Natera is seeking a Senior Commercialization Process Engineer to serve as the critical bridge between assay development and scalable lab production. This bench-level role is embedded early in the NPI process, working alongside Molecular Assay Development, Bioinformatics, Engineering, and Lab Operations teams to ensure that new oncology products are designed for production from day one, not retrofitted for scale after launch.
This is not a steady-state production role. This person thrives in the ambiguous, fast-moving space between R&D and operations, identifying workflow gaps, bridging informatics and lab systems, and ensuring that what gets built can be run at commercial scale reliably and repeatably.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Embed within New Product Introduction (NPI) programs from feasibility through design transfer, providing bench-level lab operations perspective on workflow design, automation feasibility, and scalability requirements
- Partner with Molecular Assay Development, Pathology, Automation, Software Engineering, and other teams to evaluate molecular workflows (WES, WGS, RNA-Seq) and tissue-based workflows (histology, H&E, IHC) for operational readiness, identifying design decisions across multiple disciplines that could create production risk or technical debt prior to launch.
- Serve as the Lab Ops liaison to informatics and LIMS teams, ensuring software systems, sample tracking, and data pipelines are production-ready and validated before Process Validation begins
- Perform hands-on and modeling workflow assessments, identifying bottlenecks, manual steps, and failure modes that should be resolved during development rather than post-launch
- Contribute Lab Operations perspective to User Needs documentation, FMEA, and process risk assessments at each NPI stage gate
- Collaborate with Engineering on instrument qualification and automation integration to ensure new platforms are operationally ready at launch
- Document workflow findings, improvement recommendations, and operational requirements in a structured format that feeds directly into the NPI Launch Playbook
- Support E2E testing in production environments, ensuring test conditions reflect real launch-state systems and volumes
- Perform other duties as assigned
QUALIFICTAION
- B.S. or M.S. in Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related discipline (equivalent combination of education and experience considered)
- Bachelor's degree plus 10 years of relevant experience OR a Master's degree with 7 years of experience OR PhD with 4 years of experience.
- Strong scientific background in molecular and cell biology, biotechnology, or biochemistry
- Working knowledge of CAP, CLIA, NYSDOH, and applicable GxP requirements, with the ability to follow and establish SOPs
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
- Familiarity with WES, WGS, or RNA-seq and other scientific workflows at a bench level, able to execute, troubleshoot, evaluate, and implement for scalability
- Experienced with NPI, product development, or assay launch processes
- Experience working at the intersection of lab operations and informatics or LIMS
- Strong working knowledge of laboratory systems, automation, software integration, with demonstrated success implementing process optimization projects
- Proficiency with data analysis tools (Excel required; Python, SQL, or AI enabled tools a plus) with basic statistical analysis
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to draft technical reports, SOPs, and training documentation
- Strong team player with a proven ability to work cross-functionally across scientific, engineering, and operational teams to achieve shared goals
- A flexible, self-starter with the ability to manage multiple priorities drive tasks to completion and operates effectively in fast-paced environments
Compensation & Total Rewards This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera's robust Total Rewards program, including:
- Annual performance incentive bonus
- Long-term equity awards
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous paid time off and company holidays
- Additional wellness and work-life benefits
Compensation Range
$141,636-$177,045 USD
OUR OPPORTUNITYNatera 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 OFFERCompetitive 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!
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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.
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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
