Scientist Bacteriology

QuidelOrtho • San Diego, CA

11d • $100,000 - $110,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At QuidelOrtho , we’re advancing the power of diagnostics for a healthier future for all . Join our mission as our next Scientist Bacteriology to support microbiology and biorepository activities critical to diagnostic assay development, with a focus on bacterial pathogens and clinical specimen management. This role involves hands-on work with bacterial culture, strain qualification, and clinical sample processing, as well as contributing to assay feasibility, validation, and repository growth. The ideal candidate will bring strong laboratory skills, a proactive mindset, and the ability to work in a regulated, biosafety-driven environment while collaborating across R&D and cross-functional teams This position will be onsite full-time in San Diego, CA – Summers Ridge (Sorrento Valley) – HQ. NOTE: This position is not currently eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical Sciences, or related scientific discipline
• 7-10 years of laboratory experience in bacteriology, microbiology, or molecular assay development (industry experience preferred)
• Experience working in a regulated environment (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485, design control) preferred
• Hands-on experience with bacterial culture, strain handling, and characterization
• Experience with molecular techniques such as PCR, qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, and assay optimization
• Familiarity with inclusivity/exclusivity studies, LoD studies, and validation protocols
• Ability to analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical or analytical tools
• Proficiency in maintaining laboratory documentation in compliance with quality system requirements
• Working knowledge of biosafety practices (BSL-2 MUST)

Responsibilities

• Designs, plans, and execution of bacteriology experiments with minimal supervision to support assay development, optimization, and validation activities
• Leads bacterial culture, characterization, strain qualification, and sample preparation activities in accordance with established protocols and study objectives
• Develop and optimize assay conditions (e.g., lysis methods, extraction workflows, amplification parameters, inclusivity/exclusivity testing) in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Independently analyzes experimental data, interprets findings, and provides recommendations to improve assay performance and robustness
• Investigates and troubleshoots assay performance issues related to bacterial targets, reagents, workflows, or instrumentation
• Maintains detailed, accurate, and well-organized laboratory notebook records in compliance with design control and quality system requirements
• Authors and contributes to technical reports, protocols, validation documentation, and study summaries supporting product development
• Leads or supports feasibility studies, inclusivity/exclusivity panels, limit of detection (LoD) studies, and verification/validation activities
• Contributes to development and qualification of QC standards, reference materials, and bacteriology-related test methods
• Participates in risk assessments (e.g., FMEA) and supports generation of product design documentation within regulated development environments
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Bioinformatics, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to support assay development and product readiness
• Supports technology transfer activities and provides technical expertise for bacteriology-related investigations during scale-up or manufacturing support
• Ensures compliance with internal quality systems, biosafety standards, and applicable regulatory requirements
• Reviews scientific literature and emerging technologies related to bacterial pathogens, molecular targets, and diagnostic methodologies to inform assay development strategies
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to laboratory technicians, research associates, or junior scientists as appropriate
• Maintains a safe laboratory environment and performs other duties as assigned
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• QuidelOrtho offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with a 401(k) plan, employee assistance program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off (including sick time), and paid Holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees