Biochemist

Principal Scientist / Principal Engineer

Lateral Flow Assay Development

Advanced Point-of-Care Diagnostics Group

About Intelligent Optical Systems

Intelligent Optical Systems (IOS) is a research-driven technology company specializing in optical sensing, test, and measurement solutions for government, industry, and academic customers. For more than 25 years, IOS has developed advanced optical biochemical sensors and associated instrumentation, with a growing focus on next-generation point-of-care diagnostics, including lateral flow assays (LFAs).

Our facilities are located in Gardena, California, near Los Angeles.

Position Overview

IOS is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist or Principal Engineer with demonstrated hands‑on expertise in lateral flow assay development to lead technical development within our Advanced Point-of-Care Diagnostics Group.

This is a hands‑on technical leadership role. The successful candidate will lead the development, optimization, validation, and clinical translation of lateral flow and related point‑of‑care assays, with responsibility spanning biological reagent selection and conjugation, assay materials and chemistry, troubleshooting, analytical validation, and integration with quantitative optical readout systems.

The role will initially focus on advancing existing IOS technologies through assay maturation, clinical validation, and preparation for FDA 510(k) studies. The successful candidate will also serve as a technical lead or Principal Investigator on funded programs, train and mentor other scientists, lead proposal development, and help grow IOS's point‑of‑care diagnostics portfolio.

Strong scientific judgment, organization, communication, and follow‑through are essential. The successful candidate must be able to establish technical priorities, identify problems early, maintain rigorous experimental practices, and move multidisciplinary development programs forward.

• Lead the development, optimization, troubleshooting, and maturation of lateral flow and related point‑of‑care assays.
• Select and optimize antibodies, antigens, labels, conjugation methods, membranes, pads, buffers, blocking chemistries, surfactants, and other assay components.
• Design experiments to improve sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, reproducibility, stability, robustness, and other analytical performance characteristics.
• Analyze experimental results and use data to guide assay‑development decisions.
• Plan and execute analytical validation studies, including precision, interference, cross‑reactivity, stability, and robustness.
• Support clinical validation studies and preparation for FDA regulatory studies and submissions.
• Apply appropriate GLP, GMP, biosafety, and quality principles throughout assay development and documentation.
• Work with external partners to customize, evaluate, and mature optoelectronic readout instrumentation for IOS point‑of‑care assays.

• Provide technical direction for point‑of‑care diagnostic programs and coordinate experimental activities across project team members.
• Serve as technical lead or Principal Investigator on government‑and industry‑funded R&D programs.
• Establish technical priorities, milestones, and experimental strategies; identify development risks and implement practical solutions.
• Train and mentor colleagues in relevant scientific theory, experimental techniques, assay‑development practices, and rigorous data organization and documentation.
• Lead development of government and industry research proposals, including technical approaches, experimental plans, milestones, and deliverables.
• Execute awarded programs in alignment with technical scope, schedule, budget, and…