Associate Scientist, Assay Development

POSITION SUMMARY: The Associate Scientist within the Molecular Biology product development team will join a cross-functional team of scientists who are tasked with developing and advancing Natera's oncology product portfolio. The Associate Scientist will be working with internal cross functional teams and investigating the feasibility of applying a variety of scientific principles and concepts to oncology diagnostics and monitoring space. The ideal candidate is a driven professional who maintains broad knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories with an in-depth understanding of applicability to oncology research. We are looking for a meticulous and dedicated scientist with experience in both assay development and high throughput automation that can work effectively in a fast-paced environment to ensure that the highest quality clinical assays are developed and launched for our patients. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Design, develop, and validate automated high-throughput NGS assays that will be run in a commercial CLIA laboratory. Independently design and execute moderate to high complexity experiments. Collaborate with assay development scientists on the specifications of assay, reagent, equipment and quality metrics for existing and future production assays. Work with Clinical Laboratory and Quality Assurance to ensure that developed methods meet Natera's rigorous quality standards. Coordinate across multiple internal groups (automation engineering, laboratory operations, bioinformatics, statistics, project and product management) and serve as point person to ensure the successful identification and timely execution of projects. Write documentation and SOPs, and train lab operations operators on protocols. Overlook validation activities. Participate in post-launch surveillance by troubleshooting production issues, performing root cause analysis on automation, reagent, peripheral equipment and assay failures. Identify areas for continuous improvement and actively contribute to the effort of introducing better practices to improve production workflows and shorten TAT for patient samples. QUALIFICATIONS: BA/BS with 6 years experience or MS with 2 years experience in assay development and automation for the life science industry. Demonstrated track record of development and validation of automated protocols for CLIA.

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives. The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you'll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you'll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.