Principal Scientist; Associate Director), Reagent Product Development

Principal Scientist (Associate Director), Reagent Product Development

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to lead the product development of reagents and workflows for a Quantum-Si protein sequencing platform. This role owns the technical strategy, team execution, and cross-functional delivery of an integrated reagent system — multiple functional proteins, buffers, and additives —that must be co-optimized with the instrument's flowcell surface chemistry, optical detection, and thermal control subsystems.

The successful candidate willmanagea team ofworkstream ownerstodevelop thesequencingreagentset, andwillrepresentthe reagent function on the cross-functional core team alongside leaders in Operations, Engineering, Systems Integration, and Marketing. This isaleadership role with substantial scientific, programmatic, and organizational impact.

As part of our team, your core responsibilities will be:

Scientific & Product Development Leadership

• Own end-to-end product development for an integrated reagent kit, including recognizer/binder mixes, conjugates, sequencing and wash buffers, quenchers, and supporting additives.
• Drive integrated optimization of multiple protein-based reagents and supporting chemistry to meet platform performance specifications in concert with flowcell surface chemistry, optics, and thermal control.
• Guide the team through the full Product Development Process (PDP): feasibility, design development, design verification, validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Identify and mitigate technical risk early; lead complex root-cause investigations using DOE and advanced statistical analysis.
• Author and review key technical documentation, including product requirements documents, design verification protocols/reports, and tech transfer packages.
• Contribute to the multi-year reagent innovation roadmap across current and future platforms.
• Manage and develop teams responsible for distinct reagent classes (e.g., recognizer development, bioconjugation, buffer/additive optimization, assay and QC development).
• Set technical direction, prioritize across work streams, allocate resources, remove barriers, and ensure accountability for milestone delivery.
• Mentor scientists and managers; build a culture of scientific and product development rigor, urgency, and cross-site collaboration.

Cross-Functional Program Collaboration

• Serve as the reagent function's representative on the platform core team, partnering with leaders in Instrument Engineering, Systems Integration, Operations/Manufacturing, Quality, and Marketing to align reagent design with platform-level requirements and commercial goals.
• Translate platform-level performance targets into reagent design requirements and verification criteria.
• Drive the cross-functional schedule for reagent design lock, design verification testing, manufacturing transfer, and commercial launch readiness.
• Coordinate the transfer of new proteins and dyes from upstream component-development teams and their incorporation into reagent designs.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or related field .
• 12+ years of relevant industry experience, including 8+ years in product development, with demonstrated leadership of reagent or assay development for a complex integrated product ( instrument, consumable, and chemistry ) .
• Proven track record of successfully leading teams to launch one or more commercial products through a formal PDP, including design verification, validation, and transfer to manufacturing and QC .
• Direct experience in developing protein-based reagents and/or sequencing chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience leading other leaders (managing managers or senior ICs running work streams).
• Strong working understanding of how reagents interact with optical detection, fluidics, surface chemistry, and thermal control subsystems.
• Expertise in DOE, statistical analysis of large datasets, variation analysis , critical parameter management , and root-cause investigation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to operate fluidly between bench-level technical discussion and executive-level program communication.
• Demonstrated ability to…