Director, Assay Development

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 deep, hard science with an entrepreneurial mindset and creating a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers across a wide range of disciplines.

Nautilus brings together expertise in biology, chemistry, physics, software, hardware engineering, and bioinformatics. In this role, you will lead assay development and technology transfer as we prepare for the commercial launch of our transformative platform. The Assay Development & Integration team operates at the intersection of science, engineering, and operations, delivering innovative proteomics technologies. As a leader, you will establish and implement methods to ensure robust assay performance, meet product specifications, and effectively manage development timelines, resources, and budgets

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing technical team to develop and validate assay systems, workflows, controls, and metrics for a robust single-molecule protein detection platform.

• Deliver cross-functional product components as a member or leader of matrixed project teams.

• Drive root cause and permanent corrective actions to resolve issues as they arise.

• Individually, or in collaboration with colleagues, design, execute, analyze, and interpret critical, high-impact experiments.

• Provide clear and concise written and oral communication throughout the company to direct reports, colleagues, supervisors, and executives.

• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, quality, timely execution, and customer focus.

• Collaborate with advanced research, bioinformatics, product development, operations, and related teams to deliver integrated, scalable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions to complex technical challenges.

• Drive root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions to resolve issues with platform performance.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in managing and developing mid-sized R&D teams, including mentoring direct reports and fostering professional growth.

• Track record of delivering both early-stage research and late-stage development projects within tight timelines in dynamic, data-centric environments.

• Demonstrated innovation in scientific and strategic contexts, with success in building and launching robust assays and workflows.

• Advanced technical expertise in assay development, including integration with instruments and platforms, and experience with proteins, nucleic acids, nanoparticles, and small molecules.

• Exceptional data analysis skills, with strong analytical abilities and attention to detail.

• Effective cross-functional collaborator, excelling in matrixed organizations and multidisciplinary teams.

• Commitment to continuous learning, self-awareness, and scientific curiosity, driving personal and team growth toward organizational goals.

Nautilus Team Culture

• We are curious go-getters: this is a team of life-long learners who aren’t afraid to tackle big challenges, and we embrace the journey.

• We are detail oriented: we do great science by working smart & with diligence where we learn from our trials and mistakes.

• We are easy to work with: we want our workplace to be one where everyone can share their perspective and be treated with respect and kindness.