ZipRecruiter

Log In

2

Full Time Assay Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAssay Development Scientist JobsFull Time Assay Development Scientist Jobs

Full Time Assay Development Scientist information

See salary details

$20

$38

$54

How much do full time assay development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for full time assay development scientist in the United States is $38.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.89 and $42.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Full Time Assay Development Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Full Time Assay Development Scientist, you need a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field, typically with an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) and experience in assay design and optimization. Familiarity with laboratory techniques such as ELISA, PCR, and data analysis software, as well as experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), is often required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and troubleshooting experiments. These skills are crucial for ensuring the development of robust, reliable assays that advance research and product development objectives.

What is the difference between Full Time Assay Development Scientist vs Research Associate?

AspectFull Time Assay Development ScientistResearch Associate
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Life Sciences, relevant experienceBachelor's or Master's in Life Sciences, entry-level experience
Work EnvironmentLaboratories focused on assay development and validationResearch labs supporting various projects, often assisting assay teams
Industry UsageCommon in biotech, pharma, and diagnostics companiesUsed across research institutions and biotech firms

The Full Time Assay Development Scientist typically has more specialized experience in designing and validating assays, working independently on development projects. In contrast, the Research Associate often supports research activities, assisting assay development under supervision. Both roles are essential in biotech and pharma industries, but the Scientist role involves greater responsibility and expertise in assay creation and optimization.

What are some common challenges faced by Full Time Assay Development Scientists during the transition from research to routine clinical or commercial assays?

Full Time Assay Development Scientists often encounter challenges when translating laboratory protocols into robust assays suitable for routine clinical or commercial use. These challenges can include optimizing assay reproducibility, ensuring consistent performance across different sample types, and meeting regulatory requirements. Scientists also need to collaborate closely with quality assurance, manufacturing, and regulatory teams to validate and document procedures. Overcoming these hurdles requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional communication.

What is a Full Time Assay Development Scientist?

A Full Time Assay Development Scientist is a laboratory professional who specializes in designing, developing, and optimizing analytical assays for various scientific applications, such as drug discovery, diagnostics, or quality control. They work in research and development teams, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting assay protocols to ensure accuracy and reliability. Their role also involves documenting results, validating new methods, and collaborating with other scientists to support project goals. Typically, they have advanced degrees in biology, chemistry, or related fields and possess strong problem-solving and technical skills.
More about Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Full Time Assay Development Scientist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Assay Development Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Assay Development Scientist jobs are:
What states have the most Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs are:
Full Time Assay Development Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Assay Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Locum Tenens, 10% Internship, 72% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 10% Summer. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,095 per year, or $39 per hour.
Senior / Staff Scientist, Assay Automation

Senior / Staff Scientist, Assay Automation

Clear Labs

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About Clear Labs
Clear Labs (CL) harnesses the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to simplify complex diagnostics for clinical and applied markets. By creating a fully automated platform that brings together DNA sequencing, robotics, and cloud-based analytics, Clear Labs democratizes genomics applications to deliver better clarity. Clear Labs' turnkey platform accelerates outcomes and improves accuracy from food-borne pathogens to infectious diseases.
Position Summary
You will own the end-to-end performance of NGS assays running on Hamilton Platforms for Illumina-based sequencing assays, from wet lab execution through data interpretation. The work directly determines assay reliability in clinical use and is foundational to scaling our diagnostic platform.
This role is leveled Senior or Staff based on demonstrated scope, autonomy, and track record of shipping NGS assays into regulated environments. We will calibrate level during the interview process.
This is a hands-on role, not a managerial one. It is best suited for scientists who have repeatedly debugged failed NGS experiments and can trace issues across assay design, automated execution, and downstream data.
How This Role Operates
  • Partners daily with Assay Development, Automation Engineering, Bioinformatics, Manufacturing, and Regulatory / Quality.
  • Owns assay performance decisions on assigned product workstreams; signs off on experimental designs, root-cause findings, and verification study conclusions within scope.
  • Expected to escalate cross-functional tradeoffs and regulatory implications to the Director of Assay Development.

Location: San Carlos, CA
Primary Responsibilities
Assay Development (Core)
  • Troubleshoot and optimize full NGS workflows: extraction, fragmentation, end repair, ligation, library prep, target enrichment or amplification, pooling, and sequencing.
  • Identify root causes of assay failures and implement durable, documented fixes.
  • Redesign assay components for robustness, scalability, and reproducibility under production conditions.
  • Lead verification, characterization, and reagent qualification studies that drive assay decisions.
  • Own measurable improvements in assay reliability, variability, and yield on assigned workstreams.

Data Analysis and Experimental Design
  • Analyze sequencing data and run metrics to diagnose performance issues across the wet-to-dry interface.
  • Design experiments using DOE, regression, and hypothesis testing; quantify variance contributions.
  • Build and maintain quantitative performance metrics that characterize assay variability and stability.
  • Conduct reagent stability studies and lot-to-lot qualification.

Automation Integration
  • Develop and troubleshoot assays running on liquid handling automation (Hamilton or equivalent).
  • Partner with automation engineers to translate manual protocols into validated automated workflows.
  • Diagnose and resolve automation-related sources of variability.

Regulatory and Quality
  • Execute work under design controls and a quality management system (ISO 13485 or equivalent).
  • Contribute to analytical validation activities (LoD, precision, specificity, reproducibility, interference).
  • Apply structured problem-solving tools (FMEA, CAPA, change control) as part of routine work.

Requirements
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; no visa sponsorship is available for this position.
  • PhD in molecular biology, genomics, bioengineering, or related field, OR equivalent industry experience defined as 8+ years in NGS assay development with at least one shipped IVD, LDT, or commercially deployed assay.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience developing Illumina NGS assays through to production or clinical use.
  • Track record of leading end-to-end root-cause investigations of complex assay failures.
  • Hands-on experience developing or troubleshooting assays on liquid handling automation (Hamilton or equivalent).
  • Experience working under ISO 13485, FDA design controls, or a comparable regulated quality system.
  • Working proficiency in R, Python, JMP, or equivalent for sequencing data analysis and statistical experimental design (DOE, ANOVA, regression, variance decomposition).
Preferred Experience
  • IVD or LDT assay development for oncology, infectious disease, or similar clinical indications.
  • Hands-on experience with FFPE and/or cfDNA sample types.
  • Experience with hybrid capture target enrichment and/or amplicon-based panel design.
  • Named contribution to a 510(k), De Novo, PMA, or equivalent regulatory submission.
  • Experience integrating assays with downstream bioinformatics pipelines.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months
How We Will Evaluate Candidates
  • Technical depth interview: walk through a real NGS assay failure you debugged end-to-end, including the data you used to localize the root cause.
  • Experimental design exercise: design a study to characterize a defined source of variability under stated constraints.
  • Cross-functional simulation: navigate a tradeoff between assay performance, automation feasibility, and regulatory impact.

Benefits
  • Salary range: $120,000-$150,000
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer-Sponsored Basic Life/AD&D, Long Term Disability
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Stock Option Plan
  • Lunch stipend for days at headquarters

Notice of E-Verify Participation: Clear Labs participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. For more information, please review the E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) and the Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish).
Disclaimer
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be adjusted to meet the needs of the company, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The job description is subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Company.

Apply