Senior Principal Scientist - Assay Development

Role Description

Job Summary: Zoetis is a leading global health company dedicated to supporting veterinarians with a unique portfolio of cutting-edge products focused on prediction, detection, prevention, and treatment of animal health conditions. Our team in Durham is rapidly expanding and seeking passionate, talented, and experienced scientists to drive the development of state-of-the-art diagnostic solutions that empower veterinarians to make accurate, safe, and impactful medical decisions.

As part of the dynamic Product Development team, you will collaborate closely with our Research groups. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to pioneering predictive, diagnostic, monitoring, and prognostic products that improve animal care worldwide.

We are looking for motivated individuals dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine through innovation. You'll thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with exposure to diverse technologies, new product development, and multiple therapeutic areas-working across global teams and functions.

At Zoetis, we believe in "doing the right thing for the right reason," encourage open communication with "speaking up," and know that "teamwork makes the dreamwork." If you share these values and want to make a meaningful impact through collaboration and integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Apply knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology in oversight of experimental design and execution to advance the development of new products.
• Lead program or assay developments and optimization for diagnostic applications with integrity, always doing the right thing for the right reason.
• Lead a small team of scientists and/or be a technical lead on projects.
• Collaborate on strategy and project planning.
• Collaborate closely / lead collaborations with Systems Engineers to integrate hardware, software, consumables, and assays into seamless end-to-end diagnostic solutions, embracing the mindset that teamwork makes the dreamwork.
• Foster open communication and a culture where everyone is encouraged to speak up and share ideas.
• Lead, plan, execute, and manage diagnostic product verification and validation studies (e.g., ensuring assay accuracy and reproducibility meet specifications with accountability and transparency); draft protocols and reports with accountability and thoroughness.
• Analyze data and present findings clearly to management and stakeholders, promoting open dialogue and continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records reflecting our commitment to responsibility and doing the right thing for the right reason.
• Function as a subject matter expert on multiple projects, regulatory documentation, and laboratory maintenance while contributing proactively to a collaborative, respectful work environment.
• Stay current on industry advancements and proactively apply cutting-edge technologies to support innovation and excellence.
• Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence, including the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions, empathize with colleagues, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics effectively.

Educational Qualifications:

Senior Principal Scientist

• BA/BS or MA/MS in a scientific discipline related to biological and chemistry assay development. Minimum of 10 years of leading projects and laboratory experience in assay development in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics or related industries.
• PhD in a scientific discipline related to biological and chemistry assay development. Minimum of 5 years of leading projects and laboratory experience in assay development in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics or related industries.

Technical Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in effectively leading and mentoring a team of scientists. This includes skills in resolving conflicts and maintaining a positive team environment, and the capability to provide guidance and support to team members, fostering their professional growth.
• Experience strategizing, planning and overseeing projects.
• Expertise in immunoassay, commercial biomarker assay development, and biosafety protocols.
• Experience with biostatistics, bioinformatics, computational biology, etc. is preferred but not required. Proficient with statistical software (JMP, Prism) and Microsoft Office. Experience with Python or R preferred.
• Collaborative team player with a strong attention to detail and a proven track record in working both independently and as a team member to deliver high-quality results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to design, interpret, and present complex scientific data in a team environment is required.
• Highly self-motivated, excellent problem-solving skills, and enthusiastic.
• Process knowledge: Design control, configuration management, RISK management, documentation control, electronic lab book and management, laboratory and safety process management, sample acquisition and handling management.
• Experience in matrix environments with a track record of launching products; industrial manufacturing is a plus.

Preferred:

• Experience translating biomarker discovery into commercial diagnostic assay solutions.

If you're passionate about advancing veterinary health through innovative diagnostics, join us and make an impact!

Full time

Regular

Colleague

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

Zoetis is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other protected classification. Disabled individuals are given an equal opportunity to use our online application system. We offer reasonable accommodations as an alternative if requested by an individual with a disability. Please contact Zoetis Colleague Services at ... to request an accommodation. Zoetis also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must possess or obtain authorization to work in the US for Zoetis. Zoetis retains sole and exclusive discretion to pursue sponsorship for the acquisition or maintenance of nonimmigrant status and employment eligibility, considering factors such as availability of qualified US workers. Individuals requiring sponsorship must disclose this fact. Please note that Zoetis seeks information related to job applications from candidates for jobs in the U.S. solely via the following: (1) our company website at www.Zoetis.com/careers site, or (2) via email to/from addresses using only the Zoetis domain of "@zoetis.com". In addition, Zoetis does not use Google Hangout for any recruitment related activities. Any solicitation or request for information related to job applications with Zoetis via any other means and/or utilizing email addresses with any other domain should be disregarded. In addition, Zoetis will never ask candidates to make any type of personal financial investment related to gaining employment with Zoetis.