Associate Engineer / Senior Associate Engineer, Systems Design & Integration

The posting, as Spear Bio wrote it

Spear Bio, founded in 2021, is a well-funded and rapidly growing biotech start-up headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.  Our proprietary technology, Successive Proximity Extension Amplification Reaction (SPEAR), is a novel wash-free immunoassay platform, offering unprecedented sensitivity. We are dedicated to revolutionizing early disease diagnosis and monitoring by providing scalable, ultrasensitive solutions that deliver unparalleled accuracy in measuring low-abundant biomarkers, enabling clinicians and researchers to improve patient outcomes and advance global health.

ASSOCIATE ENGINEER / SENIOR ASSOCIATE ENGINEER, SYSTEMS DESIGN & INTEGRATION

Spear Bio is seeking a hands-on and motivated Associate Engineer / Senior Associate Engineer, Systems Design & Integration to support the development and integration of software tools, data analysis platforms, and automated assay workflows within our next-generation ultrasensitive immunoassay platform. This role sits at the intersection of software development, data engineering, and bench-level assay execution—you will build and refine the data analysis and instrument control software that enables our platform, while maintaining enough hands-on assay familiarity to generate baseline data and understand the biological inputs that drive your software.

You will work closely with cross-functional teams helping to assemble, test, and refine complex systems. This is an exciting opportunity to gain broad, system-level experience while contributing to the advancement of a transformative life sciences platform.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT & DATA ANALYSIS TOOLS

• Develop and maintain data analysis software and tools for the SPEAR platform, including assay data processing pipelines, calibration curve fitting, and results reporting.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of Spear Bio’s LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) infrastructure, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
• Build and improve dashboards, visualization tools, and automated reporting for assay performance metrics and system quality tracking.
• Support instrument control software development and integration, working with firmware and application-layer interfaces to ensure reliable automated workflows.
• Leverage AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT) to accelerate software development, code review, and test automation—and proactively identify new opportunities to apply AI tools to engineering workflows.
• Ensure all software development follows 21 CFR Part 11 compliance principles, including audit trails, electronic signatures, data integrity, and access controls where applicable.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION & VERIFICATION

• Assist with the integration of hardware, software, and reagent components into a cohesive immunoassay platform, ensuring functional alignment across subsystems.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners

[…]
ational understanding is required.

• Hands-on experience or strong willingness to learn assay execution for plate-based immunoassays, qPCR workflows, or similar biological assays.
• Experience with or enthusiasm for AI-assisted development tools and their application to engineering and data analysis workflows.
• Prior experience using liquid handling systems (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, Formulatrix) is a plus.
• Working knowledge of CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) and familiarity with diagnostic laboratory instruments and life science automation systems.
• Familiarity with version control (Git), CI/CD concepts, and collaborative development practices.

SOFT SKILLS

• Detail-oriented, with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Effective communicator and team player, able to collaborate in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment.
• Self-motivated learner comfortable bridging software engineering and wet-lab biology.
• Comfortable working in a startup environment where scope evolves rapidly and initiative is valued.

We offer competitive compensation, meaningful stock ownership, comprehensive benefits, and a great work environment. This is an opportunity to enter an innovative, high-growth startup at an early stage and play an integral role in the company's growth and success. We are focused on identifying candidates who have demonstrated leadership and excellence throughout their careers and are excited by the prospect of building an industry-leading company.

Spear Bio Inc. provides equal opportunity in employment to all persons. No person shall be denied equal access because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or physical/mental disability.

Spear Bio does not accept resume submissions from external recruiting agencies. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate information submitted without prior written agreement will be deemed the property of Spear Bio, and no placement fees will be paid.