Principal Scientist, Early Discovery & Immune Cell Engineering

BeOne continues to grow at a rapid pace with challenging and exciting opportunities for experienced professionals. When considering candidates, we look for scientific and business professionals who are highly motivated, collaborative, and most importantly, share our passionate interest in fighting cancer.

General Description:

Candidates must be able to work onsite in San Carlos, California.


At BeOne Institute, we extend BeOne’s execution strength with a dedicated innovation engine, bringing agility and scientific depth to transform uncertainty into actionable and high-impact therapeutic opportunities. We operate according to three core principles:

• Bold exploration: we pursue novel and high-potential ideas through rapid, iterative innovation cycles.

• Strategic alignment: we prioritize disease areas that align closely with BeOne’s R&D priorities and long-term vision.

• Pipeline impact: we translate insights into tangible assets and advance emerging platforms into impactful programs.
  
  

We are seeking a strategic and highly adaptive Principal Scientist to lead early discovery programs within our agile biotech ecosystem.

This role requires a unique blend of laboratory execution, matrix leadership, and a rigorous drug-development mindset. As a Principal Scientist, you will play a critical role in shaping BeOne’s early discovery pipeline. Operating in a highly dynamic environment, you will help evaluate and determine our optimal therapeutic bets—whether that means developing a novel cell therapy platform, or identifying other high-potential modalities across Immuno-Oncology (IO) and Immunology & Inflammation (I&I). This position demands an individual who balances deep literature research with hands-on bench execution, possesses a collaborative spirit, and confidently brings independent, innovative hypotheses to the table.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Drive early discovery strategy, evaluate emerging scientific opportunities and literature to guide internal pipeline decisions.

• Advance immune cell engineering platforms to deliver novel cell therapies for oncology and immunology indications.

• Build, optimize, and deploy high-throughput screening platforms using pooled and arrayed approaches.

• Develop robust, quantitative cell-based immunology assays to characterize therapeutic potency.

• Lead hands-on execution of in vitro and ex vivo studies to generate decision-enabling data packages.

• Lead cross-functional matrix teams, collaborate with experts across the organization and mentor junior scientists to foster technical excellence, scientific rigor, and professional growth.

• Distill and present complex biological data packages

• Contribute to operational and management activities to support objectives at the San Carlos site.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• May directly manage scientists and/or provide matrix leadership for project teams.
  

Requirements:

Travel: No

• Ph.D, M.D., or equivalent advanced degree in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related scientific discipline with 5+years of dedicated biotech or pharmacutical industry experience.
• Extensive, hands-on expertise in molecular biology (cloning, construct design, IVT mRNA synthesis) alongside deep proficiency in modifying primary immune cells using both viral (e.g., lentivirus) and non-viral (e.g., electroporation, CRISPR/Cas9, transposons) methodologies.

• A clear track record of navigating drug discovery programs. You prioritize actionable, milestone-moving data over open-ended academic exploration.

• Demonstrated success designing and executing complex cell-based immunology assays, as well as managing pooled or arrayed genetic/chemical screens.

• Proven experience successfully leading or driving progress within matrixed, multidisciplinary project teams in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the confidence to challenge assumptions, debate technical strategies transparently, and introduce innovative concepts.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• A strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publications or patent filings in relevant areas of immunology, cell engineering, or oncology discovery.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring, training, or supervising junior scientists and research associates, fostering their technical growth.

• Hands-on experience working across multiple immune cell types (e.g., T cells, NK cells, macrophages, or B cells) rather than a single specific cell lineage.

Global Competencies

When we exhibit our values of Patients First, Driving Excellence, Bold Ingenuity and Collaborative Spirit, through our twelve global competencies below, we help get more affordable medicines to more patients around the world.

• Fosters Teamwork
• Provides and Solicits Honest and Actionable Feedback
• Self-Awareness
• Acts Inclusively
• Demonstrates Initiative
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Continuous Learning
• Embraces Change
• Results-Oriented
• Analytical Thinking/Data Analysis
• Financial Excellence
• Communicates with Clarity

Salary Range: $165,300.00 - $206,600.00 annually

BeOne is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Actual compensation packages are determined by several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location. Packages may vary by location due to differences in the cost of labor. The recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for a preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the listed range reflects the base salary or hourly range only. Non-Commercial roles are eligible to participate in the annual bonus plan, and Commercial roles are eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan. All Company employees have the opportunity to own shares of BeOne Medicines Ltd. stock because all employees are eligible for discretionary equity awards and to voluntarily participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company has a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. BeOne does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable federal, state or local laws, applicants who require reasonable accommodation in the job application process may contact View email address on aiapply.co.