(Senior) Principal Scientist, Cell Therapy

Senior Principal Scientist, Cell Therapy We are seeking a Principal or Senior Principal Scientist to serve as a scientific cornerstone of our Cell Therapy Discovery Team. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role at the intersection of CAR- and TCR-T biology, mRNA-based therapeutics, and advanced delivery technologies. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping therapeutic concepts and leading programs from early-stage discovery through IND-enabling studies, with significant influence over scientific strategy and key program-level decisions. PharmaEssentia Corporation is a rapidly growing biopharmaceutical innovator. We are leveraging deep expertise and proven scientific principles to deliver effective new biologics for challenging diseases in the areas of hematology and oncology, with one approved product and a diversifying pipeline. We believe in the potential to improve both health and quality of life for patients with limited options today through the combination of rigorous research and innovative thinking. This role will be in the PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC), the US R&D center for PharmaEssentia. As PIRC is essentially in startup mode with the full backing of PharmaEssentia HQ, this is an exciting time for PIRC and the Data Scientist will have great influence in developing and growing PIRC from the ground floor up. Key Responsibilities: Serve as the organization's subject-matter expert in cell therapy, advancing programs from early discovery through preclinical development. Provide scientific and technical leadership for cell therapy discovery programs, including construct design, screening strategies, and lead candidate selection. Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to characterize in vitro– and in vivo–generated CAR-T cells, including subset distribution, exhaustion phenotypes, metabolic fitness, and the relationship between transient CAR expression kinetics and effector function. Collaborate closely with cross-functional internal teams and external partners/CROs to optimize therapeutic constructs and delivery approaches. Evaluate external scientific opportunities and drive strategic collaborations to strengthen and expand the cell therapy pipeline. Required Qualifications: The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in immuno-oncology and T‑cell therapy, combined with demonstrated scientific leadership and hands-on execution. Ph.D. in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related discipline, with least 10+ years of relevant industry experience in cell therapy discovery. Title will be aligned with experience and seniority. Demonstrated experience supporting cell therapy programs from early research through IND‑enabling studies. Experience managing CROs and external vendors. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and clearly present complex datasets to diverse scientific and non-scientific audiences. Direct working knowledge of emerging therapeutic modalities, including targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) and viral vector–based delivery systems is preferred. Experience with cell therapy manufacturing is a strong plus. EEO Statement: At PharmaEssentia Innovation Research Center (PIRC), we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. PIRC believes that diversity and inclusion among our team are critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. PIRC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Staffing agencies should not send resumes to our HR team or to any PIRC employees. PIRC is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies. At PharmaEssentia, our goal is to treat as many people with cancer as possible. That means challenging the status quo with better science that leads to better lives. By joining our team, you will not only expand your own possibilities, but you will contribute to expanding options for people with cancer.