Research Associate II – Drug Discovery

Research Associate II – Drug Discovery

Anticipated Salary Range: $80,000–$90,000

Seattle, WA | Onsite | Direct Hire

We are seeking a hands‑on bench scientist with particularly strong RT-qPCR and mammalian cell culture experience who enjoys assay development, troubleshooting, and supporting early‑stage drug discovery research.

This individual will work closely with scientists across biology, proteomics, automation, and computational disciplines to execute molecular and cell‑based experiments, evaluate compound activity, validate screening hits, and optimize assays supporting drug discovery programs.

• Perform mammalian cell culture, including maintenance and experimental manipulation of cancer cell lines.
• Execute RT-qPCR and multiplex RT-qPCR assays to evaluate gene expression and compound activity.
• Design, evaluate, and optimize primers, probes, and oligonucleotides
  .
• Conduct cell-based assays, including viability, proliferation, apoptosis, reporter, and compound-response assays.
• Perform compound-treatment, dose-response, and follow‑up validation experiments.
• Support validation and characterization of hits identified through screening campaigns.
• Develop, optimize, troubleshoot, and scale molecular and cell‑based biological assays.
• Analyze experimental results and communicate findings to cross‑functional scientific teams.
• Maintain accurate laboratory documentation, protocols, and experimental records.
• Collaborate with scientists across biology, proteomics, automation, and computational/data‑science functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, molecular biology, cell biology, cancer biology, biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Approximately 3+ years of relevant hands‑on laboratory experience; candidates with a master’s degree and relevant practical laboratory experience may also be considered.
• Strong hands‑on RT-qPCR experience.
• Strong hands‑on mammalian cell‑culture experience.
• Experience designing, selecting, or optimizing primers, probes, or oligonucleotides.
• Experience developing, optimizing, or troubleshooting biological assays.
• Ability to independently organize, execute, document, and analyze multiple experiments.
• Strong scientific communication and laboratory documentation skills.

• Biotechnology or pharmaceutical drug‑discovery experience
  .
• Experience working with cancer cell lines
  .
• Compound screening or hit‑validation experience.
• Multiplex RT-qPCR.
• CRISPR, RNAi, transfection, or related gene‑perturbation techniques.
• Gene‑regulation or transcription‑factor biology.
• Medium‑ or high‑throughput screening.
• Laboratory automation.
• Graph Pad Prism or similar scientific‑analysis software.

The strongest candidate will be a hands‑on Research Associate who has personally performed RT‑qPCR and mammalian cell culture at the bench and can speak in detail about assay optimization, troubleshooting, experimental design, and data interpretation.

This opportunity is especially well suited for a scientist who enjoys solving experimental problems, working across multiple biological techniques, and contributing directly to fast‑moving drug‑discovery programs.

• Employment Type:
  
  Direct Hire
• Location:
  
  Seattle, WA
• Work Arrangement:
  Onsite
• Anticipated Base Salary Range: $80,000–$90,000 annually

Benefits include:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Benefits (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• Life & Disability Insurance (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
• Met Life Voluntary Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401K Retirement Savings Plan
• Direct Deposit & weekly epayroll
• Referral Bonus Programs
• Certification and training opportunities

Note:

Any pay ranges…