Senior Scientist, Biochemistry & Assay Development

About the role

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights. We are a highly collaborative, R&D-driven team operating in a fast-paced, early-stage environment. Our scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve complex technical challenges and translate innovation into scalable, real-world applications. At Sarmal, we value scientific rigor, curiosity, and a builder mindset. We are looking for individuals who are energized by ambiguity, motivated by impact, and excited to help bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented Senior Scientist with expertise in biochemistry, protein science, and quantitative assay development to drive the biological and biochemical aspects of our platform. This role focuses on developing and optimizing plate-based biochemical assays, preparing and characterizing DNA-barcoded affinity reagents (antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates), and establishing quantitative methods for protein detection using ddPCR and NGS readouts. You will work closely with our surface chemistry team to integrate biochemical assays with functionalized electrode surfaces, translating proof-of-concept experiments into robust, reproducible diagnostic workflows. This role is ideal for a biochemist with strong experience in recombinant protein expression and purification, bioconjugation chemistry, and microplate-based assay development who thrives on optimizing complex multi-step workflows and enjoys bridging chemistry with biology.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize quantitative biochemical and molecular assays for protein detection and characterization
• Establish and validate assay performance, including sensitivity, specificity, dynamic range, precision, and reproducibility
• Optimize assay conditions, sample preparation methods, and workflow parameters to improve performance and robustness
• Develop orthogonal methods to confirm experimental findings and support data integrity
• Analyze and interpret complex experimental results and communicate findings to cross-functional teams
• Express, purify, and characterize recombinant proteins and affinity reagents
• Support development and optimization of antibody-based and nucleic acid-enabled detection strategies
• Perform protein characterization using standard biochemical and analytical techniques
• Establish quality control methods and acceptance criteria for critical reagents
• Maintain traceability, documentation, and inventory of key biological materials
• Partner closely with chemistry, engineering, and platform development teams to integrate biochemical workflows into broader system architectures
• Support development of workflows for complex biological samples and clinically relevant matrices
• Troubleshoot technical challenges through systematic experimentation and root-cause analysis
• Contribute to experimental planning, technical reviews, and strategic discussions regarding platform development
• Present results and recommendations to project teams and leadership
• Author technical reports, SOPs, protocols, and supporting documentation
• Contribute to patent applications, publications, and scientific presentations as appropriate
• Mentor junior scientists and foster scientific excellence within the organization
• Evaluate emerging technologies, scientific literature, and external partners to support innovation initiatives

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline; OR M.S. in a relevant field with 5+ years of industry experience