Staff Scientist R&D

Role: Senior Scientist leading cfDNA assay development within Natera’s R&D team, focusing on molecular biology and next-generation sequencing technologies. Responsibilities: manage and execute scientific studies for assay feasibility, development, verification, and validation in a regulated environment; collaborate across functions such as research, automation, biostatistics, and data science; lead technical projects as a subject matter expert; communicate findings to internal stakeholders; and may supervise junior scientists or research staff. Requirements: PhD with at least 6 years or MS with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in genetics, molecular biology, or biochemistry; strong expertise in high-throughput NGS workflows, CLIA assay development, automation, and bioinformatics tools; proven project management skills; excellent communication skills. High-Value: focus on cfDNA testing applicable to oncology, women’s health, and organ health; experience with long-read sequencing (PacBio), Illumina platforms, PCR, ddPCR, and automated sample processing; regulatory compliance knowledge in a GxP setting. WorkSetup: primarily in a regulated lab environment with cross-functional collaboration.