We are seeking an exceptional and highly motivated individual to join our team as a PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST. This position will report directly to the Associate Director, Microbiology R&D, and is based in Lexington, MA.

The  PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST will be responsible for providing technical expertise in the areas of bacterial physiology and molecular biology and will provide leadership for the construction of novel bacterial strains and the cultivation of clinically relevant pathogenic organisms.  This individual will work with our Microbiology team to refine established protocols and develop methods to enable production of test samples for development of novel assays in conjunction with our Assay Development team.  This role will perform hands-on execution in the laboratory.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide guidance and share technical expertise with members of the Microbiology R&D group.
• Optimize microbiological cultivation methods and processes for a broad array of microorganisms.
• Develop, refine, and execute SOPs and work instructions in the execution of protocols required for verification and validation procedures.
• Develop microbiological methods for titer level assignment and blood spiking to support assay development.
• Develop, establish and execute processes for preparation of spiked blood samples to support assay verification and validation activities.
• Contribute to other projects and initiatives as needed.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• PhD in Microbiology or Molecular Biology and 7+ years of experience, or MSc in Microbiology or Molecular Biology and 10+ years of experience.
• Technical expertise in microbiology with a strong background in bacterial physiology a plus.
• Proven track record of managing teams towards successful completion of projects.
• Demonstrated experience in generating bacterial strains and constructs.
• Experience in technology transfer and manufacturing procedures a plus.
• Excellent organizational, recordkeeping and communication skills.
• Experience working with a broad range of clinically relevant bacterial species.
• Experience working with pathogens in a BSL3 environment a plus.
• Demonstrated excellence with data analyses and attention to detail.
• Successful project management experience and demonstrated ability to achieve project timelines and milestones.

Required Skills Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent with a minimum of 8 years experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Requires strong leadership, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.      
• Must demonstrate good judgment to be able to plan and accomplish goals.
• Knowledge of SolidWorks, AutoCAD and Mastercam a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• A “Lean principles” practitioner is a huge plus.
• A self-motivated, team player and leader are key attributes required for the success in this job.