Scientist III - CAR-T Scientist

Orion Group; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The CAR-T Biology team in South San Francisco seeks a Scientist III to develop in vivo CAR-T platforms from concept to preclinical development. You will design CAR constructs, execute advanced cell-based assays, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to generate high-quality data for pipeline programs.

The ideal candidate will have deep CAR-T expertise, experience with T-cell functional assays, and strong scientific writing. This is an onsite, 1-year contract with potential extensions.

Qualifications

• Experience in CAR-T construct design and CAR-T production.
• Strong ability to design, perform and interpret key experiments.
• Excellent scientific writing and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Apply expertise in T cell and synthetic biology for in vivo CAR-T development.
• Independently track and deliver project milestones and timelines.
• Design and execute in vitro CAR-T assays to evaluate cytotoxicity and T-cell function.
• Communicate results to stakeholders through presentations and reports.
• Maintain thorough ELN documentation.

Skills

CAR-T biology

T cell assays

data interpretation

milestone delivery

Education

BS/BA or equivalent

MS or equivalent

PhD in CAR-T or IO

Job description

Scientist III – CAR-T Scientist

Hourly Rate: $76/hr with medical benefits or $80/hr without out medical benefits.

Contract Length: 1 year initial contract with possibility of extensions

Onsite – South San Francisco

Work schedule is 8 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday

Orion Project Services is working with a market-leading pharmaceutical company on an exciting opportunity for a Scientist III to join its CAR-T Biology team in South San Francisco.

The successful candidate will design CAR constructs, execute functional and phenotyping assays, interpret complex scientific data and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to advance pipeline programs. This is an initial six-month, fully onsite contract paying $76/hour with medical benefits or $80/hour without benefits, with the possibility of extension.

Job Description:

The CAR-T Biology team in South San Francisco, part of the Immuno-Oncology Organization, is seeking a Scientist III to support the development of in vivo CAR-T platforms from concept through preclinical development. The candidate will work at the intersection of synthetic biology and immune modulation. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in CAR-T biology, T-cell functional assays, and therapeutic development. The role includes designing CAR constructs, executing advanced cell-based assays and collaborating with cross-functional teams to generate high-quality data that support pipeline programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Apply subject matter expertise in T cell and synthetic biology approaches toward the development of the next-generation in vivo CAR-T cell therapies, and the ability to translate evolving scientific and intellectual property insights into impactful therapeutic programs.
• Independently establish, track, and deliver on project milestones and experimental timelines, ensuring alignment with program objectives and organizational priorities, while adapting to evolving scientific needs.
• Design and execute in vitro assays to evaluate CAR-T biology, including assessment of cytotoxicity, T-cell effector function, and immune cell phenotyping.
• Organize, analyze, and synthesize complex scientific data, and effectively communicate experimental strategies, results, and interpretations to internal and external stakeholders through clear and impactful presentations and scientific reports.
• Maintain comprehensive and well-documented records in an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN).

Qualifications:

• BS, or equivalent education, with typically 7 or more years of experience; or MS, or equivalent education, with typically 5 or more years of experience; or PhD level with experience in CAR-T, genetic medicine, or immuno-oncology.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, perform, and interpret key experiments to address scientific questions. Proven capacity to quickly learn and apply new laboratory techniques. Able to manage multiple tasks efficiently while meeting deadlines. Strong skills in scientific writing and verbal communication.
• Extensive experience in assay development for CAR-T candidate generation and assessment
• Previous experience in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct design, CAR-T production, and T cell function evaluation.
• Deep expertise in primary T cell isolation, activation, transduction, T cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, cytokine profiling, multi-color flow cytometry, and immunological assays (e.g., ELISA, Luminex, cytotoxicity assays) is required.
• Previous experience in leading preclinical cell therapy projects and mentoring scientists will be a plus
• Experience in cell-based in vitro assay development and semi-automated liquid handling systems for high-throughput workflows is a plus.

Peopleare our business worldwide

Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.