Spear Bio-posted 3 months ago
Mid Level
Woburn, MA
11-50 employees

Spear Bio, founded in 2021, is a well-funded and rapidly growing biotech start-up headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. Our proprietary technology, Successive Proximity Extension Amplification Reaction (SPEAR), is a novel wash-free immunoassay platform, offering unprecedented sensitivity. We are dedicated to revolutionizing early disease diagnosis and monitoring by providing scalable, ultrasensitive solutions that deliver unparalleled accuracy in measuring low-abundant biomarkers, enabling clinicians and researchers to improve patient outcomes and advance global health. We are seeking a Systems Test Engineer to establish and execute systematic testing strategies across assay workflows and integrated engineering systems. This role requires a strong understanding of where immunoassays/nucleic acid assays and systems intersect, with the ability to design rigorous test frameworks, validate performance across biology and hardware/software interfaces, and identify root causes of failures. You will ensure that Spear Bio’s integrated platforms deliver reliable, reproducible, and high-quality results.

  • Develop and execute test strategies for assay-level validation (proteomic immunoassays, PCR/nucleic acid assays) and engineering subsystems.
  • Define success criteria for workflow reproducibility, assay sensitivity/specificity, and instrument performance.
  • Conduct validation of automated assay workflows, ensuring biological performance is preserved under engineering constraints.
  • Perform assay-level testing to assess reproducibility, robustness, and sensitivity in proteomic and molecular biology applications.
  • Conduct engineering-level testing of liquid handling, thermal control, optics, and module-to-module integration.
  • Execute system-level testing of fully automated workflows combining assay and instrumentation.
  • Differentiate whether performance issues arise from assay chemistry, workflow automation, or engineering subsystems.
  • Apply structured methods (e.g., FMEA, root cause analysis) to resolve failures and improve robustness.
  • Collaborate with assay and integration teams to implement corrective actions.
  • Develop automated test scripts for instrument control, workflow monitoring, and data logging.
  • Build analysis pipelines to evaluate assay reproducibility, precision, throughput, and system reliability.
  • Generate dashboards and reports for system validation and assay performance metrics.
  • Partner with assay scientists to align test protocols with proteomic and nucleic acid assay requirements.
  • Work with integration engineers to ensure testability is built into system design.
  • Collaborate with CDMO partners on validation strategies and scalable test processes.
  • Master’s or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • 3-5 years of experience in systems test engineering, validation, or quality engineering specifically for immunoassays and nucleic acid assays required.
  • Strong foundation in structured test/validation methodologies at both biological and engineering levels.
  • Hands-on experience testing assay workflows (proteomic immunoassays, PCR/nucleic acid amplification) on automated platforms (prior experience in FAST/qPCR is preferred).
  • Experience with liquid handling automation, mechatronic instruments, or integrated life science systems.
  • Programming/scripting skills (Python, C#, or similar) for test automation and data analysis.
  • Familiarity with statistical analysis and data visualization for assay and system performance.
  • Strong analytical mindset and systematic approach to problem-solving.
  • Excellent documentation and communication skills.
  • Ability to collaborate across scientific and engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
  • Competitive compensation
  • Meaningful stock ownership
  • Comprehensive benefits
  • Great work environment
© 2024 Teal Labs, Inc
Privacy PolicyTerms of Service