{"id":3182559,"url":"https://alion.io/job/delfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract","title":"Senior Research Associate, Assay Development - PM Shift (Contract)","company":{"id":673999,"name":"DELFI Diagnostics","domain":"delfidiagnostics.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/delfidiagnostics","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"contractor","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Palo Alto, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":52,"max":63,"currency":"USD","period":"hour","gross":null,"usd_annual":126000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Design Controls","optional":false},{"name":"GLP","optional":false},{"name":"Next-Generation Sequencing","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T20:31:15Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T17:09:51Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"DELFI Diagnostics, Inc. (DELFI Diagnostics) is developing next-generation, blood-based tests that are reliable, accessible and deliver a new way to help detect cancer. Employing advanced machine-learning methods to whole-genome sequencing data, the DELFI (\"DNA EvaLuation of Fragments for early Interception\") platform is built to address the highest-burden health challenges. DELFI Diagnostics prioritizes solutions that have the potential to save lives on a global scale, including for historically underserved populations. DELFI Diagnostics’ platform relies on fragmentomics - the discovery that cancer cells are more chaotic than normal cells and, when they die, leave behind tell-tale patterns and characteristics of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments. FirstLook Lung, for individuals eligible for lung cancer screening, is DELFI Diagnostics’ first laboratory-developed screening test and can be part of routine blood work. FirstLook Lung uses millions of data points to reliably identify individuals who may have cancer detected through low-dose CT, including early stage disease with a negative predictive value of 99.8 percent. This test has not been cleared or approved by the FDA.\nIn our passionate pursuit to radically improve health outcomes, we serve humanity when we:\nLead with Science, Anchor in Pragmatism: We pioneer life-changing science by ensuring quality, transparency, and rigor at all times. We explore thoughtfully, experiment smartly, and deliver impact with conviction.\n\nBuild With & For All: We embrace diverse backgrounds to innovate and achieve together. We are not just building a product - we aim to disrupt the path of cancer for all - no matter geography or socioeconomic class\n\nPut We over I: We are a home for high-performing people. Through teamwork, we build collective intelligence. Each of us wins when those we serve and those who serve with us--win. We show up with empathy, humility, and integrity at every step of the journey.\n\nWhat You'll Do\nAs Sr. Research Associate, you will play a critical role in developing and validating next-generation sequencing assays from concept through commercial launch, working within a collaborative environment of scientists, engineers, and bioinformaticians. You will contribute to product development, verification, and validation activities for NGS-based laboratory tests for early cancer detection. The ideal candidates would have experience working under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in a CAP/CLIA/FDA-regulated environment.\nContribute to the success of a cohesive, innovative, motivated team that is dedicated to reducing cancer deaths through the following activities:\nDesign, execute, and troubleshoot moderate to complex laboratory experiments utilizing molecular biology techniques for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).\n\nPerform end-to-end experimental workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, and sequencing, while preparing samples and executing experiments with meticulous attention to detail and adherence to high-quality standards.\n\nCommunicate findings effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including biologists, bioinformaticians, statisticians, automation engineers, and quality control scientists, and present at scientific meetings.\n\nContribute to advancing assays through design control processes to meet product requirements and regulatory standards by maintaining comprehensive documentation.\n\nWhat You'll Bring\nRequired:\nBS with 3-4 years of experience, or MS with 2-3 years relevant field (e.g., biomedical engineering, molecular biology, genetics, or genomics) in assay development for the life science industry\n\nAbility to work day shift 7:30AM - 4PM during training and then PM shift 4PM to 12AM for up to 3 months during January - March\n\nProven ability to thoughtfully troubleshoot, communicate and escalate while working with limited support on a PM shift\n\nProficient in high-throughput manual laboratory techniques, including precision pipetting for large-scale sample processing\n\nProven track record in laboratory NGS execution and addressing technical challenges specific to nucleic acid extraction and library preparation for NGS\n\nStrong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to work independently\n\nSuperior organizational and project management abilities, including meticulous documentation practices, strategic planning, and effective time management with keen attention to detail\n\nPreferred:\nHands-on experience with automated liquid handling systems for assay development and execution\n\nExperience troubleshooting and communicating issues\n\nAdvanced data analysis skills using Excel and statistical software packages; programming experience in Python, R or similar languages is highly valued\n\nDirect experience in a regulated environment (CLIA, CAP, NYS, FDA, GXP, etc.)","description_format":"text","description_chars":4820,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Drug Discovery","Diagnostic Tests & IVD","Genomics & Genetic Testing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-23T22:05:55Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 2 · green card filings: 1","filings_12m":2,"filings_prev_12m":2,"green_card_filings_12m":1,"median_offered_wage_usd":169167,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":49,"reasons":["conf:1","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":126000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/delfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/delfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T17:19:33Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25908,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":673999},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=673999"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fdelfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fdelfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fdelfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/delfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fdelfi-diagnostics-senior-research-associate-assay-development-contract"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3182559}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"delfidiagnostics.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3182559},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); 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