Process Development Associate / Sr Process Development Associate

The Role

We are looking for a Process Development Associate to join our Technical Operations team. You will use rigorous experimental design and molecular biology expertise to take newly developed methods from R&D and turn them into robust, scalable, production-ready processes - then keep improving them. If you're excited to work hands-on at the bench, dig into data to find root causes, and partner across R&D, Automation, Manufacturing, and QA to raise the bar on speed, cost, and quality, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Partner with R&D to transfer newly developed molecular biology methods into reproducible, production-ready processes
• Contribute to continuous improvement projects, using process and cost data to prioritize and measure impact
• Perform DNA cloning and manipulation (PCR, restriction digestion, ligation, rolling-circle amplification, assembly (eg Gibson, Golden-gate, etc), transformation, gel electrophoresis, DNA purification and quantification)
• Maintain thorough, well-organized lab notebooks and experimental documentation
• Analyze data rigorously and present findings to the team
• Partner with QA/QC to ensure process changes are validated and meet quality standards before rollout
• Work hands-on alongside R&D, Manufacturing, Automation, and Informatics

What We're Looking For

Required

• BS or MS in molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related field
• 1-5 years of hands-on laboratory experience (academic or industry)
• Strong foundational skills in DNA cloning, manipulation, and analysis
• Experience with automated liquid handlers (eg. Hamilton, Tecan, Echo, iDOT)
• Meticulous attention to detail in experimental execution and documentation
• A proactive, can-do attitude. You're ready to jump in and execute wherever the work takes you, adapting quickly as priorities shift
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical findings and process changes to cross-functional partners in R&D, Manufacturing, Automation, and QA.
• Ability to learn new techniques and concepts quickly

Preferred

• Experience with process development, method optimization, scale-up, or technology transfer
• Experience working in a high throughput manufacturing environment
• Exposure to enzymatic assays or nucleic acid biochemistry
• Comfort working with ambiguity and shifting priorities in a fast-moving R&D environment

What We Offer

You'll work on technology that is fundamentally changing how DNA is made - enabling applications in gene therapy, synthetic biology, and beyond that weren't previously possible. This is an opportunity to have outsized impact at a well-funded, growing company with a collaborative team and hard technical problems worth solving.

• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment.
• The opportunity to be part of a company at the forefront of synthetic biology and innovation.

San Francisco Bay Area Pay Range $90k - $115k depending upon experience