Associate Director, Flow Cell and Surface Chemistry Research

Department: Engineering

Location: San Carlos

Compensation: $164K – $221K • Offers Equity • Offers Bonus

Employment Type: FullTime

At Nautilus, our mission is to improve the health of millions by unlocking the potential of the proteome to accelerate drug development and enable a new era of precision and personalized medicine. We are working on a single-molecule protein analysis platform that offers unprecedented sensitivity, scale, and ease of use. Our goal is to democratize access to the proteome, which is among the most dynamic and valuable sources of biological insight. To achieve this, we approach deep scientific challenges with an entrepreneurial spirit and are building a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers from diverse disciplines.

We are seeking a highly accomplished individual to provide leadership and drive the strategic vision for our flow cell and surface chemistry initiatives. This role will oversee a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing our platform’s flow cell and surface chemistry components. The successful candidate will utilize extensive expertise in surface chemistry, process development, and cross-functional project leadership, to play a pivotal role in both technology development and operational excellence throughout the organization. The position is in San Carlos, CA, and reports directly to the Vice President of Flow Cell Development.

Responsibilities

• Develop novel approaches to surface passivation and bioconjugation in the context of a single molecule, optical proteomic assay.

• Provide scientific and technical leadership on novel flowcell and surface chemistry related projects; guide team from early-stage research through proof of concept on platform

• Set the strategic direction for nanofabrication, surface modification, and flowcell assembly—ensuring alignment with company objectives.

• Oversee the development and validation of analytical and functional methods for characterizing chip patterning and surface chemistry processes.

• Ensure robust process validation and the implementation of analytical quality control (QC) methods for all stages of the surface modification process.

• Promote cross-functional collaboration with scientists, engineers, and operations teams, driving continuous improvement and innovation across all related processes.

• Mentor and develop a high-performing team, providing guidance, training, and opportunities for professional growth.

Requirements

• PhD and 6+ years of industrial experience, or BS and 12+ years of industrial experience.

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Analytical Chemistry, Surface Science, Polymer Chemistry, or related scientific and engineering disciplines, preferred.

• Experience with optical single molecule assays a must.

• Experience with metal oxide passivation and broad knowledge of bioconjugation techniques is required

• Prior experience supporting a commercial product line with a critical surface chemistry component is essential.

• Familiarity with strategies and methods for device qualification, functional testing, and failure analysis in low and high-volume environments

• Working knowledge of surface characterization techniques such as ellipsometry, XPS, AFM, fluorescence microscopy, etc.

• A basic knowledge of molecular biology and biochemistry is desirable.