Staff Scientist, Flow Cell Consumable Characterization & Reliability

At Nautilus, we have a big and important mission: improve the health of millions by unleashing the potential of the proteome to accelerate drug development and enable a new world of precision and personalized medicine. We are developing a single-molecule protein analysis platform of unprecedented sensitivity, scale, and ease of use that we believe will democratize access to the proteome – one of the most dynamic and valuable sources of biological insight. To accomplish this, we are pursuing hard scientific problems with an entrepreneurial mindset and creating a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers across a wide range of disciplines.

We are hiring a Staff Scientist, Flow Cell Consumable Characterization & Reliability to join our growing team. This role will own characterization and analytical method development for flow cells on our Voyager proteomics platform, making sure flow cell performance within and across assays is reliable. You will run Voyager to functionally test flow cell formats and lots, use your material science knowledge to characterize flow cell surfaces and assemblies, and develop test methods to track performance over time.

Responsibilities

Flow cell characterization and functional testing

• Operate the Voyager instrument as a test platform to evaluate lot-to-lot consistency, design changes, and process changes for assay-relevant performance and reliability.

• Define incoming, in-process, and lot-release tests and acceptance criteria for flow cell assemblies to verify flow cell optical, mechanical, and fluidic performance, including characterization of surface chemistry, roughness, feature geometry, defects, uniformity, assembly, alignment and stability

• Employ techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle analysis, ellipsometry, XPS, and related analytical methods for surface characterization

• Correlate surface metrics with instrument performance to set meaningful surface specifications and conduct failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)

• Design and run functional tests of reagent consumables in conjunction with flow cell assemblies, including patterned array deposition, retention, and surface passivation; investigate reagent–surface interactions such as nonspecific adsorption, surface fouling, and degradation of surface chemistry

• Translate learnings into reliable test methods, in collaboration with the flow cell manufacturing, operations team, and contract manufacturers.

• Characterize reagent stability in contact with the flow cell over time, temperature, flow, and imaging cycles, including on-instrument and in-use stability

• Support failure analysis of non-conforming flow cells (leaks, contamination, optical defects) and hand findings to the design and process owners

• Conduct accelerated and long-term stability studies of flow cells and their components

Longitudinal data and analysis

• Develop standardized assay conditions for longitudinal traceability, and maintain test instruments and fixtures in a known, calibrated state so results are traceable

• Build data pipelines and analyses that join instrument run data with flow cell, instrument, and reagent records

• Track and review longitudinal data across flow cell lots, reagent lots, and instruments; flag drift early and present trends at regular quality reviews

• Communicate quality and reliability status to R&D, manufacturing, and program leadership in clear, decision-ready terms

• Write and maintain test methods, protocols, and reports to support design transfer and scale-up

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, or a related field with 6+ years of industry experience is required; MS with 10+ years or BS with 12+ years will also be considered

• Hands-on experience testing consumables, reagents, or devices on a scientific instrument (sequencing, imaging, microscopy, diagnostics, or similar) is required

• Working knowledge of buffer and protein solution chemistry, with experience designing functional and stability studies of reagents on surfaces or devices, is required

• Experience tracking and reviewing longitudinal QC or performance data to detect drift and support release decisions is required

Skills and Knowledge

• Hands-on AFM and ellipsometry experience with thin films, functionalized surfaces, or micro/nano-fabricated features, including data processing and interpretation, is required

• Practical use of statistical process control (SPC), gage R&R/measurement system analysis (MSA), and design of experiments (DoE), with a track record of turning the results into specifications or process changes

• Experience with failure analysis and structured root-cause methods (5-why, fishbone, FMEA)

Personal Attributes

• Track record of leading cross-functional investigations or qualification programs and influencing decisions

• Clear communicator to technical and leadership audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, R, or MATLAB for analysis of large instrument datasets; experience creating reports and dashboards

• Statistical software such as JMP or Minitab for DoE, capability, and MSA studies

• Experience in genomics, proteomics, or diagnostics consumables, ideally through new product introduction (NPI) and transfer to manufacturing

• Familiarity with surface chemistry (silanization, PEG/passivation, click chemistry conjugation) and single-molecule fluorescence imaging assays

• Working knowledge of quality systems, design controls, and change control

Nautilus Team Culture

• We are determined to do whatever it takes to get our platform into the hands of researchers who will use it to upend the status quo in basic research and healthcare.

• We work on cross functional teams, wear many hats, take risks to work through uncertainty, enjoy working collaboratively on challenging problems, and celebrate one another’s victories.

• We go above and beyond, but also strive to provide a supportive atmosphere of colleagues who are willing to lend a helping hand and make working at Nautilus not only fulfilling in its end goals, but enjoyable on a day-to-day basis.

Our Values

• Be Excellent

• Be a Good Human

• Catalyze Customer Success

• Dream Big

• Drive for Results

• Enjoy the Voyage

• Succeed as One Team