Sr. Research Associate -Systems Integration

Company Overview

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights.

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights.

We are a highly collaborative, R&D-driven team operating in a fast-paced, early-stage environment. Our scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve complex technical challenges and translate innovation into scalable, real-world applications.

At Sarmal, we value scientific rigor, curiosity, and a builder mindset. We are looking for individuals who are energized by ambiguity, motivated by impact, and excited to help bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

We are seeking a Senior Research Associate to drive systems integration efforts for our molecular diagnostics platform. This role sits at the interface of molecular biology and engineering and is responsible for the transition and optimization of molecular and biochemical processes onto automated sample-to-answer molecular diagnostic instrument platform and consumable.

• Build, characterize, and iterate on early prototype instrument and consumable systems, working closely with engineering, assay development, and chemistry teams.
• Lead integration testing, risk analysis, and troubleshooting across development cycles.
• Design and execute studies to characterize consumable performance (e.g., flow cell fluidics, reagent cartridges, sample prep modules) across manufacturing lots and design iterations.
• Support development and troubleshooting of fluidic and flow cell–based systems, including flow path design, priming/wetting behavior, bubble management, dead volume, and flow uniformity.
• Operate and troubleshoot fluorescence-based detection systems (imaging or plate-reader based), evaluating performance using metrics such as signal intensity, background, specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility.
• Translate bench-scale sample preparation, molecular processes and detection chemistries into integrated, system-compatible workflows.
• Define and execute integration testing protocols spanning fluidics, electronics/instrumentation, and assay chemistry to identify failure modes and performance bottlenecks.
• Generate and maintain rigorous documentation (protocols, data records, technical reports) suitable for design history files and regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with quality and regulatory functions to ensure development work aligns with GMP/ISO/FDA design control requirements as the program advances toward verification and validation.
• Contribute to design-for-manufacturability and design-for-reliability discussions for consumable and instrument subsystems.
• 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.
• Support IP strategy, including invention disclosures and patent support.
• Present data and recommendations to cross-functional project teams and leadership.

• BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or related field, with 5+ years of relevant industry experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Demonstrated…