1

Clinical Assay Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... pre-clinical test products. Responsibilities: * Lead team of scientists and engineers to plan and ... Participate in review and approval processes for each phase of assay development * Create and ...

Showing results 41-60

Clinical Assay Development Scientist information

See salary details

$28

$54

$81

How much do clinical assay development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for clinical assay development scientist in the United States is $54.75, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.14 and $68.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a clinical assay development scientist?

A Clinical Assay Development Scientist is a professional who designs, develops, validates, and implements laboratory assays used in clinical research and diagnostics. They work on creating tests to detect, measure, or study biological markers in patient samples, which are crucial for disease diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic development. These scientists collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that assays meet regulatory standards and are robust, reliable, and suitable for clinical use. Their work supports advancements in personalized medicine and helps bring new therapies and diagnostics to patients.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a clinical assay development scientist?

To thrive as a Clinical Assay Development Scientist, you need a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related fields, typically supported by an advanced degree (MS or PhD) and experience in assay development. Proficiency with laboratory instrumentation, data analysis software (such as Prism or JMP), and familiarity with regulatory standards (e.g., CLIA, GLP, or ISO 13485) are crucial. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of robust, reliable assays that meet regulatory requirements and support clinical decision-making.

What are some common challenges faced by clinical assay development scientists during assay validation, and how are they typically addressed?

Clinical Assay Development Scientists often encounter challenges such as variability in biological samples, ensuring assay reproducibility, and meeting strict regulatory standards during assay validation. Addressing these issues typically involves rigorous method optimization, thorough documentation, and extensive collaboration with quality assurance and regulatory teams. Scientists also routinely troubleshoot technical issues by running pilot studies and refining protocols, ensuring the assay is robust and reliable for clinical use.

What are popular job titles related to Clinical Assay Development Scientist jobs?

For Clinical Assay Development Scientist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Clinical Assay Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 86% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,877 per year, or $54.7 per hour.

Bioinformatics Scientist -- NGS Assay Development (Remote)

Remote

$90K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Our bioinformatics team develops and supports next-generation sequencing assays for oncology and other human genomic applications. We are seeking a hands-on bioinformatics scientist who can combine strong programming skills with human genomics expertise to support the design, evaluation, and improvement of targeted NGS assays.
This role is well suited to someone who enjoys working directly with sequencing data, investigating unexpected assay behavior, developing reproducible analyses, and translating complex findings into clear technical conclusions. The scientist will work closely with molecular biology, software, product development, regulatory, and clinical teams.
Responsibilities:
  • Develop reproducible analyses and computational workflows in Python, R, and/or Bash to evaluate NGS assay performance.
  • Analyze DNA and RNA sequencing data generated from targeted assays, including SNVs, indels, CNVs, fusions, coverage, assay artifacts, and other performance characteristics.
  • Investigate assay failures and unexpected results using sequencing data, genomic context, experimental metadata, and appropriate statistical or computational approaches.
  • Support development and optimization of targeted amplicon-based NGS assay workflows.
  • Use public genomic and oncology resources such as ClinVar, gnomAD, TCGA/cBioPortal, dbSNP, and primary literature to research genomic targets and interpret assay results.
  • Work closely with molecular biology scientists to translate experimental observations into testable computational analyses and assay improvements.
  • Develop tools, scripts, and analytical methods that improve the efficiency, robustness, or interpretability of assay development.
  • Maintain well-organized, reproducible analyses with clear version control, data provenance, and documentation.
  • Communicate findings through concise technical reports, figures, presentations, protocols, and other documentation that can be understood by both computational and non-computational collaborators.
  • Manage multiple development projects and analyses while maintaining clear records of assumptions, methods, results, and outstanding questions.

Qualifications:
  • MS or PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genetics, genomics, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated hands-on programming experience in Python, R, or another general-purpose scientific programming language. Candidates should be comfortable writing their own analysis code rather than relying primarily on graphical or preconfigured analysis tools.
  • Strong knowledge of human genomics and genetic variation.
  • Experience analyzing human NGS data, including alignment, QC, variant analysis, and interpretation.
  • Familiarity with common genomics file formats and tools such as FASTQ, BAM/CRAM, VCF, BED, BWA, samtools, bedtools, GATK, or equivalent tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently investigate complex datasets, identify the source of analytical or experimental problems, and communicate conclusions.
  • Strong scientific writing and documentation skills, with evidence of producing reproducible analyses, technical documentation, protocols, reports, publications, or similar work.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple analyses and development activities with appropriate documentation and follow-through.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with molecular biologists, software engineers, and other cross-functional collaborators.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience developing or analyzing targeted NGS assays using amplicon sequencing or hybrid capture.
  • Experience with oncology genomics, somatic variant analysis, low-input DNA, FFPE, cfDNA, or other clinically relevant sample types.
  • Experience evaluating assay performance metrics such as coverage, uniformity, sensitivity, specificity, background error, limit of detection, or variant-calling performance.
  • Experience with primer/probe design, target-region design, or computational support of molecular assay development.
  • Experience developing new algorithms or analytical methods for genomic data.
  • Experience with reproducible development practices using Git, Jira, containers, or similar tools.

$90,000 - $120,000 a year
Please note: You must complete all application questions to be considered for the role
Pillar Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.