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Senior Assay Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sr Scientist I, Automation Development

North Chicago, IL · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Senior Scientist I position. The primary role of this position is to develop and implement ... The successful candidate will have strong hands-on experience in assay development, automation, and ...

Sr Scientist I, Automation Development

North Chicago, IL

$88K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Senior Scientist I position. The primary role of this position is to develop and implement ... The successful candidate will have strong hands-on experience in assay development, automation, and ...

Sr Scientist I, Automation Development

North Chicago, IL · On-site

$96K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Senior Scientist I position. The primary role of this position is to develop and implement ... The successful candidate will have strong hands-on experience in assay development, automation, and ...

R&D Scientist

Temecula, CA · On-site

$34/hr

Under the supervision of a Sr. Scientist or R&D leaders, the scientist will contribute to the new drug delivery technology and assay development and scale-up for a reproducible and sustainable ...

Senior Scientist, Molecular Assay Development in R&D Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it ...

Senior Scientist R&D

Chicago, IL · On-site

$94K - $135K/yr

Senior Scientist, Molecular Assay Development in R&D Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it ...

Senior Scientist, Molecular Assay Development in R&D Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Assay Development Scientist information

See salary details

$66.5K

$110.5K

$164.5K

How much do senior assay development scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior assay development scientist in the United States is $110,545.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior assay development scientist do?

A Senior Assay Development Scientist designs, optimizes, and validates biochemical or cell-based assays for research, diagnostics, or drug development. They lead assay development projects, troubleshoot technical challenges, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. Their role often includes analyzing experimental data, ensuring assay reproducibility, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, they mentor junior scientists and contribute to scientific publications or regulatory submissions.

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

A Senior Assay Development Scientist should possess advanced expertise in assay design, validation, and troubleshooting, supported by a degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory automation platforms, high-throughput screening technologies, and software for data analysis such as Prism or SoftMax Pro is typically required. Strong project management, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills enhance effectiveness in leading projects and collaborating across departments. These skills are crucial for delivering robust, innovative assays that meet regulatory standards and support critical research or product development goals.

What are the typical challenges faced by a senior assay development scientist and how do they overcome them?

Senior Assay Development Scientists often encounter challenges such as optimizing assay sensitivity and specificity, troubleshooting inconsistent results, and meeting tight project timelines. To overcome these, they rely on deep scientific knowledge, rigorous method validation, and effective collaboration with other scientists, engineers, and quality assurance teams. Staying up to date on the latest technologies and regulatory requirements also helps address technical and compliance-related hurdles. By fostering open communication and drawing on multidisciplinary expertise within their teams, these professionals develop innovative solutions and ensure high-quality outcomes.

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Cities with the most Senior Assay Development Scientist job openings:

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What states have the most Senior Assay Development Scientist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Assay Development Scientist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Senior Assay Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,545 per year, or $53.1 per hour.

Scientist II, Assay Development

San Diego Stealth Startup

San Diego, CA

$110K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary $110,000 - $120,000

Position Overview

We are seeking a Scientist II to support the development, optimization, and maturation of molecular methods for clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays. This is a hands-on, bench-focused individual contributor role: executing the experiments that move nucleic acid extraction and library preparation methods from feasibility toward robust, automation-ready processes suitable for transfer to clinical lab operations.

Working closely with senior scientists and process engineers, the Scientist II will run structured experiments, generate and analyze high-quality data, and contribute to the optimization of buffer formulations, reaction conditions, and process parameters that drive method performance and stability. The role is well suited to a scientist with strong molecular biology fundamentals and solid bench execution who is ready to grow toward independent method development in a rigorous, quality-oriented environment where methods are actively evolving.

Key Responsibilities

  • Execute bench experiments that advance library preparation methods from feasibility toward production-ready performance.
  • Prepare and test buffer formulations and reaction conditions, and contribute to method optimization by generating and analyzing systematic, well-controlled data.
  • Execute systematic experiments, and perform data analysis to characterize method performance.
  • Run stability and robustness studies per established protocols, and summarize results clearly.
  • Support the transfer of bench methods including hands-on protocol execution, method-comparison runs, and troubleshooting.
  • Contribute to reagent QC by executing QC assays.
  • Support tech transfer and analytical validation activities through bench execution, troubleshooting, and documentation.
  • Maintain rigorous, well-organized experimental records (electronic lab notebook), generate clear data summaries and technical reports, and contribute to process and design documentation.
  • Collaborate with assay development, process engineering, automation, quality, and clinical operations to advance methods from feasibility through production.

Qualifications

Required:

  • BS in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant laboratory experience; or MS with 2+ years; or a PhD in a relevant field.
  • Solid molecular biology and biochemistry fundamentals, with hands-on experience in library preparation and workflows.
  • Demonstrated bench proficiency in core techniques, with accurate, reproducible execution and strong attention to detail.
  • Working familiarity with structured experimental design and data analysis.
  • Rigorous, well-organized record-keeping and the ability to generate clear technical data summaries.
  • Ability to execute independently on assigned experiments and manage parallel bench work in a fast-moving, early-stage environment.

Preferred:

  • Experience with low-input or other challenging workflows.
  • Hands-on experience with liquid handling platforms.
  • Exposure to a regulated or quality-driven environment and familiarity with design controls.
  • Programming or scripting experience (Python, R) for data analysis or experimental workflows.
  • Familiarity with QC metrics and data interpretation.
  • Comfort operating in a stealth-stage, resource-constrained environment where the development roadmap is actively evolving.

Why Join Us

  • Influence the foundational technologies and strategies of a company poised to shape the future of clinical genomics and healthcare.
  • Work in a dynamic, collaborative environment where innovation and scientific rigor are deeply valued.
  • Join a seasoned and multidisciplinary team tackling high-impact problems at the intersection of science and engineering.
  • Competitive compensation and equity package, comprehensive benefits, and flexibility to support work-life integration.