Director of R&D – Molecular Biology

Fremont, CA
Full Time
Senior Manager/Supervisor
Job Description


Job Title: Director of R&D – Molecular Biology
Job Location: Fremont, CA
Status: Full-time employee
Salary Range: $130K to $160K

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of R&D – Molecular Biology to lead and expand our research and development programs. This role is ideal for an experienced leader with deep technical expertise in molecular biology, assay development, and nucleic acid technologies. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists and research associates, oversee complex product development pipelines, and drive strategic innovation from concept through commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific & Technical Leadership
  • Drive R&D strategy in molecular biology, including nucleic acid amplification, target enrichment, and library preparation.
  • Lead the development of innovative molecular assays, platforms, and products for NGS, PCR, or CRISPR applications.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies, trends, and scientific advancements.
  • Research related to NGS applications. Maintain a high level of expertise in this area to provide support to the broader scientific team.
  • Take accountability for delivering quality results on time and in a highly ethical and professional manner.
  • Implement project plans and oversee their execution.
  • Participate in internal scientific seminars and may represent company/division through talks, tutorials, and publications.
  • Transfer new products and processes to Manufacturing.
  • Support product launch activities and perform on-market product and manufacturing troubleshooting with strong “customer-first” mind set.
  • Maintain in-depth knowledge of relevant fields and techniques relevant to the NGS business unit.

Team Management
  • Hire, mentor, and manage a high-performing R&D team (scientists, associates, and engineers).
  • Establish clear goals, foster cross-functional collaboration, and ensure scientific rigor and execution excellence.
  • Provide technical oversight, guidance, and troubleshooting support across projects.

Program Oversight & Innovation
  • Develop and execute strategic R&D roadmaps aligned with company goals.
  • Oversee experimental design, data analysis, and validation for new product initiatives.
  • Collaborate closely with Product Management, Marketing, Operations, and Quality teams to ensure successful product launches.

Process & Compliance
  • Ensure all research and development activities follow regulatory, safety, and quality standards.
  • Establish and maintain SOPs, project documentation, and performance metrics.
  • Contribute to intellectual property development and scientific publications.

Requirements

Education
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biotechnology, or related discipline.


Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in molecular biology R&D, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
  • Proven track record of leading product development in the life sciences or diagnostics industry.
  • Deep knowledge of NGS workflows, PCR, qPCR, synthetic biology, or CRISPR-based technologies.
  • Strong knowledge and skills in molecular biology (including DNA, RNA and protein handling, PCR, qPCR, quantification methods) and relevant scientific fields.

Skills & Competencies
  • Strong knowledge and skills in molecular biology (including DNA, RNA and protein handling, PCR, qPCR, quantification methods) and relevant scientific fields with direct research experience with NGS.
  • Demonstrate mastery of laboratory methods and show ability to develop new methods.
  • Advanced data analysis is a plus.
  • Industrial experience in Product Development is a plus.
  • Ability to analyze experimental data and effectively explain conclusions. Ability to design and execute follow-up experiments independently.
  • Ability to use word processing, graphing, presentation and spreadsheet programs effectively.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills through formal and informal discussions with peers, supervisor, and team.
  • Demonstrate resourcefulness and the ability to identify and solve difficult and complex multi-factorial problems.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team.
  • Must be tolerant to change, ready to take on new challenges and open to learning new skills.
  • Must be organized and keep clear records of experiments and data.
 
  • Exceptional problem-solving, experimental design, and data interpretation skills.
  • Strong project management and strategic planning abilities.
  • Effective communicator with experience working across interdisciplinary teams.
  • Passion for innovation and scientific excellence.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Paragon Genomics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. Please review our Job Applicant Privacy Policy at http://www.paragongenomics.com/job-privacy-policy/ for information about how your personal data is processed and stored.

About Company:
Headquartered in Fremont, CA, Paragon Genomics is a dynamic and growing company developing and commercializing breakthrough target enrichment solutions for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). We are building a team of talented scientists, engineers and business professionals that thrive in a collaborative entrepreneurial environment. Our patented CleanPlex® technology solves the urgent throughput and efficiency bottlenecks of NGS target enrichment workflow and is applicable to many fast-growing markets in the genomics space. The Company was selected by a distinguished panel into the California Life Science Association F.A.S.T. Program in March 2016 and was accepted into the prestigious Stanford StartX Medicine Accelerator Program in September 2016.

Paragon Genomics offers a competitive and comprehensive employee benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, flexible spending account, 401K, paid time off, and stock options
 
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