Postdoctoral Fellow – Materials Engineering & Advanced Microfabrication - Next-Gen Sequencing and Diagnostics Systems, Research & Early Development

About the Role

A healthier future drives us to innovate. At Roche, we are developing the next-generation of sequencing systems by accelerating clinical research, streamlining workflows, and expanding assay menus to broaden access to genomic data and lower barriers to adoption. We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our Systems Technology Group and play a major role in the Research and Early Development of new technology, devices, and instruments for next-generation DNA sequencing and molecular diagnostic platforms.

This hands-on, interdisciplinary role bridges biochemical applications and cutting-edge instrumentation. You will collaborate closely with a small, agile team to solve challenging problems, invent new technology, and advance the state-of-the-art in DNA sequencing systems. Your near-term focus will involve deep, hands-on training with our foundational efforts, mastering our chemistry, materials, and methods.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and assemble custom devices, fixtures, and breadboards using various rapid prototyping tools, including custom equipment.
• Develop and implement advanced microfabrication processes, including photolithography, deposition, etching, drilling, bonding, and dicing. Utilize precision metrology instruments to characterize components and evaluate manufacturing methodologies.
• Create and characterize new materials and bonding methodologies.
• Test, characterize, and troubleshoot complex fluidic systems and devices. Develop and optimize workflows on these systems while collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to drive technical progress.
• Generate comprehensive test plans, protocols, technical reports, and invention disclosures to document findings and methodology.
• Select, procure, install, validate, operate, repair, and maintain lab/fab equipment and custom instrumentation.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Biophysics, Nanotechnology, Micro-Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline with a thesis focused on solving a chemical or molecular biology problem using materials engineering and advanced microfabrication techniques.
• Solid understanding of physics, engineering, and chemistry fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience with advanced microfabrication techniques (lithography, thin-film deposition, wet and dry etching of metals and inorganic materials, and thermal fusion bonding processes).
• Demonstrated success porting complex chemical or biochemical assays or workflows onto novel fluidic systems and optimizing performance using a systematic approach.
• Demonstrated experience with Python scripting for instrument hardware control.
• Passion for science and technology; natural curiosity regarding technical, business, and market trends.
• Experience setting priorities, working with a sense of urgency, and being proactive.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid publication record, including at least one first-authored and peer-reviewed publication in a top-tier journal.
• Experience designing and testing microfluidic systems with active components and integrated sensors.
• Experience building, operating, and troubleshooting fixtures or breadboards with fluidic, pneumatic, thermal, and optical subsystems.
• Proficiency in operating and interpreting data from analytical instruments (e.g., qPCR, dPCR, Bioanalyzer/TapeStation, Qubit, NanoDrop).
• Solid understanding of molecular biology and sequencing fundamentals.
• Experience working with complex problems, demonstrated ability to see the bigger picture, and a desire to challenge the status quo.

About Roche Diagnostic’s Postdoctoral Program

Elevate your research career with Roche Diagnostic’s Postdoctoral Program. Join a prestigious community of early career researchers and kickstart your journey toward becoming a scientific leader in biotechnology and bioengineering. The program offers:

• Competitive salaries and fully funded research expenses.
• Opportunities to conduct world-class research aligned with Roche Diagnostics' strategic ambitions.
• Mentorship and support to develop into an independent scientific investigator.
• Access to the Genentech Postdoc Program, including world-class seminars and networking opportunities with leading scientists.

Pay

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Santa Clara, CA is $100,000 - $106,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Schedule

This position is based onsite in Santa Clara, CA. Relocation benefits are not provided for this role.

Benefits

This position qualifies for the benefits detailed at Roche Benefits.