Principal Scientist I - Reagent/Assay Development

Roche • Santa Clara, CA

6d • $110,500 - $173,800 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Principal Scientist I, Reagent/Assay Development will contribute to the development and optimization of reagents and assays for next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications. This role combines hands-on laboratory work, experimental design, data analysis, and troubleshooting to improve reagent and workflow performance, robustness, and manufacturability. The scientist will work closely with cross-functional teams, including automation, software, engineering, quality, and operations, to support product development and transfer to manufacturing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Biological/Life Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field with 7+ years of relevant industry experience with NGS workflows, reagent development, and assay development in a product-development environment.
• Proven expertise in assay optimization, versatile laboratory practice, and robust experimental design.
• Experience with laboratory automation and automated instrumentation, including workflow development, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in Python or other relevant programming languages for data analysis, visualization, and/or automation.
• Strong skills in experimental design, data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving.

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree or Ph.D is preferred, as well as 8–10 years of experience
• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and process optimization is a plus.
• Experience collaborating with automation, software, and mechanical engineering teams is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conducting experiments to evaluate and optimize the performance of reagents, including assessing their stability, formulation, and manufacturing tolerances.
• Designing, developing, and validating assays to assess the quality of both incoming and manufactured reagents.
• Contributing to the establishment of manufacturing processes for reagents and transferring these processes to operations.
• Analyzing experimental data, forming conclusions and suggesting future experiments, generating reports, and presenting findings to project teams.
• Identifying and resolving issues related to reagent performance, assay development, or manufacturing processes.
• Working closely with other scientists, engineers, and operations personnel to ensure the successful development and implementation of new reagents.
• Adhering to good laboratory practices, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring the proper maintenance of laboratory equipment, laboratory spaces, and inventory.
• Keeping up-to-date with scientific literature and technological advancements in the field of reagent development.

Benefits

• A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.
• This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed in this link.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal