Sr./Staff Scientist – Surface Chemistry

About the role

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and optimize surface chemistries (hydrogel, silane, self-assembled monolayers, brush polymer surfaces) for oligonucleotide/probe immobilization, amplification, and hybridization chemistries on next-generation sequencing (NGS), and molecular diagnostic (IVD) platforms.
• Develop and optimize surface functionalization processes on diverse substrate materials — glass, silicon, silicon nitride, metals/metal oxides, noble-metal electrodes, polymers, and patterned/micro-structured surfaces.
• Lead development and scale-up of surface deposition and patterning processes, including PE-CVD, CVD, spin-coating, dip-coating, spray-coating, vapor-phase deposition, plasma treatment/activation, and photolithographic/printed patterning methods.
• Characterize surface chemistry performance and quality using a broad suite of analytical techniques, correlating physicochemical properties to assay performance (signal, specificity, uniformity, density, non-specific binding).
• Work closely with electrode-based platform on surface modification of working/reference/counter electrodes and evaluation of electrochemical performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Assay Development, Reagent Chemistry, Device/Instrument Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality/Regulatory teams to transition surface chemistry processes from R&D through pilot scale-up and into IVD manufacturing under design control.
• Design and execute DOEs to optimize coating uniformity, reproducibility, shelf-life/stability, and lot-to-lot consistency; support root cause investigations and CAPAs related to surface chemistry performance.
• Author and maintain technical reports, protocols, batch records, DHF/design control documentation, and contribute to regulatory submissions (e.g., FDA 510(k)/PMA, CE-IVDR) as needed.
• Maintain awareness of literature and emerging technologies in surface chemistry, biofunctionalization, and diagnostic surface engineering; evaluate new materials/methods for potential adoption.
• Mentor junior scientists and associates; may manage or direct the work of research associates.
• Support IP strategy, including invention disclosures and patent support.
• Contribute to troubleshooting surface performance issues and root-cause analysis.

Requirements

• Experience in developing functional surfaces for biomolecular applications, ultra-low fouling surfaces, polymer thin-films, hydrogel networks.
• Working knowledge of nucleic acid chemistry and how surface properties affect hybridization thermodynamics, kinetics, etc.
• Surface deposition/patterning methods (PE-CVD, CVD, spin/dip/spray coating, plasma activation/etching, and photolithographic, or inkjet-based patterning.)
• Experience working with electrode surfaces and materials (e.g., gold, platinum, carbon, ITO) and/or electrochemical platforms.
• Experience with a wide range of substrate materials, including glass, silicon/silicon-based substrates, metal/metal-oxide, polymers/plastics, and patterned/micro-structured or micro-fabricated surfaces.
• Strong DOE, statistical analysis, and data interpretation skills.
• Solid empirical knowledge of bioconjugations in the context of microarrays and biointerfaces.
• Hands-on experience with analytical surface characterization methods:
• Contact angle goniometry / surface energy analysis
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) / SEM-EDS
• Ellipsometry (film thickness/uniformity)
• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, incl. ATR-FTIR)
• Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D)
• Profilometry (surface roughness/topography)
• Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) / cyclic voltammetry (CV)
• Fluorescence-based surface density/uniformity assays
• Zeta potential & surface charge characterization
• Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present technical results to cross-functional and leadership audiences.
• Familiarity with QC method development for surface characterization.
• Direct experience developing surface chemistry for NGS flow cells, IVD consumables, or microarray substrates in a regulated IVD or medical device environment.
• Experience with design controls (21 CFR 820.30 / ISO 13485) and transfer of chemistry/processes to manufacturing.
• Experience with cleanroom processes and semiconductor-adjacent fabrication techniques.
• Familiarity with biosensor or point-of-care diagnostic platform development.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off
• Access to additional voluntary benefits, employee perks, and discount programs
• We are committed to supporting the well-being of our employees and providing a strong foundation for both professional and personal success.
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k)
• PTO