Role Overview
Natera is hiring a entry-level Associate Scientist, R&D. This is a contract role in San Carlos. posted today. applications are still in the early window, before most candidates have applied. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.
Resume Keywords to Include
Make sure these keywords appear in your resume to improve ATS scoring
Job description
POSITION DURATION:
This is a six-month contract role located in San Carlos with the potential to extend or convert to full-time based on performance and business needs.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Join our dynamic and fast-paced assay development team as an Associate Scientist supporting the Organ Health business unit. In this predominantly laboratory-based role, you will be crucial to the project, conducting vital assay development and validation activities. You will engage deeply in the scientific process, conduct meticulous experiments, and collaborate closely with a cross-functional team of senior scientists, Lab operation, automation engineers, biostatisticians, and lab directors to advance cutting-edge technologies.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support the planning, design, execution, and reporting of assay development and validation studies under the design control quality system
- Prepare and characterize contrived clinical samples at the whole blood, plasma, or cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels
- Write clear and comprehensive study plans, execution protocols, research reports, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Process laboratory specimens with meticulous attention to detail, employing advanced techniques in LIMS, database queries for accurate tracking and verification
- Conduct independent experimentation, including reagent preparation and Quality Control (QC) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) assays
- Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks, document results accurately, and communicate findings through comprehensive research reports and lab meeting presentations
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education & Experience: B.S. degree with 2-5 years of experience, M.S. degree with 2+ years of experience, or a Ph.D. with 0-2 years of industry experience
- Proven industrial experience with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) based assays and protocols
- Extensive hands-on laboratory experience with nucleic acid and DNA/RNA molecular biology techniques, including extractions, PCR, NGS library preparation, hybrid capture, and DNA quantitation
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Experience with high-throughput sample processing and automated liquid handling equipment in a CLIA lab environment
- Familiarity and experience with cell-free DNA (cfDNA) technologies
- Experience in Design of Experiments (DOE), including stability testing, guard banding, and reproducibility/repeatability validations
- Previous experience working in a regulated environment
- Experience utilizing basic statistical analysis for experimental data
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and time management skills, with a proven ability to produce work of exceptional accuracy
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and cross-functional team culture
OUR OPPORTUNITY
Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.
The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.
WHAT WE OFFER
Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!
For more information, visit www.natera.com.
Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.
Link: https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/
Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @natera.com email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.
For more information:
- BBB announcement on job scams
- FBI Cyber Crime resource page
About Natera
Natera
natera.com
35 other open roles at Natera on TryApplyNow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the Associate Scientist, R&D position at Natera?
Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Natera. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.
Where is the Associate Scientist, R&D position at Natera located?
This position is based in San Carlos. Natera has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.
What does a Associate Scientist, R&D at Natera earn?
Natera has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.
When was the Associate Scientist, R&D role at Natera posted?
This role was posted on July 22, 2026 (today). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.
Is the Associate Scientist, R&D role at Natera entry-level?
Yes. This is an entry-level position. Strong candidates typically have 0-2 years of relevant work experience, internships, or significant project work. Read the full description for any specific qualification requirements Natera has listed.
More Jobs at Natera
View all →
AI-powered job search
Get every job scored to your resume
Upload your resume and get jobs ranked, your resume tailored, and employee contacts found automatically.
Get started freeNo credit card to start