Scientific - Flow Cytometry Specialist, Manager

Flow Cytometry Core Manager

Location: 100% onsite at Cambridge, MA Kendall Square Site, Cambridge, MA Working Hours: 9-5 PM

The Flow Cytometry Core Manager is a contract position serving as the primary scientific and operational lead for the flow cytometry core at the Kendall Square site, overseeing a suite of instruments spanning conventional, spectral, imaging, and cell sorting platforms. This individual is responsible for the daily operation, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of all flow cytometry instrumentation, as well as providing expert-level technical guidance to internal users across research teams. This role will support research programs across cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise in flow cytometry with strong organizational skills and a service-oriented mindset, balancing hands-on instrument ownership with proactive user support, rigorous record-keeping, and effective vendor management.

Key Responsibilities

• Instrument Operations & Maintenance: Perform daily startup and shutdown procedures for all instruments in accordance with manufacturer specifications and site SOPs; execute daily and weekly preventive maintenance routines, including CST checks, fluidics maintenance, and deep-cleaning protocols to ensure instrument performance and data quality.
• Instrument Troubleshooting & Vendor Liaison: Serve as the primary emergency contact and first responder for all flow cytometry instrument issues across the Kendall Square site; act as the primary liaison with manufacturer customer support teams for service requests, escalations, and repair coordination; apply advanced technical expertise to independently troubleshoot instrument, reagent, and assay-related issues as they arise.
• User Training & Onboarding: Serve as the principal trainer for all site flow cytometry users; develop and deliver onboarding training for new users across all platforms; provide guidance scaled to users ranging from novice to experienced scientists.
• Panel Design & Staining Support: Provide on-demand expert guidance on panel design (10 color), antibody titration, fluorochrome selection, and staining protocols tailored to users' experimental needs; assist with compensation setup and spectral unmixing for medium- and large-scale multiparameter panels.
• Sample Workflow Support: Support ex vivo processing and acquisition of mouse, human PBMC, and NHP samples on core instrumentation
• Sample Acquisition Support: Run samples on behalf of users as needed and provide hands-on flow staining support to ensure experimental success across the site.
• Data Analysis Support: Perform or assist with data analysis on an occasional basis, including gating strategy review and FlowJo workflow guidance.
• Reagent Inventory & Digital Record-Keeping: Maintain a well-organized, adequately stocked inventory of all flow cytometry reagents, including antibodies, viability dyes, buffers, and calibration beads; manage Benchling inventory records, ensuring accurate and up-to-date entries for all staining reagents, lot numbers, and expiration dates; monitor freezer stocks and coordinate timely reagent reordering to prevent stockouts and ensure continuity of research operations.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Interface with partner teams (e.g. Immunology, Translational Biology, Analytical Development) to coordinate experiments, share data, and provide technical consultation

Team Structure how does this role fit with the team The [EG-100] Scientist operates with a high degree of autonomy as the sole owner of site-wide flow cytometry operations. This individual is expected to:

• Own all aspects of instrument uptime, performance, and maintenance across six platforms with minimal day-to-day supervision
• Serve as the recognized site expert and primary escalation point for all flow cytometry-related questions and emergencies
• Proactively identify gaps in reagent inventory, instrument performance, or user capability and address them before they impact research
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal users and external vendor contacts
• Contribute to continuous improvement of site workflows, training materials, and operational procedures

This is a high-autonomy, high-accountability role requiring both deep technical expertise and a strong service and operational mindset.

Role in Team

Must-have Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in multiparameter panel design, antibody titration, compensation, and data analysis (FlowJo required)
• Experience operating cell sorters (e.g., Sony SH800S or equivalent)
• Experience with spectral flow cytometry platforms (e.g., NovoCyte Opteon or equivalent)
• Familiarity with at least three of the following instruments:
• Sony SH800S Cell Sorter
• Novocyte Opteon Spectral Flow Cytometer
• Client FACSymphony A3
• Thermo Fisher Attune CytPix
• Client FACSLyric
• Experience performing and documenting preventive maintenance, CST checks, and instrument QC procedures
• Proficiency in FlowJo and GraphPad Prism for data visualization and analysis

Nice-to-have Qualifications

• Experience in a shared core facility or multi-user laboratory environment
• Familiarity with spectral unmixing workflows and instrument interface software (e.g., FACSDiva)
• Experience with GLP-adjacent or IND-enabling study environments
• Experience with ex vivo tissue processing (e.g. blood, spleen, lymph node etc.), whole blood, and human PBMCs
• Exposure to primary immune cell biology (T cells, PBMCs, NHP samples) to contextualize user support
• Experience coordinating with external vendors and service engineers
• Proficiency in Benchling for inventory management and ELN documentation

Technical Skills

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage reagent inventory, instrument scheduling, and user queues concurrently
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to train and support scientists at varying levels of expertise

Additional Standout Experience

Education & Certifications

Field Details

Education Required B.S. Education Preferred M.S. or Ph.D.

EEO: "Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans."