Scientist/Senior Scientist (Contract-to-Hire)
Location: Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA -- Relocation Candidates will not be considered
Schedule: 5 days onsite | 40-hour work week
Employment Type: 6-month contract-to-hire
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Scientist to join a growing team in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego. This individual will play a key role in driving scientific innovation, leading product development initiatives, and ensuring successful execution of multiple projects within a fast-paced diagnostic development environment. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in assay development, strong project leadership skills, and a passion for advancing scientific programs from concept through commercialization.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive technical innovation and solve scientific challenges across multiple projects
- Lead project timelines, milestones, and overall scientific deliverables
- Coordinate all aspects of projects to ensure timely execution and achievement of scientific goals
- Contribute to business growth through client acquisition, idea generation, grant proposals, and related initiatives
- Improve laboratory efficiency through optimization of processes, equipment, and reagents
- Ensure appropriate staffing and resource allocation to meet company objectives within budget
- Lead scientific development across multiple programs while mentoring, supervising, and training junior staff as needed
- Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure project alignment and success
- Oversee the full product development lifecycle for diagnostic assays, including regulatory submissions where applicable
- Support sourcing and procurement of project-specific and common laboratory reagents
- Prepare technical reports and present scientific data to internal and external audiences
- Maintain compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable quality standards
- Ensure project records, lab notebooks, and QMS documentation are accurate, complete, and maintained in a timely manner
- Promote laboratory safety and ensure staff are trained to work safely with human blood products and laboratory chemicals
- Apply deep knowledge of immunoassay principles and diagnostic assay development
- Stay informed on scientific literature, disease pathology, competitive landscape, antigen research, and industry trends relevant to project work
Qualifications
- BS with 8+ years of related experience, MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant industry experience
- Strong background in diagnostic assay development, with experience in lateral flow assays highly preferred
- Experience implementing or working within ISO 13485 or similar quality systems required
- In-depth understanding of immunoassay concepts and diagnostic product development
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams in a dynamic environment
- Comfortable working in a flexible, fast-paced, growth-oriented company
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with technologies complementary to traditional lateral flow platforms
- Project management experience
- Team leadership or people management experience