Life Science Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Turn Innovation into Products That Labs Depend On

Why This Role Matters
The next breakthrough reagent or assay technology won't develop itself. At Filtrous, our Research Scientist leads the chargetaking ideas from concept to commercial product. You'll design experiments, optimize formulations, and validate new molecular biology products that serve clinical diagnostics, analytical testing, and life science research markets. Your work won't sit on a shelf; it'll ship to labs that depend on it. If you want your science to have real commercial impact, this is where it happens.

What You'll Do
Drive Product Development and Innovation: Design and execute experimental workflows for the discovery, optimization, and validation of new molecular biology products. Develop formulations, protocols, and performance specifications that meet target market requirements.
Lead Projects from Concept to Launch: Manage R&D projects end-to-end, collaborating closely with manufacturing, QC, sales, and regulatory teams. Serve as the technical subject matter expert in cross-functional discussions and go-to-market planning.
Maintain Rigorous Documentation: Keep detailed, reproducible records of all research activities and experimental results. Prepare technical reports, product documentation, and data presentations for internal teams and external stakeholders.
Translate Technology into Commercial Products: Drive integration of new technologies into Filtrous's product portfolio, ensuring scalability and manufacturability. Evaluate emerging technologies, vendors, and raw materials to enhance product capabilities.

Problems You Will Solve
No in-house product development: Filtrous is a lab-supplies distributor only now expanding into research, so it has no one turning new reagent and assay ideas into products it can actually sell, leaving its pipeline empty and growth dependent on reselling others' goods.
Ideas stall before launch: Promising molecular biology concepts stop at the bench because no one owns a project from first experiment through validation and go-to-market, so potential products never reach the labs that would buy them.
Departments work in isolation: Manufacturing, quality control, sales, and regulatory have no shared technical expert connecting them, so product decisions get made without the cross-team input needed to ship something that can actually be made and sold.
Inconsistent batch quality: Without rigorous formulation work, the company cannot promise that each batch of a product performs the same as the last, which undermines its core promise of reliable quality to labs that depend on consistent results.
Records not audit-ready: Research and experimental results are not captured in the detailed, reproducible form that clinical-diagnostics and regulated customers require, leaving the company exposed when buyers or auditors ask for proof behind a product.

How Success is Measured
Advance new products from concept through validation on schedule against project milestones
Deliver robust formulations with documented batch-to-batch reproducibility
Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready research documentation for all projects
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies that expand Filtrous's product pipeline

Why You'll Love It Here
At Filtrous, your research doesn't disappear into a publication backlog. You'll see your work become real products used by real labs. You'll have the freedom to lead projects and make technical decisions in a startup-speed environment, backed by a team that values scientific rigor and execution equally. You'll collaborate across every departmentfrom manufacturing to salesand your expertise will directly shape our product roadmap. As Filtrous expands its R&D capabilities, you'll be at the center of it, with opportunities to build a team and lead our innovation strategy.

Who You Are
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related life sciences field (required)
Proven track record in R&D (publications, patents, or products)
Proficient in techniques such as ELISA, SPR, SDS-PAGE, SEC, and immunoassays
Strong data analysis skills with the ability to interpret complex experimental results
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Self-driven: you thrive working independently while collaborating in a team environment
Bonus points if you have:
Experience bringing products from bench to commercial launch
Background in clinical diagnostics or GMP/regulated manufacturing
Familiarity with technology scouting and vendor evaluation
Experience with molecular biology reagent formulation and stability studies

About Filtrous
Founded in 2017, Filtrous delivers speed, quality, and value to agile labs. We're a lab supplies distributor serving laboratories across a wide range of scientific and industrial sectors. Our secret? We combine uncompromising product quality with customer service that actually picks up the phone.

Position Details
Compensation $75,000 $90,000 per year
Job Type Full-time
Benefits Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, PTO
Location Poway, CA (in-person)
Schedule Monday to Friday, weekends as needed
Travel Some travel may be required

Ready to Join Us?
If you want your science to shipnot just publishand you're ready to lead product development at a company that moves fast and values execution, we'd love to hear from you.

Filtrous is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.