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Scientist I

Pleasanton, CA 94588

Posted: 09/04/2026 Employment Type: Contract Industry: Research and Discovery Job Number: 12780 Pay Rate: 28.00 - 48.00 Remote Friendly: Onsite

Job Description

Our client develops, manufactures and supplies a wide array of innovative medical diagnostic products, services, tests, platforms and technologies.

OVERVIEW:

Microbial and mammalian cell culture systems are essential to the development of innovative molecular diagnostic solutions. As a Scientist II - Microbiology & Cell Culture, you will play a key role in cultivating, characterizing, and managing biological materials that enable our clients research and development efforts.

You will be part of the Biospecimen Acquisition and Management (BAM) team, a specialized scientific function within our client's responsible for the acquisition, characterization, production, and lifecycle management of biological materials used throughout the product development lifecycle. Leveraging expertise in microbiology, mammalian cell culture, and biospecimen management, the team delivers high-quality biological resources that accelerate scientific innovation across the entire portfolio.

The Scientist II position will facilitate the daily operations associated with fulfilling service requests for Culture Collection and panel activities, while providing best-in-class simple biological solutions to our customers to drive innovations. This position will be based on-site in Pleasanton, California.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

In this role, you will:
  • Plan and execute laboratory activities with a high degree of independence, applying scientific knowledge to support Culture Collection and panel production initiatives.
  • Under minimal supervision, executes assigned project activities using established procedures and applying scientific knowledge and accumulated experience to complete projects involving manipulating human cell lines, microorganism and/or other biological material.
  • Perform nucleic acid extraction (DNA/RNA/Plasmid), quantification and standard recombinant cloning techniques.
  • Grow bacterial cultures under sterile conditions to ensure successful transformation and plasmid propagation.
  • Generate, characterize, and manage biological materials that support assay development, clinical studies, and product development activities.
  • Analyze experimental data, troubleshoot technical challenges, and recommend solutions to support project objectives.
  • Lead small to moderate complexity projects by coordinating activities, managing timelines, and communicating progress with stakeholders.
  • Maintain accurate electronic laboratory records within validated systems, including LIMS and electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN), ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory requirements.
  • Contribute to scientific reports, technical documentation, presentations, and knowledge transfer activities across cross-functional teams.
  • Support laboratory operations through equipment maintenance, inventory management, biosafety compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Perform all work in accordance with established safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA, ISO, and QSR standards.

Job Requirements

WHO YOU ARE:
  • You hold a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related scientific discipline with 4+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
  • You enjoy hands-on laboratory work and have experience performing microbiological techniques, mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, and aseptic laboratory practices.
  • You are comfortable working with diverse biological materials, including microorganisms, mammalian cell lines, and human-derived specimens in a BSL-2 laboratory environment.
  • May work a variety of infectious human material (HxV, pathogenic bacteria, or engineered material, etc) and sample types (blood, serum, urine, stool etc).
  • You are familiar with bacterial enumeration, MPN methods, MALDI-TOF identification, microbial taxonomy, and characterization techniques.
  • You take pride in maintaining high-quality laboratory documentation and understand the importance of data integrity, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and validated laboratory systems such as LIMS and electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN).
  • You enjoy independently planning laboratory work, managing multiple priorities, and solving scientific and technical challenges.
  • You are comfortable performing routine laboratory activities including plating, pipetting, labeling, stocking, and vialing biological materials.
  • You thrive in collaborative, cross-functional environments and enjoy partnering with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared scientific goals.
  • You are committed to continuous learning, scientific excellence, and supporting process improvements that enhance laboratory efficiency and quality.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
  • Experience with automated laboratory workflows or high-throughput systems.
  • Experience supporting platform or assay development.
  • Project management experience, including coordinating timelines and stakeholder communications.
  • Client-facing or customer support experience.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience working effectively within a global, matrixed organization.

Meet Your Recruiter

Jay Hite
Recruiter, Account Manager

As a Recruiter at Compass, Jay enjoys meeting job seekers and helping them to find new and exciting opportunities. He enjoys the process of getting to know candidates and learning all about their experience and what their future goals are. Jay feels the excitement of his candidates and is passionate about helping to find a fit both culturally and professionally. 

When Jay isn’t working, he enjoys bike rides, trying out new foods, tequila tasting and watching movies.  

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About Pleasanton, CA

Ready to embark on a fulfilling career journey in the vibrant region of Pleasanton, California? This picturesque city nestled in Alameda County offers a unique blend of suburban charm and exceptional growth opportunities for job seekers. Known for its charming downtown area with historic buildings, Pleasanton boasts a thriving arts scene with galleries like Firehouse Arts Center and Bankhead Theater. Indulge in the region's diverse cuisine, explore the scenic trails of Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area, and catch a game of the Oakland Athletics at the nearby RingCentral Coliseum. Embrace the enchanting culture and endless possibilities that Pleasanton has to offer as you explore our curated job listings to find your perfect match. Let's kickstart your career journey in Pleasanton, CA today!