Scientist, Cell Therapy Process Development (In Vivo CAR-T)

Job description

Working with Us Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible. Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us. The Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center is one of BMS’s differentiated research platforms delivering innovative therapies to patients. Our mission is to drive leadership in the use of cellular therapies to harness the power of the immune system in treating hematologic malignancies, solid cancers, and autoimmune disease. More specifically, our discovery and translational scientists are focused on developing next-generation, engineered cell-based therapies. The team is committed to discovering and developing transformative therapies that harness the power of the immune system to improve patient outcomes. Within CT TRC, the Cell Therapy Process Research and Engineering (CT-PRE) team works at the exciting interface of engineered T-cell biology and cell therapy process development, in close collaboration with colleagues across the Research and Development organizations, with the goal of advancing novel innovative platforms from early concept design towards implementation for pipeline assets. Position Summary: The CT‑PRE team is seeking a Scientist to help translate next‑generation cell therapies from early research into robust development platforms. The Scientist will design and execute laboratory experiments both independently and collaboratively, contributing to a highly interactive, matrixed, agile, team‑driven environment. The ideal candidate will have prior industry experience with process development, preferably in viral vector production for CAR-T therapy. In the role as a Scientist within the CT-PRE team, the ideal candidate will apply scientific principles to develop scalable processes to enable in vivo CAR-T therapy platforms. This includes: Designing and conducting laboratory experiments to evaluate gene delivery and cell engineering strategies for CAR-T manufacturing feasibility Leading workstreams and experiments focused on the optimization and implementation of scalable lentiviral vector production for in vivo CAR-T therapy platforms Documenting experimental workflows, results, and deviations in electronic laboratory notebooks to ensure reproducibility and process understanding Performing data analysis and communicating findings clearly to enable informed decision‑making by research and development teams Participating in cross‑functional project teams and effectively communicating CT‑PRE activities, data, and recommendations Collaborating closely with team members to coordinate experimental execution and deliver study outcomes Training and mentoring junior team members as appropriate Demonstrating strong scientific rigor through critical thinking, problem‑solving, troubleshooting, and attention to detail Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree 5+ years of academic and / or industry experience Or Master’s Degree 3+ years of academic and / or industry experience Or Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences No experience necessary Preferred Qualifications: Experience with viral vector process development, including upstream production (e.g., suspension culture, transfection parameters, bioreactor scale‑up) and downstream purification and concentration strategies Experience developing and optimizing bioprocesses that are intentionally designed for scalability into STR culture and manufacturability Strong understanding of viral transduction mechanisms, tropism and integration Proficiency with aseptic mammalian cell culture, preferably including primary T cell culture, activation and expansion Familiarity with analytical characterization and critical quality attributes for an in vivo CAR-T drug product (titer, purity, potency, sterility) Understanding of T-cell biology and immunology relevant to CAR-T – activation, transduction efficiency, phenotype and functional assays Experience with T-cell manufacturing workflows – apheresis material handling, activation, gene delivery, expansion, formulation Understanding of statistical design of experiments methodology and data analysis for process optimization Familiarity with lipid nanoparticle (LNP) or other nanoparticle-based delivery systems for in vivo and/or ex vivo T-cell targeting and engineering Knowledge of, or hands-on experience with, site-specific gene-editing (preferably CRISPR-Cas, base or prime editing) technologies Working knowledge of analyzing and interpreting data from flow-based cellular, and PCR/sequencing based molecular assays Awareness of incorporation of cell-targeting ligands in vectors, for in vivo T-cell, or organ-selective targeting Effective written and verbal communication skills for exchanging technical and scientific information with cross‑functional teams A collaborative team player who can effectively multi-task as well as excel independently in a fast‑paced, dynamic and innovative environment #LI-Onsite If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career. Compensation Overview: Seattle - WA: $122,810 - $148,814 The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/. Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include: Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care. Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support. ​Work-life benefits include: Paid Time Off US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees) Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.