1

Assay Development Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

In Vitro Manager

Boulder, CO

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Data analysis and Quality control of both custom assays and commercially developed assays for the division. * Lead, communicate and coordinate with other members of the division, management, study ...

In Vitro Manager

Boulder, CO ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Data analysis and Quality control of both custom assays and commercially developed assays for the division. * Lead, communicate and coordinate with other members of the division, management, study ...

Staff Scientist

Boulder, CO ยท On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Staff Scientist is responsible for new NGS assay product development and on market product support. General duties include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting results ...

Staff Scientist

Boulder, CO ยท On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Staff Scientist is responsible for new NGS assay product development and on market product support. General duties include designing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting results ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to ... Conducting laboratory studies to evaluate assay performance under guidance from scientific staff

next page

Showing results 1-20

Assay Development information

See Colorado salary details

$21

$40

$64

How much do assay development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for assay development in Colorado is $40.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.81 and $48.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are common challenges faced when developing new assays, and how can they be addressed?

Assay Development professionals often encounter challenges such as optimizing assay sensitivity and specificity, troubleshooting inconsistent results, and adapting protocols for high-throughput environments. These issues are typically addressed through systematic optimization of reagents and conditions, rigorous validation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams like R&D, quality assurance, and automation specialists. Clear documentation and regular team meetings also help in quickly identifying and resolving technical hurdles, ensuring the assay meets project goals and regulatory standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in assay development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Assay Development, you need a solid background in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field, often supported by a relevant degree or advanced training. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, data analysis software, and validation protocols is typically required, along with experience in techniques like ELISA, PCR, or cell-based assays. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of assays, which are critical for research, diagnostics, and product development.

What is the difference between Assay Development vs Laboratory Scientist?

AspectAssay DevelopmentLaboratory Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Life Sciences, relevant certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Life Sciences, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, biotech companies, pharmaceutical firmsResearch labs, hospitals, biotech companies
Industry UsageDesigning and optimizing assays for research and diagnosticsPerforming experiments, data collection, and analysis

Assay Development focuses on creating and optimizing diagnostic or research assays, while Laboratory Scientists perform experiments and analyze data within the lab. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often work in similar environments, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What does an assay development scientist do?

An assay development scientist designs, optimizes, and validates laboratory tests to measure specific biological or chemical substances. They work with techniques such as ELISA, PCR, or spectrophotometry, often using specialized equipment and following regulatory standards to ensure assay accuracy and reliability.

What are popular job titles related to Assay Development jobs in Colorado?

For Assay Development jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Assay Development job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 88% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $84,563 per year, or $40.7 per hour.

Scientist I/II, Protein Engineering

Alta Resource Technologies, Inc.

Boulder, CO โ€ข On-site

$82K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

About Alta
Alta Resource Technologies (Alta) is a next generation mining company that uses synthetic biology to separate critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources, including e-waste. Founded in 2023, the company is expanding its team in Boulder, CO. The exponential growth of new tech industries, as well as the information technology sector, are driving historic growth in mineral demand and stressing existing supply streams. Meeting new demand, diversifying the supply chain, and producing minerals in a more sustainable manner requires the rapid development, deployment and scaling of new technologies. This mineral challenge represents a historic opportunity for technology development and value creation. Alta is proud to be at the vanguard of this mega trend.
About the Role
Alta is seeking a Scientist I/II in Protein Engineering to join our Applied Biology team. This role will be responsible for developing and implementing assays for data-driven protein design campaigns towards discovering and validating enhanced binding specificity. This role will be a key contributor to building high-throughput screening capabilities and developing assays for ion binding and bioconjugation.
A successful candidate will have expertise in assay development that supports protein discovery workflows in small molecule, ion, or metal binding proteins. The candidate will collaborate with data scientists, strain engineers, analytics, and chemistry groups to generate robust and reliable assays that scale. The individual will join a group of collaborative scientists with diverse skill sets and must have strong communication and critical thinking skills with a rigorous approach to science.
Key Responsibilities
  • Work within a team to develop and execute high-throughput assays for protein characterization including for protein quantification, bioconjugations, and binding capacities.
  • Design and implement microtiter plate workflows for directed evolution campaigns.
  • Work with scientists for rapid turnaround of testing data to aid in novel protein discovery and leverage the outcomes for additional protein design campaigns.
  • Interpret test data and protein analysis data for guiding round-over-round improvements.
  • Develop and onboard novel assays for protein characterization.
  • Collaborate with strain engineers to achieve reliable microtiter production.
  • Ensure excellent practices in documentation of all protocols and experiments.

Required Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related field with 1-3+ years of research experience.
  • Expertise in high-throughput protein assays and library-scale workflows.
  • Experience with metalloproteins, protein-ion or small molecule interactions, or bioconjugate biochemistry.
  • Experience with assay analysis for modeling novel candidate leads.
  • Experience in protein discovery and directed evolution campaigns to improve protein characteristics.
  • Experience in design and implementation of automated workflows.
  • Deep knowledge of classic and state-of-the-art molecular biology and multiplex library-scale approaches to directed evolution campaigns.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of experimental design, the scientific method, and statistical analysis.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work within different teams.
  • Strong organizational and documentation skills.
  • Please note: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in bioinformatics pipelines and scripting to aid in data analysis and protein design.
  • Experience with generative protein design and structural modeling.

What We Offer
  • The opportunity to lead a breakthrough program redefining U.S. supply chain resilience in critical materials.
  • A mission-driven, high-trust team operating at the intersection of innovation, national security, and sustainability.
  • High Impact & Visibility: direct interaction and reporting to executive leadership.

Compensation & Benefits
The starting pay range for this position is $82,000 - $120,000, commensurate with educational background and work experience.
Benefits include:
  • 401(K)
  • Medical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent)
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Company Holidays

EOE
Alta Resource Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our team and drive better outcomes for our clients and partners.
We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the business. Alta participates in e-Verify for all positions.
If you require accommodations at any point in the hiring process, please let your recruiter know.
For information about Alta's privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy.