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Assay Development Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

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$42

$66

How much do assay development jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for assay development in Boston, MA is $42.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.82 and $50.14 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 adhering to regulatory standards to ensure assay accuracy and reliability.

What is assay development?

Assay development is the process of designing and optimizing laboratory tests to detect or measure specific biological molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, or small compounds. It involves selecting appropriate techniques, reagents, and conditions to ensure accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility, often requiring knowledge of biochemistry and instrumentation. Assay development is essential in fields like diagnostics, drug discovery, and research to generate reliable data for decision-making.

What are popular job titles related to Assay Development jobs in Boston, MA?

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

What job categories do people searching Assay Development jobs in Boston, MA look for?

The top searched job categories for Assay Development jobs in Boston, MA are:

What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Assay Development jobs?

Cities near Boston, MA with the most Assay Development job openings:

Assay Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assay Development job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,363 per year, or $42 per hour.

Scientist/Senior Scientist, Assay Development - Molecular Assay Chemistry and Biophysics

SpearBio

Woburn, MA • On-site

$115K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design, optimize, and troubleshoot innovative protein-detection assays.

  • Develop and optimize antibody and protein-reagent to maximize assay performance.

  • Troubleshoot assay-performance issues using mechanistic understanding and structured experimental approaches.

Job description

Spear Bio, founded in 2021, is a well-funded and rapidly growing biotech start-up headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. Our proprietary technology, Successive Proximity Extension Amplification Reaction (SPEAR), is a novel wash-free immunoassay platform, offering unprecedented sensitivity. We are dedicated to revolutionizing early disease diagnosis and monitoring by providing scalable, ultrasensitive solutions that deliver unparalleled accuracy in measuring low-abundant biomarkers, enabling clinicians and researchers to improve patient outcomes and advance global health.
Scientist/Senior Scientist, Assay Development - Molecular Assay Chemistry and Biophysics
Our Assay Development team builds assays for low-abundance protein biomarkers that are challenging to measure using conventional approaches. We are seeking a creative, hands-on scientist with strong fundamentals in chemistry, biophysics, and molecular interactions who enjoys solving difficult technical problems from first principles.
The Scientist / Senior Scientist will design, optimize, and troubleshoot innovative protein-detection assays that integrate antibody-based recognition, nucleic-acid interactions, conjugation chemistry, reaction kinetics, and quantitative analytical methods.
We are looking for a scientist who genuinely enjoys troubleshooting. The ideal candidate is persistent, analytical, creative, and comfortable working through uncertainty. This person should be motivated by understanding the underlying mechanism and should thrive in a fast-moving startup environment with high scientific standards.
The successful candidate will be comfortable investigating why an assay behaves unexpectedly, developing mechanistic hypotheses, designing discriminating experiments, and systematically improving assay sensitivity, specificity, robustness, and reproducibility.
We welcome applications from exceptional recent Ph.D. graduates and postdoctoral fellows with strong hands-on research ownership, as well as startup and industry scientists who have demonstrated rapid growth in technical scope and responsibility. **This role is based onsite in our lab in Woburn, MA 5 days/week.
Responsibilities:
  • Design and develop ultrasensitive protein-detection assays from concept through feasibility, optimization, analytical characterization, verification, and transfer.
  • Develop and optimize antibody and protein-reagent to maximize analytical and clinical performance , including antibody selection, protein structural properties, epitope-pair assessment, conjugation chemistry, reagent purification, and stability evaluation.
  • Troubleshoot assay-performance issues, including low signal, nonspecific background, limited sensitivity, poor reproducibility, matrix effects, instability, and lot-to-lot variability, using a mechanistic understanding of binding kinetics, affinity, avidity, thermodynamics, steric effects, and molecular interactions.
  • Design efficient experiments and use structured approaches, including design of experiments where appropriate, to identify root causes and optimize performance.
  • Collaborate closely with Platform, Product Development, Operations, and Business Development teams to transition assays from feasibility through verification and transfer.
  • Prepare clear scientific presentations, technical reports, study summaries, abstracts, and publications.

Requirements:
  • Ph.D. in • Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biophysics, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Molecular Engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Strong fundamental understanding of molecular interactions involving nucleic acids, proteins, or both.
  • Experience with protein-protein and antigen-antibody interactions, including affinity, avidity, kinetics, and thermodynamics.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience creating and designing immunoassays, protein-detection methods, molecular-diagnostics assays, or an innovative life-science analytical platform.
  • Strong experimental-design and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to develop mechanistic hypotheses and test them efficiently.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, analyze complex data, and make sound technical decisions.
    • Evidence of meaningful scientific contributions through peer-reviewed publications, patents, conference presentations, or platform-development programs.
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
    • Ability to work onsite five days per week in Woburn, Massachusetts. Candidates must be based in the Greater Boston area or able to relocate before the start date.
  • Can work 5 days/week on site in Woburn, MA .

We offer competitive compensation, meaningful stock ownership, comprehensive benefits, and a great work environment. This is an opportunity to enter an innovative, high-growth startup at an early stage and play an integral role in the company's growth and success. We are focused on identifying candidates who have demonstrated leadership and excellence throughout their careers and are excited by the prospect of building an industry-leading company.
Spear Bio Inc. provides equal opportunity in employment to all persons. No person shall be denied equal access because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or physical/mental disability.
Spear Bio does not accept resume submissions from external recruiting agencies. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate information submitted without prior written agreement will be deemed the property of Spear Bio, and no placement fees will be paid.

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