Jobs – May, 2022

R&D Engineer w/ Analytical Instrumentation, Systems Integration Exp – Sunnyvale, CA

There are several exciting opportunities for product development research associate/ technician/ engineers in developing, testing, optimizing and troubleshooting aspects related to novel diagnostics technology platform & to work with novel detection systems, complex fluidic systems and assay optimization on prototypes and automated systems. The compensation will be competitive and includes stock with a huge potential as well as competitive benefits package. Company is found by a veteran leader and focuses on development and commercialization of biochip-based detection platforms for ultra-high sensitivity diagnostics & bioanalytical applications. This role requires working with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists and manufacturing personnel. Part of the activities might be conducted in a BSL2 laboratory area and could involve the handling of human patient fluid samples. Other activities might be conducted in a CER (controlled environment) setting.

Responsibilities

Testing, development and optimization of functional biochips, fluidic cartridges & analytical instruments; Support document prep; Use Good Documentation Practices (GDP) while authoring Experimental summaries, DOPs, SOPs, batch records (BRs) and forms (FRs) for various unit operations; Process development & optimization related to biomolecular sensing; Support all aspects of technology transfer to & from development partners; Develop, test & execute QC procedures; Process troubleshooting to determine root cause & find possible engineering solutions.

Requirements: MS in bio-, mechanical-, electrical- or chemical engineering, chem or biochem, or related; 5+ years hands-on R&D, engineering or product development and project/ people management experience. Experience in developing custom equipment by collaborating with external vendors or internal engineering resources; hands-on experience in mechanical design and in building & operating electronic systems; Proficiency in CAD design; Experience w/ statistical analysis software as well as with instrument-oriented programming language(s) (e.g. Python; LabView); Experience with standard biotech laboratory and/or manufacturing equipment & working with biological or biochemical systems (e.g. proteins, nucleic-acids, cells and/or bio-organic molecules); Experienced using diverse analytical instruments e.g. oscilloscopes, DAQ interfaces; Experienced in cGMPs & in authoring DOPs, BRs, FRs; Experience in V&V of instruments and processes; and Knowledge of data analysis methods.

Optics & Photonics Research Scientist/ Engineer w/ microfluidics/ lab-on-a-chip Exp – Sunnyvale CA

This is an exciting opening for interdisciplinary research scientist/ engineer with experience in photonics, material science and/or biological applications product development to work in multi-disciplinary team, in developing, testing, optimizing and troubleshooting aspects related to novel diagnostics technology platform & to work with novel detection systems, complex fluidic systems and assay optimization on prototypes and automated systems. The compensation will be competitive and includes stock with a huge potential as well as a competitive benefits package. Company is founded by a veteran leader & focuses on development & commercialization of biochip-based detection platforms for ultra-high sensitivity diagnostics & bioanalytical applications. Part of the activities might be conducted in a BSL2 laboratory area and could involve the handling of human patient fluid samples. Other activities might be conducted in a CER (controlled environment) setting.

Responsibilities: Support optofluidic platform technology development, & development of single-molecule detection technology with novel reagents & fluidic cartridges, as well as instrumentation for detection, sample preparation & corresponding software; Support diverse aspects related to mid-stage development of a bio-chip based, optofluidic diagnostics platform; Apply diverse knowledge of design principles, practices & implementation in complex systems & assignments; Design, optimize, test, & support validation of optofluidic chips, optical/fluidic interfaces, sample processing technology & instruments, in collaboration with other groups & external suppliers; Develop, evolve & maintain custom optoelectronic systems used for testing and characterizing optofluidic systems; Analyze & present data including images, time traces, assay flows, optical spectrums; Conduct statistical analysis & build/implement/test models for stochastic, high-volume data; Support all aspects of technology transfer to and from internal and external partners; Interface with internal resources and external vendors to design, test & validate equipment.

Requirements: BS/ MS in bio-, mechanical-, electrical- or chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, or related plus 1-5 years hands-on R&D or engineering experience; Extensive theoretical and hands-on experience in optics/photonics; Experience bridging the fields of photonics/optical engineering, microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip & statistics; Exp in design of optical systems (free space & chip based) & in using simulation software eg. ray tracing software for system design & FEM/FDM/BPM etc for chip design: Proficiency in statistical analysis (e.g. Python, JMP, Matlab, etc.) as well as instrument-oriented programming language(s) (e.g. Python; LabView); Experience in using diverse, analytical instruments such as oscilloscopes, DAQ interfaces, UV-VIS spectrometers, scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), fluorescence microscopes, etc. Expertise in optofluidics, Hands on ability to work-with/manipulate/couple optical fiber and respective components, Proficiency with digital/analogue signals & systems; Experience simulating in Multiphysics environments (e.g. Comsol, Lumerical) and Circuit design and simulation experience are all HUGE PLUSES.

Finally, ONLY CANDIDATES PROVIDING A POSITION SPECIFIC COVER LETTER WILL BE CONSIDERED!

