Scientist, Mammalian Cell Engineering
Support allogeneic cell therapy development by designing and characterizing engineered immune-cell chassis for process-ready programs.
About the role
This role supports the generation of next-generation allogeneic cell therapies from discovery through process development. You will focus on construct design, clonal evaluation, and functional parameterization in close coordination with analytical and process development functions.
- Team: Cell-engineering group of 4 embedded in a 30-person therapeutic platform
- Stage: Series B allogeneic cell therapy company expanding its lead programme
- Reporting line: Head of Cell Engineering
- Rhythm: Lab-based role with four onsite days in South San Francisco
Responsibilities
- Develop knockout, knock-in, promoter, and landing-pad integration strategies for lead candidates and execute clone evaluations.
- Execute analytical assays to assess target integration, expression stability, post-thaw recovery, and functional profiles of engineered cells.
- Coordinate with process development teams to align cell construction methods with large-scale, closed-system manufacturing protocols.
- Investigate and resolve issues impacting editing efficiency, donor variability, and cell viability across the platform workflows.
Requirements
- MS or PhD in Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Immunology, or a related discipline with academic or industry experience in mammalian cell engineering.
- Hands-on expertise utilizing CRISPR-Cas systems or related genome-editing technologies in mammalian cell lines or primary immune cells.
- Proficiency in stable cell line generation, including viral/non-viral delivery and single-cell cloning techniques.
- Experience with cell characterization assays such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, qPCR/ddPCR, or cell-based functional assays.
Preferred qualifications
- Prior experience with allogeneic cell therapies or ex vivo manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with off-target assessment or next-generation sequencing library preparation.
- Strong understanding of cGMP manufacturing requirements and tech transfer principles.
Technical stack
- CRISPR/Cas editing
- electroporation/nucleofection
- viral vector delivery
- primary T-cell/NK-cell culture
- multi-color flow cytometry
- ddPCR/qPCR
- targeted amplicon sequencing
- Benchling
- GraphPad Prism
What we offer
- Base salary: $145k - $178k
- Equity / upside: Pre-IPO equity plus annual cash bonus tied to programme and company milestones.
- Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), commuter support, and relocation assistance within the US.
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