Systems Scientist, Product Development

About the role

• Work Schedule
• Standard (Mon-Fri)
• Environmental Conditions
• Laboratory Setting

About the role

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, including protecting the environment, ensuring food safety, and helping find cures for cancer.

Location: Pleasanton, CA. Relocation assistance is NOT provided.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.

About the role

We are seeking a Systems Scientist II, Product Development to join our Research & Development team. In this role, you will contribute to the development, integration, and optimization of products and technologies by applying a systems-level approach to scientific and technical challenges.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, results-oriented scientist with strong scientific and technical acumen and a demonstrated ability to contribute to product development from a systems perspective. This role requires hands-on laboratory experience as well as the ability to investigate and troubleshoot issues across assays, reagents, instrumentation, hardware, software, and workflows.

You will design and execute experiments, analyze and interpret data, identify root causes of technical issues, and develop and demonstrate solutions that improve system performance and product robustness. You will work closely with cross-functional partners to translate experimental findings into actionable recommendations and support product development milestones.

What You Will Do

• Design, plan, and execute experiments in support of product and systems development.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data to draw sound technical conclusions and guide development decisions.
• Evaluate system performance across assays, reagents, hardware, instrumentation, software, and workflows.
• Identify and investigate root causes of complex technical issues using structured troubleshooting and data-driven approaches.
• Develop, test, and demonstrate solutions to system-level issues.
• Integrate findings across multiple technical disciplines to understand interactions, dependencies, and sources of system variability.
• Document experimental methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations clearly and accurately.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, software teams, and other cross-functional partners to achieve product development objectives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of experimental methods, development processes, and product performance.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to colleagues as appropriate.

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline with no prior experience required; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline plus at least 2 years of relevant industry or research experience.
• Preferred fields of study include Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, or a related scientific or technical discipline.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong hands-on laboratory skills and technical expertise with laboratory techniques and instrumentation relevant to the role.
• Demonstrated ability to design, execute, analyze, and interpret complex experiments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills, including the ability to investigate issues involving multiple system components.
• Ability to understand interactions among assays, reagents, hardware, software, instrumentation, and processes.
• Proficiency with relevant laboratory instrumentation, software, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific and technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across scientific and engineering disciplines.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize activities, and adapt to changing project needs and priorities.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and mentor team members.
• Knowledge of applicable laboratory safety protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working within quality systems such as GMP, GLP, or ISO environments is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 10–20% as needed.
• Willingness and ability to work on-site full time.

Additional information

We offer competitive remuneration, annual incentive plan bonus scheme, healthcare, company 401k, and a range of employee benefits! Thermo Fisher Scientific offers employment with an innovative, forward-thinking organization, and outstanding career and development prospects. We offer an exciting company culture that stands for integrity, intensity, involvement, and innovation.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $79,500.00–$130,000.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount