Principal Engineer- Diagnostics

01-Nov-2024

Principal Engineer- Diagnostics

Wyss Institute at Harvard University

67301BR

Job Summary

The Wyss Institute is seeking an innovative technical leader with important expertise in program leadership, biological and chemical materials, assay development, device design, and the commercial, regulatory, and clinical requirements for diagnostics. You will be the technical lead for an institute-wide diagnostics effort with guidance from Wyss Core Faculty and experienced entrepreneur, Prof. David R. Walt. You will collaborate with dynamic teams of faculty, researchers, and product developers to discover and develop novel diagnostics, as well as assist in their commercialization through licensing to commercial partners or startup creation.

About Us :

The Wyss Institute’s mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. We harness the imagination of academia and the focus of industry to translate ground-breaking technologies into commercial products that solve big problems. We support research that universities, companies, and Venture Capital firms don’t fund because they view it as too risky. We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. For more information discover our technologies, catch up on our recent news, or watch our latest videos

About You:

You are a collaborative, impact-focused problem solver who wants to build and lead the development of novel diagnostic, analytical, and sensing technologies that will be commercialized as solutions to global challenges in healthcare and the environment. You want the opportunity to explore your scientific interests and apply your knowledge to tackle ambitious projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with resources from top notch scientific, operations and administrative professionals. You have experience in project leadership, product development within industry, with consideration for successful clinical implementation and commercialization, and bring an entrepreneurial mindset and sense of urgency to your work. You have experience in scaling and advancing technology programs along regulatory and commercial paths, as well as managing and mentoring small teams of technology developers. You enjoy working with diverse groups of people and leveraging your own expertise to create innovations that can change the world.

About the Role:

We are looking for an innovative leader with comprehensive understanding of product development for technologies that combine new sensing and detection methods with optimized performance, cost, measurement time, workflow integration, and user acceptance. You will have the privilege of contributing to the development of a comprehensive effort focusing on Diagnostics for Human and Planet Health. Reporting to the to the Senior Director of Business Development-Commercialization, you will collaborate with other Wyss leaders, external partners and internal teams to bring the most promising diagnostic technologies into the market. Leading multiple projects, you will focus on developing analytical assays, sensors and diagnostic devices that improve the health and wellbeing of patients and the planet. As a member of the Advanced Technology Team, you will be exposed to many different technology platforms and evaluate them toward their potential to drive scientific understanding, decision-making, and solutions in healthcare and environment, with the unique opportunity to fuel your passion by leading these efforts over time at the Institute or by co-founding a Wyss start-up.

Position Description

What You'll Do: 

• Perform outreach across the Wyss Institute community to identify projects that could lead to development of breakthrough diagnostic technologies, either alone or when combined with other technologies in development at the Institute, and foster the advancement of these opportunities by helping to obtain financial support from the Diagnostics for Human and Planet Health effort or external funding sources.
• Lead collaborative diagnostics projects towards new detection methods with tailored performance and cost to detect issues associated with disease and environmental contaminants.
• Collaborate with clinicians, industry experts, faculty and staff to establish new projects and initiatives that will lead to product development opportunities to further diagnostic and sensing technologies in healthcare and the environment
• Generate the scientific vision and write research proposals and reports to funding agencies, providing critical data, figures or information for grant and patent submissions
• Write and collaborate with faculty and other researchers on the preparation of manuscripts, abstracts and other publications of research findings
• Build relationships and collaborate with Clinicians and Key Opinion Leaders to confirm unmet needs and understand users’ workflow, identify biomarkers and analytes of interest, validate prototypes with clinically relevant and real-world samples and make decisions on which projects and areas of research to pursue
• Collaborate with teams and staff from the Biomarker Discovery and Multi-omics Labs and Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) including DxA Industrial Partners
• Work with Wyss Sponsored team to identify new funding opportunities; Assemble and motivate scientific grant writing teams and contribute to writing as required; Ensure that all grant reporting is managed and coordinated to meet time and content deadlines
• Review and manage all project budgets related to diagnostics
• Identify new external collaboration opportunities with the business development team and manage funding opportunities for sponsored research and licensing.
• Lead, mentor and train others on research methodology and may be responsible for direct reports
• Present research results at Wyss internal and external meetings, as well as provide descriptions of technologies to external visitors, investors, donors and funding agencies when required
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Basic Qualifications

What you'll need: 

• Advanced degree in chemistry, biology or engineering, bioengineering or related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of experience in product development and performance testing in support of pre-clinical or clinical studies and bringing a product through regulatory approval; A PhD may count towards years of experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Desirable Skills:

• PhD is strongly preferred
• Full-time, post-graduate product development-oriented experience in an industrial setting is preferred.
• Some experience in the design, development and testing of assays and sensors
• Demonstrated success leading and working in cross-functional teams.
• Excellent documentation, analytical, communication and inter-personal skills.
• Comfort in a fast-paced, translational environment and the ability to adjust scientific approach based upon changing priorities.
• Ability to seek out collaborations and to manage and to mentor others.

Additional Information

Offer contingent on successful completion of pre-placement medical evaluation

Why you’ll like working with us:

At the Wyss Institute, you’re a member of a supportive, dynamic community that is united by its shared goal of changing the world through groundbreaking technology development and commercialization. We encourage your professional growth and development through mentorship and tuition reimbursement to support continued learning, and more. We also support your physical, financial, and mental well-being through generous time off benefits, gym reimbursements, and other programs offered through Harvard. Our facility is located in a new, state-of-the-art life sciences building in the lively Fenway neighborhood, where you have access to multiple amenities including a roof top terrace with stunning views of Boston and proximity to numerous restaurants and cultural attractions.  We value an inclusive and diverse workforce, and believe that our differences enrich the work environment for all.

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Work Format Details

This is an in-person position based on our campus in Boston.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Technical

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

395060 Engineer

Work Format

On-Site

Sub-Unit

------------

Salary Grade

060

Department

Wyss Institute

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

As a collaborative organization, we at the Wyss Institute know that great innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve problems. As a result, we are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness both in and out of the lab. When recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you will bring in terms of education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We believe these differences in background, experience, and perspective enrich our work environment and are essential to our mission of solving complex problems through technology development and translation.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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