Principal Scientist, Cell Therapy Applications
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 22, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 21, 2026.
About Us:
Exthymic is an early-stage deep-tech startup on a mission to prevent millions of cancer deaths by making curative cell therapies widely accessible. Our platform enables patient-specific treatment manufacturing at the point of care, overcoming the limits of centralized biopharma models. Led by experienced industry pioneers, we blend hardware, software, and biological engineering to disrupt the status quo and democratize life-saving therapies. Join us to solve complex challenges and drive global healthcare innovation.
About You:
The Principal Scientist will report to the Chief Scientific Officer, and be the technical owner for how cell therapies are made on our platform. You bring CAR-T or immune-cell manufacturing experience, and you know what it takes to move a process from a research or academic lab into a controlled, reproducible manufacturing process. You stay hands-on, guide a small team, and work closely with engineers to shape an instrument around a process that actually works.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive technology transfer - Bring external or academic processes in-house and serve as the technical point of contact for external cell therapy development partners.
- Develop the cell therapy process on our platform-Develop and optimize the cell processing steps as they run on our instrument and consumables.
- Run reference and comparability studies-Establish reference manufacturing runs with external collaborators and design comparability studies that show cell therapy products made on our platform match the reference process.
- Define process and product quality attributes-Identify critical process parameters and quality attributes, and partner on the potency, phenotype, and release assays that measure them.
- Write device requirements based on cell therapy manufacturing processes-Translate process requirements into inputs for hardware, fluidics, consumables, and software, and help verify the integrated system.
- Prepare for manufacturing qualification-Build the process documentation and data needed for qualification, quality systems, and regulatory submissions.
- Mentor and develop the team-Mentor scientists and research associates running cell processes.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, bioengineering, or a related field, plus 6+ years of relevant industry experience (or equivalent).
- Hands-on CAR-T or immune-cell therapy process development or manufacturing experience.
- Experience with viral-vector or non-viral genetic modification of primary cells.
- Experience transferring a cell therapy process into GMP or controlled manufacturing.
- Experience designing comparability or process-characterization studies.
- Experience with flow cytometry-based characterization and potency assays.
- Experience guiding or mentoring scientists and research associates.
- Comfortable in an early-stage startup with evolving priorities.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with automated, closed, or point-of-care cell manufacturing systems.
- Experience supporting an IND or other regulatory submission for a cell therapy.
- Experience working with academic medical centers or clinical partners.
Benefits
Competitive salary and benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401k match.
Salary Range: $170,000 - $210,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: We offer our employees comprehensive benefits, including medical, vision, and dental coverage, as well as retirement savings plans. Optional benefits include accident and term life offerings.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Exthymic Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over), disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We comply with all applicable equal employment opportunity laws and will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process.
Agencies: We work directly with candidates and do not accept unsolicited resumes or referrals from recruitment agencies, search firms, or staffing companies. Any resumes submitted by an agency without a signed agreement in place will be considered the property of Exthymic and no fee will be owed. If you are interested in partnering with us on a future search, please contact our HR team directly.