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Director, R&D (NGS/Genomics)

USA - South San Francisco, CA

Director, R&D (NGS/Genomics)

This role is 100% on-site at our South San Francisco headquarters.

The R&D team at Twist is seeking a curious, thoughtful, and driven leader in genomics and NGS to help us develop and enhance products and applications in the Genomics space.  Leveraging our silicon-based, massively parallel DNA synthesis platform, you will lead a team to develop, improve, and troubleshoot our latest genomics/NGS products, ranging from library preparation kits, enrichment reagents, synthetic controls, and beyond.  In this position, you will have the opportunity to work on leading-edge products for a variety of applications.

We are looking for people who have:

  • Deep technical knowledge. You know exactly what’s going on in the tube.
  • Fire in the belly. You want to move fast and see your work turn into real products that people use. The Pareto principle is in your blood.
  • Common sense. Your scientific intuition is usually correct; you avoid rabbit holes and unlikely explanations

As Director of R&D at Twist Bioscience, you will:

  • Oversee research and development of new NGS/genomics products
  • Drive continuous improvement of existing processes and products
  • Manage a diverse team of scientists 
  • Provide technical leadership on wet and dry lab research in the NGS/genomics space
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to define the genomics product pipeline and develop corporate strategies and plans
  • Work with leadership to translate early research into product deliverables

Responsibilities

  • Serve as technical leader for the NGS/Genomics team. Guide research efforts by overseeing experimental design and data analysis on both the wet- and dry-lab sides
  • Manage, recruit, and retain a world-class team of research scientists.  Foster a culture of speed and technical excellence in an ISO environment.
  • Set and keep aggressive timelines to meet business growth and corporate goals.
  • Conceive of and execute projects for the development of new NGS/genomics products from concept phase to commercial launch.
  • Interact cross-functionally to help guide product development projects.  Communicate technical details and timelines to drive decision-making.
  • Ensure projects stay on track by running or attending recurring project status meetings, assigning owners and due dates, and following up on progress. Remove blockers for the team.  Assess timelines and manage priorities.
  • Work with external customers on a diverse set of projects; evaluate opportunities for product line fit in line with strategic vision
  • Collaborate in a fast-paced environment across multiple functional areas in the US, Europe, and Asia
  • Foster a cross-functionally collaborative and innovative team culture

Qualifications

  • PhD with 6+ years post-graduate experience or Master’s degree with 10+ years in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Genomics, Chemistry, or a closely related field. Industrial experience in NGS/Genomics at a biotech company is required
  • Expert understanding of molecular biology techniques including library preparation, molecular cloning, DNA modifications, DNA amplification/purification, Target Enrichment, DNA quantitation/characterization (dPCR, qPCR, chromatography), etc.
  • Deep understanding of NGS platforms and technologies and hands-on experience with various NGS library preparation methods and sequencing applications (WGS, WES, RNA-seq, single-cell sequencing, etc.)
  • Experience with bioinformatics and bioinformatics tools such as genome alignment, mapping, variant calling, and annotation. Past experiences demonstrating the capabilities to perform basic analysis and communicate needs with bioinformaticians
  • Must have a strong background in developing molecular biology methods and workflows, with a particular emphasis on NGS/genomics
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
  • Dynamic interpersonal skills. Respectful and open to others’ views; contribute to building a positive team spirit
  • Thrives in a fast-paced environment
  • Proven track record of group management and mentoring junior staff
  • Programming experience is a plus

About Twist Bioscience

Twist Bioscience synthesizes genes from scratch, known as “writing” DNA. Just as children learn to both read and write, the next phase of development for the genomics revolution is the ability to write DNA.

At Twist Bioscience, we work in service of people who are changing the world for the better. In fields such as health care, agriculture, industrial chemicals and data storage, our unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform provides precision at a scale that is otherwise unavailable to our customers.

Twist Bioscience Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Twist Bioscience Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law.

The base cash compensation for this California-based role is below. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package. Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate skill, experience, expertise, and location and may vary from the amount listed above. Compensation may be different in other locations.

San Francisco Bay Area Pay Range

$209,176 - $241,638 USD

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