Software Engineer  w/ experience building products in multi-disciplinary envt – Santa Clara, CA

This is an exciting opening software engineer with experience software & hardware development to design, develop & implement a growing suite of bioanalytical solutions comprised of integrated biochips, proprietary reagents & custom instrumentation. The company is founded by a veteran leader and is developing single molecule detection technology, and is focusing on development & commercialization of biochip-based detection platforms for ultra-high sensitivity diagnostics & bioanalytical applications. 

Responsibilities: Lead / Support Software, Firmware & UI development aspects related to the development of novel, diagnostic instrument platforms; Develop control/analysis software for RUO (Research Use Only) & FDA regulated instrumentation; Develop / Contribute to a custom user interface for scientific & medical diagnostic systems; Support all aspects of technology transfer to & from internal & external partners; and work with a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Requirements: B.S. with 3+ years of relevant experience (Level I), B.S./M.S. with 7+ years of relevant experience. (Level III). Requirements also include, Significant experience with instrument-related software engineering using C#; Experience with Python programming; Exp w/ industry coding best practices (Git management, unit testing, documentation, etc; Experience developing, implementing, consuming & supporting contracted APIs. Also preferred: Experience with interface standards (e.g. GraphQL, OpenAPI, etc.); Experience with firmware level interaction (e.g. C). Experience with delivering quality conformant software (e.g. SaMD); Experience with complex data analysis challenges; Ability to develop custom equipment with external vendors and/or internal engineering resources.

Finally, ONLY CANDIDATES PROVIDING A POSITION SPECIFIC COVER LETTER WILL BE CONSIDERED!

Senior Manufacturing Engineer – S. San Jose, CA

Bay Area start-up focusing on improving healthcare delivery through state-of-the-art catheter development has an immediate opening for senior manufacturing enginee, to support the development and production of innovative catheters ensuring high reliability, regulatory adherence, and cost-effective manufacturability.

Requirements: Minimum 10 years history of experience in medical device manufacturing environment; Proficiency in Solidworks; Experience writing protocols & test reports; Experience using inspection and test equipment (vision systems, tensile testing) are required.

Responsibilities: Support manufacturing activities; Spend time on the manufacturing line with the assemblers to improve processes & increase quality; Develop assembly & test fixturing; Create, validate & document new manufacturing processes; Write protocols & test reports; Prepare manufacturing lines for significant scale up; Conduct process verification & validation activities; Initiate failure analysis in manufacturing; Design, write & perform equipment qualifications & process validations; Facilitate transitioning development products to full scale production line; Collaborate with existing suppliers & bring up new ones with an eye towards partnership & efficiency. 

Associate Director/Director Validation – SJ  /QUALITY – QA TEAM

There is an immediate opportunity for Director of Validation in San Jose, CA in a pharmaceutical company with novel drug delivery technology. The company recently had an IPO event and the stock has held very well and the technology holds promise to be a game changing improvement in the quality of care for many patients. The company has a world class team in place. Director of Validation is a hands-on role responsible for the execution of validation activities: To develop & implement harmonized validation processes & practices; Develop a qualified team; Manage validation/qualification of equipment, facilities, utilities, cleaning, sterilization, automated systems, and computer system validation in a cGMP environment. 

Skills & Experiences: 

Responsibilities: Ensure development & implementation of validation strategies & internal SOPs; Write & review qualification & validation documents; Lead & support qualification & validation of cGMP equipment, facilities, utility systems, cleaning & manufacturing processes; Develop & maintain risk based, quality driven procedures & practices; Lead risk assessment activities; Identify, hire & develop, manage & support company’s validation expertise; Support change control program with respect to facility, utilities, equipment, cleaning & computerized systems validation changes; Evaluate validation impact of manufacturing process changes & equipment upgrades; Complete activities related to regulatory filings, production schedules and/or customer needs with respect to facilities, utilities, equipment, computer system validation, etc.; Ensure Quality meets or improves on budget, cost & efficiency targets (KPI’s) in line with business objectives; Support QA activities related to the assigned projects, including, but not limited to: internal and external audits, deviations, change control and CAPAs; Other duties/activities may be necessary to support departmental or company goals. 

Skills & Experience: BS in life science or engineering; 10+ validation exp in bio/pharma industry; 5+ years of supervisory/managerial experience; Knowledge Good Engineering Practices, FDA Quality System Regulations, ISO Standards (ISO 13485 and ISO 14971) & validation such as GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, and ASTM E2500; Knowledge of international & domestic cGMP regulations for pharmaceutical manufacturing; Technical writing, problem solving & analytical skills; Ability to review, analyze, summarize & interpret data, draw conclusions & make decisions/ recommendations; and Experience in project management. 

