Principal Scientist, Immunology

Role Summary

Principal Scientist, Immunology with deep drug discovery and development experience in inflammatory diseases, joining the Immunology Research Unit at the West Coast Hub (South San Francisco, CA). Contribute to the discovery and development of novel therapies targeting inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, with strong emphasis on experimental design, data interpretation, and technical leadership. Collaborate across disciplines to evaluate external opportunities and guide strategic decisions in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead innovative in vitro and in vivo studies to uncover mechanisms driving inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
• Discover and validate novel drug targets, biomarkers, and pathways critical to immune-mediated disorders.
• Deliver high-quality data to support lead optimization, biomarker development, and translational research for priority programs in the Immunology pipeline.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and adherence to regulatory and safety standards; communicate findings through internal presentations and external forums (conferences, publications).
• Collaborate across disciplines—including pharmacology, synthetic medicine, protein engineering, and computational sciences—to advance target identification, drug discovery, and clinical development.
• Shape portfolio strategy by identifying gaps and opportunities for scientific innovation.
• Partner with business development and corporate strategy teams to evaluate the scientific merit of potential assets, collaborations, and licensing opportunities.
• Contribute to due diligence efforts, including mechanistic evaluations, protocol reviews, external data assessments, and intellectual property analysis.
• Champion scientific excellence and innovation by staying current with emerging research and technologies in immunology and inflammation.

Qualifications

• Required: PhD in Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or a related scientific field with 5+ years of industry experience, preferably in inflammatory and autoimmune disease drug discovery and development (Masters with 8+ years of experience, Bachelors with 10+ years of experience).
• Required: Strong expertise in immune cell biology (innate and adaptive immunity), cell signaling, and immunological assay development.
• Required: Hands-on experience with relevant techniques, including biochemical and cellular assay development, tissue culture, flow cytometry, and functional genomics techniques.
• Required: Experience with disease models of inflammation and/or autoimmunity.
• Required: Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment; strong problem-solving skills; ability to work independently and in team settings; collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills.
• Required: Strong analytical skills for evaluating scientific data and external opportunities; excellent communication skills for translating complex science into business-relevant insights.
• Required: Willingness to be based onsite with frequent presence in South San Francisco, CA.

• Preferred: Prior experience in biotech/pharma drug discovery or translational research (5+ years).
• Preferred: Experience working with small molecules, biologics, and/or cell-based therapeutic drug discovery and development.
• Preferred: Strong technical expertise in multiparametric flow cytometry (e.g., 15+ colors).
• Preferred: Experience with multiomics analyses (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomics, etc.).
• Preferred: Experience in due diligence and business development support is highly desirable.