Principal Scientist, Cell Line Genome Engineering

Scorpion Therapeutics; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Wellbeing programs

401(k)

Disability/life/insurance

Legal support

Paid time off

Flexible time off

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics seeks a scientist to design, engineer, and validate physiologically relevant cellular systems to drive drug discovery at our Princeton, NJ site.

You will develop advanced engineered models for Lead Discovery and Optimization and guide project teams to ensure alignment and translational impact, collaborating with internal groups and external partners to translate insights into innovative, research-driven solutions.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD with relevant post-degree experience required.
• Experience with CRISPR genome engineering and delivery methods.
• Proven ability to design and validate cellular models for drug discovery.
• Experience with high-content imaging and bioinformatics.

Responsibilities

• Design, engineer, and validate cellular systems to enable drug discovery.
• Develop advanced engineered cellular models for Lead Discovery and Optimization.
• Guide project teams in model selection to ensure alignment.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to translate insights into solutions.

Skills

Genome biology

CRISPR genome engineering

Gene delivery methods

Engineered cellular systems

High-content imaging

Genomic sequence analysis

AI-guided cell line engineering

Data interpretation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in molecular biology, cell biology, bioengineering (or related)

PhD with 4+ years academic/industry experience

Tools

Lentiviral delivery

AAV delivery

Electroporation

Transposon systems

CRISPR delivery methods

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Design, engineer, and validate physiologically and/or disease-relevant cellular systems to enable initiation and progression of drug discovery programs.
• Develop advanced engineered cellular models to support drug discovery within Lead Discovery and Optimization.
• Guide project teams in selecting appropriate cellular models at project outset to ensure biological alignment and maximize translational impact.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external academic/industry partners; integrate insights into innovative, research-driven solutions.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in molecular biology, cell biology, bioengineering (or related) and 6+ years academic/industry experience OR PhD and 4+ years academic/industry experience.

Required/Preferred Skills (from posting):

• Deep genome biology knowledge (gene regulation and impact on cellular function) applied to engineered cellular systems.
• Hands‑on CRISPR genome engineering (e.g., Cas9/Cas12a/dCas9; base/prime editing) and gene delivery methods (lentiviral, AAV, electroporation, transposon) to build/scale/optimize cellular models.
• Expertise engineering diverse cellular systems (established cell lines, primary cells, physiologically relevant models) and model selection for discovery questions.
• High‑content imaging and cell painting experience.
• Genomic sequence analysis/bioinformatics including short/long‑read sequencing for experimental design, clonal characterization, and validation.
• Experience integrating AI‑guided/AI‑enabled cell line engineering (computational models to design/interpret perturbations and phenotypes).
• Strong analytical/data interpretation skills; ability to influence scientific/strategic decisions.
• Lead/influence cross‑functional teams in a matrixed environment; excellent communication.

Benefits (explicitly listed):

• Health coverage
• wellbeing support programs
• 401(k)
• disability/life/insurance
• legal support
• paid time off (including flexible time off/annual vacation per eligibility)
• potential additional time off (e.g., sick time, volunteer days, leaves, Global Shutdown)