Principal Scientist

IGI; Épalinges; Hybrid; CHF 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

IGI, based in Switzerland, seeks an experienced CAR Engineer/Immunologist to drive next-generation engineered cell therapies. The role blends molecular immunology, receptor engineering, and cellular engineering to advance innovative programs.

You will design and optimize CARs across immune-cell types, develop in vitro assays, and lead a team of scientists in a dynamic, collaborative setting. A PhD/MD-PhD or equivalent is required, with a strong track record in CAR technology and leadership.

Qualifications

• PhD/MD-PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or related field.
• Experience in CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-M, or related cell therapy technologies.
• Strong expertise in molecular immunology, immune-cell biology, and CAR/receptor engineering.
• Experience with immune-cell functional assays and delivery/editing platforms such as lentiviral vectors, LNP/mRNA delivery, or CRISPR-based technologies.
• Proven scientific leadership, project ownership, and team management experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize next-generation CARs to enhance specificity, activation, persistence, safety, and therapeutic efficacy.
• Engineer and characterize CARs across multiple immune-cell types.
• Develop and lead in vitro assays to assess cell phenotype, signaling, cytotoxicity, proliferation, and persistence.
• Advance novel synthetic biology approaches for immune-cell programming.
• Analyze complex datasets and establish scalable platforms to accelerate CAR discovery.
• Mentor and lead a team of scientists while contributing to scientific strategy, patents, publications, and presentations.

Skills

CAR-T experience

Molecular immunology

Leadership & project ownership

Education

PhD/MD-PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering

Tools

Lentiviral vectors

LNP/mRNA delivery

CRISPR-based technologies

Job description

We are seeking an experienced CAR Engineer/Immunologist to help develop next-generation engineered cell therapies. This role combines molecular immunology, synthetic biology, receptor engineering, and cellular engineering to advance innovative therapeutic programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and optimize next-generation CARs to enhance specificity, activation, persistence, safety, and therapeutic efficacy.
• Engineer and characterize CARs across multiple immune-cell types.
• Develop and lead in vitro assays to assess cell phenotype, signaling, cytotoxicity, proliferation, and persistence.
• Advance novel synthetic biology approaches for immune-cell programming.
• Analyze complex datasets and establish scalable platforms to accelerate CAR discovery.
• Mentor and lead a team of scientists while contributing to scientific strategy, patents, publications, and presentations.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• Experience in CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-M, or related cell therapy technologies.
• Strong expertise in molecular immunology, immune-cell biology, and CAR/receptor engineering.
• Experience with immune-cell functional assays and one or more delivery/editing platforms such as lentiviral vectors, LNP/mRNA delivery, or CRISPR-based technologies.
• Proven scientific leadership, project ownership, and team management experience.

Preferred

• Experience with advanced CAR designs, including multispecific, logic-gated, armored, or inducible CARs.
• Knowledge of immune profiling, flow cytometry, and single-cell analysis.
• Experience in solid tumor immunology and tumor microenvironment research.
• Strong record of innovation through publications, patents, or therapeutic program development.
• Experience presenting to and collaborating with senior leadership and external stakeholders.