About the Role:
The Director of Diagnostic Assay Development, reporting to the VP, Clinical Applications, will lead the design, prototyping, and validation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) based on 10x single-cell and spatial assay technologies. The ideal candidate has led clinical assay development in a diagnostic company operating a CLIA lab, has deep technical experience with advanced molecular and cellular profiling technologies (NGS, single-cell, spatial), and thrives in a hands-on leadership role managing a small R&D lab team while engaging with senior management, collaborators, and external partners.
What you will be doing:
Assay Development
- Design, prototype, troubleshoot, and optimize single-cell and spatial assays for clinical application.
- Develop and document robust assay workflows suitable for transfer into CLIA environments.
- Plan and oversee analytical validation studies, including accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and robustness testing.
- Lead method development for automation, throughput, and quality improvements.
Clinical Study and Validation Support
- Direct laboratory execution of large-scale clinical research studies, including partnerships with leading academic centers processing thousands of tumor and blood samples.
- Work with external collaborators to generate and interpret data that demonstrate clinical validity and utility.'
- Coordinate with bioinformatics and translational teams to align assay development with biomarker discovery and clinical readout requirements.
Cross-Functional and Organizational Leadership
- Act as the primary technical resource for the CLIA operations team.
- Collaborate with 10x platform and product teams to translate emerging technologies into clinically deployable assays.
- Manage and mentor a small team of scientists and research associates in a hands-on laboratory environment.
- Represent the diagnostic assay development function to internal leadership and external partners, providing clear communication of technical plans, progress, and results.
- Contribute to scientific manuscripts and presentations at major conferences.
Strategic Impact
- Build and maintain processes that ensure scientific rigor, regulatory readiness, and operational scalability.
- Help establish the laboratory infrastructure, quality systems, and best practices needed for clinical assay development.
- Contribute to the diagnostic strategy and roadmap for 10xDx.
To Be Successful in the role you will need:
- PhD in molecular biology, immunology, bioengineering, or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years' experience in clinical assay development, including 5 or more in a leadership role within a regulated diagnostics environment.
- Proven success developing and validating complex molecular assays (e.g., NGS, single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, multiplex imaging).
- Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to lead assay design, troubleshooting, and validation hands-on at the bench.
- Experience collaborating across research, development, and clinical teams.
- Familiarity with analytical validation requirements and CAP/CLIA standards
Additionally you are:
- Technically strong, detail-oriented, and driven by scientific rigor.
- Driven, thoughtful, and ambitious, with a high sense of ownership and urgency.
- Comfortable working at multiple levels—from day-to-day lab management to strategic planning and partner engagement.
- Motivated by building something new and impactful in the diagnostic space.
This is a highly visible leadership role at the intersection of advanced biology, genomic technology, and clinical translation. The Director of Diagnostic Assay Development will play a key part in establishing 10x as a leader in precision diagnostics by bringing next-generation single-cell and spatial technologies into clinical use.
Below is the base pay range for this full-time position. The actual base pay will depend on several factors unique to each candidate, including one’s skills, qualifications, and experience. At 10x, base pay is also just one component of the Company’s total compensation package. This role is also eligible for 10x’s equity grants, its comprehensive health and retirement benefit programs, and its annual bonus program or sales incentive program. During the hiring process, your 10x recruiter can share more about the Company’s total compensation package.
About 10x Genomics
At 10x Genomics, accelerating our understanding of biology is more than a mission for us. It is a commitment. This is the century of biology, and the breakthroughs we make now have the potential to change the world.
We enable scientists to advance their research, allowing them to address scientific questions they did not even know they could ask. Our tools have enabled fundamental discoveries across biology including cancer, immunology, and neuroscience.
Our teams are empowered and encouraged to follow their passions, pursue new ideas, and perform at their best in an inclusive and dynamic environment. We know that behind every scientific breakthrough, there is a deep infrastructure of talented people driving the life sciences industry and making it possible for scientists and clinicians to make new strides. We are dedicated to finding the very best person for every aspect of our work because the innovations and discoveries that we enable together will lead to better technologies, better treatments, and a better future. Find out how you can make a 10x difference.
Individuals seeking employment at 10x Genomics are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
10x does not accept unsolicited applicants submitted by third-party recruiters or agencies. Any resume or application submitted to 10x without a vendor agreement in place will be considered unsolicited and property of 10x, and 10x will not pay a placement fee.
