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Senior Assay Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Scientist

San Diego, CA

$97K - $132K/yr

Scientist/Senior Scientist (Contract-to-Hire) Location: Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA ... The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in assay development, strong project ...

The position requires a strong experience in cell culture, bacteriology, and in vitro assay development, as well as the ability to work independently, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate ...

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Senior Assay Development Scientist information

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$66.5K

$110.5K

$164.5K

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

As of Jun 14, 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Senior Assay Development Scientist position, and why are they important?

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.

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.

More about Senior Assay Development Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Assay Development Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Senior 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 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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% As Needed, 5% Full Time, 80% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,545 per year, or $53.1 per hour.
Research Scientist, Assay Development

Research Scientist, Assay Development

GrapheneDx

Boston, MA โ€ข On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

About GrapheneDx: GrapheneDx is a new diagnostics technology company with a mission to transform consumer diagnostics. Our employees gain experience in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced start-up and have ample opportunities to acquire new skills, engage with emerging technologies, and collaborate closely with an accomplished team, all within in a supportive and energetic environment.

GrapheneDx offers a competitive compensation package including base salary, performance bonuses, paid time off, health and dental benefits, and excellent growth opportunities.

GrapheneDx is seeking a Research Scientist who will apply their expertise to advance our R&D efforts in biosensor development and communicate valuable insights to a highly collaborative and dynamic team.

Summary: The Research Scientist in Assay Development will design and execute experiments to functionalize sensors with nucleic acid or antibody probes for biomarker detection, contributing to the development of a groundbreaking, point-of-care diagnostic platform. Collaborating closely with a senior scientist and a cross-functional team of materials scientists, electronics engineers, and data scientists, this role drives forward a disruptive diagnostic technology poised to redefine the field.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Drive the development of a novel GFET-based point-of-care diagnostic platform.
  • Design, execute, and optimize experiments for biomarker detection, including feasibility, pilot, and process optimization studies.
  • Perform data analysis, critically interpret results, and prepare reports and presentations tailored to the needs and expertise of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with a cross-functional team of scientists and engineers to design experiments aligned with R&D objectives, ensuring sensor technology integration into scalable diagnostic solutions.
  • Document, refine, and optimize protocols, creating actionable plans to improve processes and advance R&D milestones
  • Identify and troubleshoot technical challenges, contributing to regulatory documentation, and ensure protocol compliance where relevant.

Essential Experience:

  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Biophysics, or a related discipline, or a Masterโ€™s degree with 1-5 years of relevant academic or industry experience.
  • Proven experience in creating and developing biosensor immunoassays and/or nucleic acid detection assays through probe hybridization.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify challenges and propose alternative approaches.
  • Excellent organizational and analytical skills, including the ability to summarize and translate data into actionable plans.
  • Effective oral and written communication skills to convey technical information to both supervisors and team members.


Desirable Experience:

  • Experience with non-optical-, electrical-, or electrochemical-based sensors, especially graphene-based or carbon nanotube-based sensing platforms.
  • Experience functionalizing GFETs with biological probes, such as nucleic acids or antibodies, to enable biomarker detection.
  • Experience defining and improving biosensor performance metrics, such as sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection (LOD), and other industry-standard used to quantify biosensor efficacy and reliability.
  • Proficiency in coding or data visualization using Python, Origin, and/or Minitab for data analysis and visualization.
  • Working knowledge of statistical analysis and design of experiments.
  • Ability to coordinate effectively across multiple functional areas.
  • Highly motivated and adaptable, with the flexibility to thrive in a dynamic and interdependent environment.