Sr Associate Scientist, Process Development (United States - California - Foster City)

This job is with Gilead Sciences Inc., an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

At Gilead, we're creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we've tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer - working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world's biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

 

Every member of Gilead's team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we're looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

 

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

 

The Position  

At Gilead, we are driven by a shared mission to discover, develop, and deliver transformative therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases. Achieving this mission requires not only scientific excellence, but also innovation in how we design, execute, and interpret process development experiments. 

Within Process Development and Manufacturing (PDM), the Purification Development organization is responsible for developing robust, scalable, and manufacturable downstream processes that enable reliable clinical and commercial supply. As Biologics pipelines grow in complexity, we are advancing automation-enabled, data-driven purification platforms to accelerate development timelines and strengthen process understanding.

The Opportunity  

In this role, you will help transform how purification processes are developed by integrating miniaturized, high-throughput experimentation with mechanistic and data-driven modeling. You will contribute to the design and deployment of scalable purification screening platforms that enable rapid evaluation of resin behavior, operating conditions, and molecule specific interactions using limited material. 

By combining robotics, advanced analytics, and modeling, this role supports earlier, more confident technical decision-making through improved assessment of purification risk, robustness, and manufacturability across the development lifecycle. You will work closely with purification scientists, automation engineers, analytical teams, and data scientists, with opportunities to influence platform strategy and impact multiple programs across the Biologics portfolio. 

Key Responsibilities  

Purification Automation & High-Throughput Experimentation  

• Design, implement, and continuously improve automated, high-throughput purification assays, including miniaturized resin screening and binding studies 

• Develop and maintain scalable, reproducible robotic workflows using liquid handling and automation platforms 

• Translate traditional column scale purification concepts into low-mass, high-information screening formats that support rapid decision making 

Mechanistic Modeling & Data Driven Insight  

• Develop and apply mechanistic models (e.g., adsorption, binding kinetics, transport phenomena) to interpret purification data and guide experimental design and operating window definition

• Apply multivariate analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling to analyze complex datasets, identify trends, and predict purification performance under varying conditions

• Integrate experimental and computational approaches to improve understanding of resin-protein interactions, process sensitivities, and scale relevant behavior 

Process Development Impact  

• Enable early identification of process risks, sensitivities, and operating windows to support purification process design 

• Inform resin selection, buffer strategies, and process parameters using data driven insights 

• Contribute to platform and capability development that benefits multiple programs across the Gilead Biologics portfolio 

Collaboration & Communication  

• Partner closely with cross functional teams in Purification, Automation, Analytics, and Data Science 

• Communicate results clearly through technical reports, presentations, and data visualizations tailored to diverse audiences 

• Contribute to Gilead internal best practices, knowledge sharing, and long-term technology strategy within Purification Development 

Qualifications:  

• B.S. with 5 years of industry experience in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, or biochemistry)

OR

• M.S. with 3 years of industry experience in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, or biochemistry)

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience applying machine learning, multivariate analysis, or advanced statistics to experimental datasets 

• Strong foundation in protein purification, chromatography mechanisms, and downstream process development

• Hands on experience with laboratory automation and high-throughput robotics (e.g. Hamilton, Tecan, or similar platforms)

• Experience designing and executing miniaturized purification, binding, or screening assays

• Background in mechanistic modeling of purification or related physical/chemical processes

• Demonstrated ability to independently design, analyze, and troubleshoot complex experimental systems

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to connect experimental observations to mechanistic and quantitative understanding

•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative and team-oriented mindset 

• Proficiency in Python, R, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis, modeling, and automation integration

 

The salary range for this position is: $126,820.00 - $164,120.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

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Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Applicant]]> <