Principal Scientist, High-Content Imaging

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is seeking a Principal Scientist, High-Content Imaging in Spring House, PA to advance therapeutic discovery through cutting-edge imaging. You will drive end-to-end imaging workflows in Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology programs, developing novel molecular assays and scalable pipelines.

The role requires hands-on expertise in high-content imaging, strong experimental and computational analysis skills, and the ability to collaborate across diverse teams

Qualifications

• The candidate must hold a PhD in Biochemistry, Systems biology, Human biology or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of pharmaceutical industry experience required.
• Deep hands-on high-content imaging expertise with end-to-end workflow knowledge.
• Excellent written and oral communication, and ability to work across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and deploy high-content imaging capabilities for multiple portfolios.
• Design end-to-end imaging workflows across 2D/3D models and tissues.
• Build data generation pipelines and troubleshoot complex experiments.
• Collaborate with internal teams, CROs, and external partners for capability development.
• Analyze imaging data and support computational teams with handoffs and QC.

Skills

High-content imaging

Experimental design

Image analysis

Data analysis

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Programming (Python/R)

Problem solving

Communication

Education

PhD in Biochemistry/Systems biology/Human biology

Tools

Python

R

AI/ML tooling

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal.Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Biological Research

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine:

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Principal Scientist, High-Content Imaging role as part of Mechanistic & Cellular Pharmacology located in Spring House, PA.

Purpose:

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on technical contributor responsible for developing, validating, and deploying cutting-edge high-content imaging capabilities to advance therapeutic discovery across the Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology portfolios.

The principal scientist will design and execute end-to-end imaging workflows across diverse 2D and 3D cell models and tissues. This role will focus on the development and execution of novel molecular assays, establishing and optimizing laboratory workflows and infrastructure, and executing technical work across multiple imaging and assay platforms. Additional responsibilities include building and implementing data generation pipelines, troubleshooting complex experiments at the bench and across imaging platforms, optimizing protocols, analyzing imaging data, and collaborating with internal teams, CROs, and external technology partners to support capability development.

Ideal candidates bring deep hands-on experience in high-content imaging, particularly within disease-relevant biological contexts, along with strong experimental, assay development, and computational image analysis skills. Familiarity with state-of-the-art image analysis methods, including AI/ML-enabled approaches, and enthusiasm for applying these tools in day-to-day experimental workflows are also required.

You will be responsible for:

• Applying state-of-the-art drug discovery approaches in a multidisciplinary team!
• Developing, optimizing, andvalidating complex high-content imaging and other high-dimensional assays to support Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology programs.
• Establishing and refiningnew molecular assays, including troubleshooting, workflow development, and technical feasibility assessments.
• Collaborating closely with colleagues and therapeutic area teams to translate high-dimensional readouts intoactionable biological insights.
• Working closely with CROs and/or external partners, ensuring high‑quality data generation, timeline alignment, and technical deliverables.
• Contributing to data workflows by supporting data mapping, QC frameworks, and analytical handoffsto computational teams.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Minimum of a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Systems biology, Human biology or a related discipline is required.

Required:

• A minimum of 4 years of pharmaceutical industry experience is required.
• Strong track record of high-impact scientific deliverables as evidenced by publications, presentations, and recognition within the scientific community.
• Deep, technical high-content imaging expertise is required, including understanding of end-to-end workflows, method limitations, and mitigation strategies.
• Excellent written communication, verbal communication, and oral presentation skills are required.
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and functional areas is required.
• Ability to apply novel approaches to address complex biology questions, as evidenced through strong peer-reviewed publications, is required.
• Experience as a problem solver, and team collaborator able to facilitate understanding between biologists and data scientists is required.

Preferred:

• Expertise in complex cell models and/or tissue imaging is preferred.
• Experience working with and/or guiding external collaborators in industry or academia is preferred.
• Experience integrating different types of high-dimensional data is preferred.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as R or Python, and/or experience with agentic AI to deliver high-quality analysis code, is preferred.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson and Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please email the Employee Health Support Center [e-mail] or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#LI-Onsite

Required Skills:

• Big Data Management
• Critical Thinking
• Data Reporting
• Data Savvy
• Drug Discovery Development
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Organizing
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology
• Problem Solving
• Product Knowledge
• Project Reporting
• Project Schedule
• Research Proposals
• Scientific Research
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
• Standard Scientific Processes and Procedures
• Strategic Thinking
• Sustainability

Preferred Skills:

• Big Data Management
• Critical Thinking
• Data Reporting
• Data Savvy
• Drug Discovery Development
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Organizing
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology
• Problem Solving
• Product Knowledge
• Project Reporting
• Project Schedule
• Research Proposals
• Scientific Research
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
• Standard Scientific Processes and Procedures
• Strategic Thinking
• Sustainability