinical or research settings
Employer & IndustryBiotech, pharmaceutical, diagnosticsResearch institutions, hospitals, biotech
Primary FocusDesigning and optimizing assays, project managementOverseeing daily lab operations, staff supervision

The Assay Development Manager focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing assays, often managing projects and teams. In contrast, the Laboratory Supervisor oversees daily lab operations and staff, ensuring smooth workflow. Both roles require relevant scientific credentials and work in similar environments, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

How to do assay development?

Assay development involves designing and optimizing laboratory tests to accurately measure specific analytes or biological activities. It requires selecting appropriate detection methods, validating assay performance parameters such as sensitivity and specificity, and ensuring reproducibility. Skills in laboratory techniques, familiarity with instrumentation, and understanding of regulatory standards are essential for successful assay development.

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Assay Development Manager jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Assay Development Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Assay Development Manager job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Associate Principal Scientist, Biologics Analytical R&D

On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Job Description

The Biologics Analytical Research & Development department (BAR&D) is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist position at the Rahway, New Jersey site. This role is a laboratory-based scientific role tasked with solving complex analytical challenges, to enable development of Biologics drug products.  The successful candidate must function well in a collaborative, fast-paced, multidisciplinary team environment.  The qualified candidate will be responsible for development, qualification, implementation, troubleshooting and transfer of analytical methods for monoclonal proteins or other complex therapeutic proteins. Responsibilities include development of new assay platforms, benchmarking current approaches/techniques to industry standards, and providing technical leadership of design of experiments and data interpretation.  Applicants must be highly organized, possess excellent oral/written communications skills, display scientific leadership, and a desire to conduct research and publish. Experience leading small groups of technical personnel and analytical projects will aid in distinguishing candidates. Evidence of strong cross-functional collaboration in an academic or industrial setting is also preferred. 

Qualifications
 

Education :

  • Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field, B.S. with 10+ yrs, MS with 7+ yrs, or Ph.D. with 3+ yrs of relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

  • Hands-on experience in separation sciences with chromatography, (e.g. SEC, RP, IEX, HILIC) and/or experience with capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis (e.g. CE-SDS, iCIEF) for biologics.

  • Experience with residual impurity assay development using molecular biology and immunoassay techniques (ELISA, qPCR, etc.).

  • Ability to co-design, draft, execute/direct work related to method bridging, comparability, the setting of specifications, etc., from protocol to final report.  

  • Ability to design, execute and/or direct the development of release/stability and characterization methods for clinical trial material and in support of product/process development per ICH Q2 (R2) guidance through method qualification. 

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to work both independently and cross-functionally.

  • Authoring and reviewing of SOPs, technical reports, publications and appropriate sections of regulatory filings (e.g., IND, BLA).

  • Experience with matrix management and peer to peer coaching.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

  • Design of Experiment principles including statistical data analysis using JMP, MiniTab, FusionAE, etc.

  • Broad knowledge on the panel of biologics assays, charge & size variants, glycans, purity/impurity.

  • Understanding of protein degradation mechanisms and the link between analytical/orthogonal methodologies for analysis.

  • Experience with qualification, validation, and transfer of assays to a GLP or regulated laboratory environment as listed in ICH Q2 and USP<1033>.

  • Experience in representing analytical functional area on project teams. 

  • Experience in analysis of various Biologic modalities (e.g., mAb, antibody-drug conjugate, fusion protein)

  • Experience in data analytics

ARD

EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Analytical Research and Development (R&D), Biochemistry, Biological Assay Development, Cell-Based Assays, Chromatographic Techniques, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Immunoassays, Ion Exchange, Liquid Chromatography (LC), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), Separation Sciences, Teamwork

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at .

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only:  We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only:  We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

09/17/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE  the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.