Associate Scientist, Analytical Sciences

Are you ready to turn rigorous immunoassay and cell-based data into decisions that shape the future of engineered cell therapy? Do you want to build scalable testing capabilities that help characterize products and move life-changing medicines forward faster?

Based in Santa Monica, CA, you will join a collaborative analytical operations team focused on delivering high-quality, decision-ready data for process and product characterization. Working closely with Analytical Development, Process Development, and Quality Control, you will optimize and run immunoassay and cell-based potency assays that directly influence how we develop, scale, and release next-generation cell therapies. Your work will help transform complex biology into clear evidence that advances our pipeline and ultimately benefits patients.

Accountabilities:

• Operational Excellence: Lead the setup, execution, and continuous improvement of immunoassay and cell-based testing operations, ensuring reliable turnaround times and consistent data quality.
• Assay Development and Optimization: Partner with method and automation developers to refine assays, increase throughput, and streamline documentation and analysis, enabling faster and more reproducible results.
• Reagent and Control Stewardship: Manage critical reagents, assay control materials, and consumables to maintain uninterrupted testing capacity and robust assay performance.
• Cell Culture and Assay Execution: Thaw, culture, expand, and cryopreserve suspension/adherent cell lines; perform cytotoxicity and cytokine release assays using cell imagers, cell counters, and immunoassay kits to evaluate potency and immune effector function.
• Engineered Cell Coordination: Coordinate and prepare engineered immune cells for co-culture and functional assays, ensuring readiness and alignment with study timelines.
• Method Transfer and Scale-Up: Lead transfer of immunoassays and cell-based methods into operations by assessing incoming test methods and reagents, planning training, and securing readiness for routine use.
• Data Integrity and Trending: Maintain complete records for executed methods and results; monitor assay trends, identify shifts, and collaborate with developers to troubleshoot and sustain assay robustness.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Translate analytical outcomes into clear insights for development teams, accelerating process understanding and product characterization.
• Mentorship and Instrument Ownership: Provide technical mentorship to uphold scientific rigor; maintain instruments through calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting to maximize uptime and data integrity.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Two (2) years with BS/BA, or one (1) year with MS/MA in Immunology, Cell Biology, Oncology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline with experience in a biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, or academic setting.
• Strong expertise in cell-based assays, especially those evaluating potency or immune effector function using cell imagers and immunoassays.
• Hands-on experience with media preparations and suspension/adherent culture work: thaw, culture, expand, and cryopreserve.
• Proficiency in immune cell culture, including primary T cells or engineered immune cells.
• Proficiency in data analysis and troubleshooting of cell-based analytical assays.
• Proficient knowledge of general cell therapy processes and understanding of sampling and testing points for characterization to support process development.
• Ability to clearly convey scientific findings and development rationale.
• Desirable Skills/Experience:
• Experience in flow cytometry or genomic assays.
• Familiarity with high-throughput assay workflows and collaboration with automation teams.
• Experience with electronic data capture, data visualization, and assay trending tools.

Why AstraZeneca: Here your curiosity and drive will meet a pipeline where science and technology converge to tackle complex disease. You will work with unexpected teams in the same room unleashing bold thinking—integrating insights from development, analytics, and automation to push the boundaries of engineered cell therapy. We value kindness alongside ambition, pairing high standards with a culture that supports learning, resilience, and shared success. As you help build capabilities that have never been done before, you will grow your expertise, see your work influence real program decisions, and have opportunities to publish when great science comes alive.

Call to Action: Step into this Santa Monica-based role to build a high-performing assay engine for engineered cell therapies—send your resume today and help turn rigorous data into medicines that change lives!

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $69,344.80 - $104,017.20 USD Annual. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. 

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our 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.