Senior Scientist, Allogeneic T-Cell Therapy Process Development
Senior Scientist, Allogeneic T-CellTherapy Process Development: Cell Therapy CMC
Do you have a passion for science? Would you like to apply your expertiseto impacta company that follows the scienceand turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!
We are looking for a Senior Scientist to join our Allogeneic T-CellTherapyProcess Development team. In this role, you'llbe instrumental in supporting the development of clinical manufacturing processesfor allogeneic CAR-T and TCR-T products.
At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking bigand working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’reour kind of person.This is an opportunity to work with curious minds in an inclusive culture, where you'llbe evaluating cell therapy process and technology improvements, contributing to process understanding and characterization, and assistingtech transfer to a cGMP environment.
About AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD:
Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting-edgetechnology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefitfrom being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.
The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteriaand copy center. This is where you’llfind newly designed, activity-based workspacesto suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.
Summary of the group:
The Allogeneic T-CellTherapy Process Development teamwithin the Cell Therapy Technical Operations (CTTO) group and Cell Therapy Enterprise Unitis responsiblefordeveloping, optimizing, characterizing, and scaling manufacturing processes for allogeneic CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapies. The team supports cell engineering and process development activities requiredto generate high-qualityallogeneic T-cell products, including optimization of gene editing, culture expansion, scale-up, and process characterization strategies. In addition, the group produces material to support IND-enabling studiesand works closely with cross-functional partners to enable technical transfer toclinical and commercial manufacturing sites. The team also contributes to product characterization, manufacturing deviation support, regulatory submissions, and continuous improvement of cell therapy manufacturing processes.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
This position within the Allogeneic T-CellTherapy Process Development team will involveasubstantial amount of hands-oncell culture work, includinghuman CAR-Tand TCR-Tcell generation,in vitro expansion, scale-up, and characterization ofculture processes. The role will require performing gene editing activities and manipulation of human primary cells, while applying strong scientific judgment to support process optimization, process characterization, and development of scalable manufacturing approaches.
As a Senior Scientist, you will independently own the design, execution, analysis, interpretation, and documentation of process development studies. You will be expectedto lead studies with minimal supervision, use data-drivendecision-makingto guide next steps, troubleshoot technical challenges, and contribute to the overall technical strategy for allogeneic CAR-T and TCR-T process development.
This role will also require closecross-functional collaborationwith Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and other partner functions to support process understanding, technology transfer, and clinical manufacturing readiness.In addition, you will provide scientific guidance and mentorship to junior scientists and associates, helping to strengthen technical capability, experimental rigor, and effective execution across the team. Responsibilities will include supportingtech transfer activities such as batch record and SOP development, real-time troubleshooting, investigationand impact assessment of deviations, change control management, process monitoring and data analysis, and risk assessments. Additionally, you will author and contribute to development reports, scientific publications, patents, and regulatory filings in different countries and regions.Position may require traveling domestically and abroad.
Required Skills
Experience culturinghuman primary cells(T cell culture experiencenecessary).
Knowledgeable aboutupstream and downstreamprocess development for cell therapiesboth laboratory based and tech transfer based
Strong flow cytometry T cell characterization experience.
Experience engineeringcellsin scale-up processeswith manufacture-ready genome editing toolsand DNA/RNA transfectionapproaches.
Familiar with the fundamentals of DOE.
Strong background in experimental design and data analysis skills areessential.
Ability to think critically, analytically and have demonstratedtroubleshooting and problem-solving skills based on deductive reasoning.
Excellent teamwork and communication skillsincluding proven technical writing skillsare required. Position may require weekend work.
Desired Skills:
Knowledge aboutimmunology is highly desirable.
Experience with cell editing technologies: CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, etc.
Experience with viral transduction techniques desirable.
GMP experience preferred.
Experience with cell characterization (dPCR, ELISA, NGS) ideal.
Scientific rigor in assessing owndata and that of others. Utilizes forward-looking perspective to contribute to “go/no go” decisions.
Education/Experience:
BS degree in Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field with >6 years of relevant experience or MS degree with a minimum of 4years or PhD with a minimum of 1 yearof relevant proven experience.
Why AstraZeneca?
At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognizingtheir potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organizationto reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’reopening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edgemethods,and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.
So, what’snext!
Are you ready to bring new ideasand fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available,and we hope it’s yours.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from $112,304.00 - $168,456.00. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives-an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Date Posted
03-Sep-2026Closing Date
29-Sep-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.