Staff Scientist - Assay Development at Illumina, Inc. in San Diego, California

Job Description:

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Illumina is seeking a talented individual to fulfill a Staff Scientist role in next-generation sequencing (NGS) Assay Development. This is a unique opportunity to join a team of scientists at the frontiers of innovation in sequencing. The Staff Scientist will work in a dynamic, team-oriented environment to create novel molecular biology tools for the preparation of samples for analysis on Illumina platforms. The Staff Scientist will participate in the development of high quality, robust new assays as part of a multidisciplinary team developing state-of- the-art technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative technologies and assays for next-generation sequencing platforms.


• Identify, evaluate, plan, and optimize research ideas leading to new robust assays and chemistries for next generation sequencing based on Illumina's proprietary technologies.


• Explore new technologies and identify creative solutions to overcome current limitations.


• Guide technical activities and make decisions involving designing, executing, analyzing and interpreting experiments to demonstrate feasibility of new methods and efficiently move products through pipeline.


• Troubleshoot and optimize assay conditions to achieve commercial levels of performance and robustness


• Manage goals within defined target timeframes and make decisions regarding the goals and progress of project subteams.


• Be a strong scientific individual contributor as well as a collaborative team member depending on project needs and be highly adaptive to changing project scopes and responsibilities.


• Mentor and coach junior staff in experimental design, execution, and interpretation.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ph. D. in the Biological Sciences (biology, biochemistry, chemistry) with 3+ years of experience in commercial product development (preferred), Master's degree with 6+ years of experience, or Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience.


• Strong background in molecular biology and biochemistry with a sound understanding of assay research and development.


• (Preferred) Experience with commercial development of products supporting FFPE tissues.


• Experience with library preparation technologies for RNA-Seq, multi-omics, spatial omics, and/or single-cell applications.


• Experience with a variety of sample types such as tissues (fresh-frozen and FFPE), blood, cell lines, etc.


• Demonstrated experience in characterization and testing of complex reagent formulations.


• Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills.


• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to clearly explain complex issues, present data and findings, evaluate risks, and communicate progress reports to a variety of audiences across functions and levels

#LI-ONSITE

The estimated base salary range for the Staff Scientist - Assay Development role based in the United States of America is: $115,800 - $173,800. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual's qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

At Illumina, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by cultivating an environment in which everyone contributes to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always been rooted in openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative views and perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and demonstrate our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion in the communities we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf