Senior Scientist, Immunology Functional Assays

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Senior Scientist, Immunology Functional Assays for a direct hire opportunity with a generative AI biotechnology company in Vancouver, WA. If you’re passionate about bringing the latest scientific discoveries to life and are ready to take the next step in your career, trust The Experts at Hiring Experts.

Workplace: Onsite in Vancouver, WA

Salary: $130,000-145,000

Position type: Direct hire

Position title: Senior Scientist, Immunology Functional Assays

Overview

Join an innovative clinical-stage biotechnology company driving the discovery of next-generation therapeutics using advanced AI and synthetic biology. Our client’s groundbreaking platform enables the rapid design of biologics that target some of the most challenging and high-impact disease mechanisms.

We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Senior Scientist to expand our client’s Pharmacology & Bioassays team. This position offers the chance to play a pivotal role in designing and executing leading-edge immunology research, directly supporting drug discovery and preclinical development programs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute state-of-the-art in vitro and ex vivo cell-based assays for target validation, mechanism of action (MOA) studies, and lead characterization of therapeutic candidates.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets to establish functional activity, mechanistic insights, and biological relevance of molecules in the pipeline.
• Evaluate and implement innovative assay technologies and models to expand the team’s disease biology and assay capabilities.
• Serve as an immunology subject matter expert, integrating scientific literature, data, and disease insights to drive project strategy and milestone advancement.
• Troubleshoot and optimize complex assays while applying creative scientific judgment to experimental challenges.
• Contribute to the continued development of advanced in vitro and ex vivo research capabilities.
• Prepare and review clear and rigorous SOPs, study reports, and scientific presentations.
• Present experimental findings to cross-functional teams, providing actionable scientific recommendations.

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. or similar advanced degree in Immunology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Cell Biology, or related field, with 5 years of relevant postdoctoral, academic, or industry experience.
• Deep technical expertise in immunology and immune-mediated diseases, including hands-on experience with blood and tissue immune cell phenotyping, flow cytometry, cell-based assays, and related technologies (ELISA, MSD, qPCR, microscopy, histology/pathology).
• Experience developing and applying complex 2D/3D functional assays for disease biology and PK/PD exploration.
• Proven ability to leverage data to elucidate therapeutic mechanisms.
• Demonstrated initiative and hands-on ability in the lab, including protocol development, study execution, and data interpretation.
• Experience in collaborating and communicating results clearly in project/research teams, with strong skills in protocol/report writing and scientific presentations.

Preferred

• Track record with in vitro/ex vivo pharmacology models for antibody drug discovery or biologics.
• Experience supporting drug candidate nomination, especially in oncology, immunology/inflammation, or metabolic diseases.
• Familiarity with patient-derived cell-based or tissue models, multi-omics datasets, and applying statistical analysis to inform study outcomes.
• Authorship of regulatory and scientific documentation (e.g., INDs, NDAs, study protocols).
• Experience working with or leading cross-functional teams, mentoring, managing vendors/CROs, and timely execution of studies.

Why Join Us?

• Impact the development of transformative therapeutics addressing urgent unmet medical needs.
• Collaborate with world-class scientists at a company committed to innovation and excellence.
• Lead pioneering programs in an environment that rewards creativity, initiative, and scientific rigor.

What happens next:

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to the next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert Science & Clinical recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.