Quality Assurance – S. SJ

There is an immediate QA position available for support & performance of QA/QS functions/activities and adherence to applicable regulatory standards for medical devices. This is a vascular company founded by a seasoned entrepreneur whose previous company had $1B+ exit. This opportunity will offer competitive salary plus stock with huge potential.

Skills & Experience Required: BS in Science related area; 10+ yrs experience in FDA regulated industry; Exp with Quality Assurance practices & systems; Knowledge of ISO 13485 and FDA 21 CFR 820; MasterControl administration/process ownership; Maintain compliance of a certified QMS related to configuration control, document control, and change control. ASQ Certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities: Support devet & maintenance of QMS, ensuring alignment of corporate operations applicable regulations; Serve as system administrator for MasterControl Electronic Document Management and Training System (EDMS), including responsibility for configuration, user training, account management, training course creation and assignment & assessment of upgrades & patches. Maintain validated state of system throughout system lifecycle. Manage, process & track controlled documents from the Document Change Order (DCO) process until document approval or retirement, including updating related controlled documents; Revise controlled documents as appropriate & ensure timely reviews. Manage electronic approval of records/documents via DocuSign; Monitor & track completion of quality system records including CAPA, Deviation, and NCMR; Monitor training compliance & report any issues to management; Maintain Approved Supplier List (ASL) and ensure supplier files are current; Perform raw data review in support of technical reports and regulatory filings & Issue, track, and perform quarterly audits of laboratory notebooks. Assess corporate operations against quality system regulations, issue identification/ resolution including proper and timely documentation; Prepare quality metrics & reports; Facilitate & conduct internal & external audits; Perform history record review & disposition of device batches. Review/approve facility records as needed (pest control reports, cleaning logs, and environmental monitoring reports & Manage archival of hard-copy records.

Senior Manager CMC, Analytical Development – North San Jose, CA

There is an exciting job opportunity in San Jose, CA, to work on novel projects involving drug-device combinations for treating chronic diseases & participate in method and tech transfer from R&D to Manufacturing as appropriate. This is an exciting opportunity in a rapidly growing company to work with a world class team, on game changing technology with HUGE potential.

Requirements include: BS/MS in sciences PLUS 5+ years relevant bio/pharma experience; biologics analytical development exp in biophysical techniques & analytical characterization of peptides & proteins; solid oral dosage and/or parenteral sustained release formulation exp, exp in process development from early to late phase development; experience of working in GLP/GMP regulated environment, drug-device combination exp; knowledge analytical techniques such as various HPLC modes & detections, LC-MS, CE-SDS, peptide mapping, ELISA, cell-based assays, etc, for product characterization, comparability testing and PK/PD analyses; Exp in method validation and specification setting; Assessing chemical & physical stability of formulations, identifying stability, manufacturability, & performance critical quality attributes. Experience in protein purification & biologic formulation is a plus.

Healthcare and High-tech combining to combat Coronavirus Covid-19

As coronavirus is raging on, entrepreneurs and scientists are called upon to come up with innovative ways to deal with this deadly virus. For instance, after 11 Israelis were quarantined after disembarking from a cruise ship in Japan, Israel has become a “Living Lab” for technologies to treat the virus.  Israel, which has a large digital health sector, put out calls to entrepreneurs for proposals for new solutions to contain and combat the disease. Meanwhile, China is also taking a lead in exploring how futuristic technologies powered by artificial intelligence can help identify coronavirus symptoms, find new treatments, and track the spread of the disease.  Chinese scientists sequenced its genome and shared around the world within weeks.

 

Unlike MERS, but more like SARS, Coronavirus is very contagious and has a long incubation period when people feel fine as they unknowingly walk around, infecting others. After identifying infected people, it is challenging to care for them while trying to contain the disease. Some healthcare workers who cared for coronavirus patients have themselves died of infection. We also heard that even after learning of highly contagious and deadly CD-19 coronavirus, some healthcare workers from the USA were “improperly deployed” when sent to assist in bringing home the patients infected in China.

 

In caring for coronavirus patients, human touch needs to be avoided and assistance should be provided remotely. Robots and automated technologies are of great help here. Robots are being used to disinfect rooms, take laundry items, help check for symptoms and disease progression, deliver medications and communicate with family and healthcare providers.  Robots help disinfect surfaces and help in killing viruses and bacteria by emitting ultraviolet light.  Drones and self-driving vehicles can deliver medications and supplies, petrol public places, spray disinfectants and do general surveillance. 

 

Silicon Valley’s largest entrepreneurship conference, TiEcon 2020 has a dedicated track on health technologies. Amidst growing fears of coronavirus becoming a pandemic, emerging technologies like drones, robots, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning Digital Health and TeleHealth are likely to be game changers. Investors and entrepreneurs alike are focusing on the space with great interest. There will likely be exciting conversations as entrepreneurs from several countries (depending on travel restrictions), converge at TiEcon 2020, at Santa Clara Convention Center in CA, on May 8 and 9. If interested, you can register for the conference at www.TiEcon.org