Principal Scientist, Spatial Omics

Biopharma Careers; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Principal Scientist, Spatial Omics, for Multiomics Discovery in Cambridge, MA or Spring House, PA. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution in spatial genomics to advance therapeutic discovery in neuroscience, oncology, and immunology.

You will design, optimize, and deploy molecular, phenotypic, and spatial assays to generate robust data. Ideal candidates have 6+ years in biotech/pharma, deep spatial omics expertise, and proven ability to lead

Qualifications

• Six or more years in biotech/pharma industry.
• Proven high-impact scientific deliverables (publications, talks).
• Deep technical spatial omics expertise and end-to-end workflow understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and validation of spatial genomics assays for neuroscience, oncology, and immunology.
• Design workflows including tissue processing, ISH, microscopy, imaging and sequencing.
• Scale laboratory infrastructure and lead multiple experimental platforms.

Skills

Spatial omics

Genomics

CRISPR perturbation

Data analysis

Communication

Education

PhD in Genetics/Genomics/Molecular Biology

Tools

Bruker CosMx

10x Genomics Visium

Pooled screening

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:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 exceptional candidates for a Principal Scientist, Spatial Omics, role as part of Multiomics Discovery located in Cambridge, MA or Spring House, PA.

Purpose:

The ideal candidate will lead the development, validation, and deployment of cutting‑edge spatial and molecular profiling capabilities to advance therapeutic discovery across neuroscience, oncology, and immunology, with deep expertise in at least one of these therapeutic areas preferred. This Principal Scientist role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on scientific execution and is responsible for designing, optimizing, and applying molecular, phenotypic, and spatial assays that generate robust, reproducible, and biologically meaningful data.

The Principal Scientist will drive end‑to‑end development of functional genomics and spatial biology workflows, including genetic perturbation libraries, massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs), pooled screening approaches, and spatial genomics technologies. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in genomic technologies and will develop custom experimental workflows that integrate perturbation library design, cellular engineering, spatial guide capture, and transcriptomic profiling. The role will also be responsible for establishing and scaling laboratory infrastructure, implementing new technologies, and providing technical leadership across multiple experimental platforms.

Additional responsibilities include building data‑generation pipelines, troubleshooting complex studies, and managing CROs and external technology partners to accelerate capability development and technology adoption. The position will provide opportunities to validate discoveries in relevant in vitro and ex vivo disease models and to collaborate closely with computational scientists to translate experimental findings into actionable biological insights.

Ideal candidates bring extensive experience in functional genomics, complex genetic screening, and spatial biology, preferably within a disease‑focused research setting. They possess strong experimental design and assay development skills and have demonstrated success deploying novel genomic technologies across diverse cell and tissue systems. Candidates should have sufficient computational literacy to understand experimental data flows and interface effectively with bioinformatics and data science teams. Experience with spatial transcriptomics, genetic library design, massively parallel reporter assays, CRISPR‑based perturbation approaches, pooled screening technologies, and cell engineering is highly desirable.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the development, optimization, andvalidation of spatial genomics and molecular profiling assaysto support neuroscience, oncology, and immunology programs.
• Designing and executing experimental workflows involvingtissue processing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, microscopy, high‑resolution slide imaging and sequencing. Experience with Bruker CosMx and 10xGenomics Visium is highly preferred andwillberequiredforthisrole.
• Establishingandrefiningnew functional genomics and massively parallelcell assays, including troubleshooting, workflow development, and technical feasibility assessments.
• Buildingandscalinglaboratoryinfrastructure, includinglab setup, instrumentation planning, and operational readiness.
• ManagingCROsandexternal partners, ensuring high‑quality data generation, timeline alignment, and technical deliverables.
• Collaboratingwiththerapeutic area teams to translate multiomics and spatial readouts intoactionable biological insights.
• Contributingtodata workflows by supporting early‑stagedata mapping, QC frameworks, and analytical handoffstocomputational teams.

Qualifications

Education: PhD in Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Molecular Pathology, Systems biology, Human biology or a related discipline is required.

Post‑doctoral fellowship in a related field is required. Alternatively, industry experience with a proven track‑record of delivering completed complex projects will be considered.

Required:

• Aminimum of 6 years of biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience is required. Academic staff scientist experience in deeply technical, matrixed, project facing roles will be considered.
• Strongtrackrecordofhigh‑impact scientific deliverables as evidenced bypublications, presentations,andrecognition within the scientific community.
• Deep, technical spatial omics expertise is required, including understanding of end‑to‑end workflows, methods limitations, and mitigation strategies.
• Excellentwritten communication, verbal communication, and oral presentation skills are required.
• ExperiencewithMultiomic Datasets is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and functional areas is required.
• Abilitytoapplynovelapproachesto address complex biology questions, as evidenced throughstrong peer‑reviewed publications is required

Preferred:

• Proficiencyinprogramming languages such asR or Python is preferred.
• Invitrocell culture and genomics library design experience is preferred.
• Experienceasaproblemsolver, and team collaborator able to facilitate understanding between biologists and data scientists is preferred.
• Abilitytomanage multiple projects and meet deadlines is preferred.
• Experience working with and/or guiding external collaborators in industry or academia 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.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$117,000.00 - $201,250.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

Vacation –120 hours per calendar year

Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year

Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year

Work,PersonalandFamilyTime - up to40hours per calendar year

ParentalLeave – 480hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child

Bereavement Leave – 240hours for an immediate family member: 40hours for an extended family member per calendar year

CaregiverLeave– 80hours ina52-weekrolling period10days

VolunteerLeave – 32hours per calendar year

Military SpouseTime-Off – 80hours per calendar year

For additionalgeneralinformationonCompany benefits, please goto: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits