Senior Scientist – Lentiviral Vector Upstream Process Development

Biopharma Careers; North Carolina; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Senior Scientist for Lentiviral Vector Upstream Process Development to lead scalable cell culture process development for cell therapy and CAR-T programs at Spring House, PA. You will guide upstream execution across scales, optimize productivity, and support technology transfer to manufacturing sites.

You will design experiments, interpret complex data, mentor junior scientists, and contribute to lifecycle management for viral vector products with strong

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR MS with 4-6 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with process development of viral based products.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture process development for biologics, cell and gene therapy, RNA therapeutics, or related viral vector modalities.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture, bioreactor operation, media optimization, process monitoring, and process scale-up.
• Strong data analysis, experimental design, and technical documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, interpret, and communicate complex studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional team environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute upstream process development studies for lentiviral therapeutic products and provide scientific guidance.
• Conduct cell culture experiments using shake flasks, bench-scale bioreactors, and automated high-throughput systems.
• Contribute to development of lentiviral processes to continuously improve productivity, quality, and manufacturability.
• Perform technology transfer to and collaborate with Johnson & Johnson’s manufacturing sites.
• Support existing and new commercial manufacturing investigations and provide subject matter expert knowledge as part of product life cycle management.
• Apply statistical experimental design, data analytics, and online monitoring and visualization tools to strengthen upstream process understanding.
• Analyze and interpret process data using JMP, MiniTab, Python, Spotfire, or similar platforms.
• Evaluate emerging novel upstream technologies that improve process robustness and development efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with downstream, analytical, formulation, modeling, automation to align study design and deliverables.
• Mentor junior scientists and provide scientific leadership across programs and cross-functional workstreams.
• Author technical reports, development summaries, scientific presentations, protocols, and regulatory-supporting documentation.

Skills

Data analysis

Experimental design

Technical documentation

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field

MS with 4–6 years relevant experience

Tools

JMP

MiniTab

Python

Spotfire

Job description

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Biotherapeutics R&D

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Learn more at jnj.com .

We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Scientist – Lentiviral Vector Upstream Process Development to be based in Spring House, PA.

Purpose:

The Senior Scientist, Lentiviral Vector Upstream Process Development, will lead development, optimization, and characterization of scalable cell culture processesfor cell therapy and CAR-T programs. This role will provide scientific leadership for early- or clinical-stage process development, with emphasis on cell culture and bioreactor execution at varying scales and data-driven process understanding, platform robustness and knowledge and optimization of upstream process technologies. This role will also support technology transfer to Johnson & Johnson’s manufacturing sites, commercial manufacturing investigations and provide subject matter expert knowledge as part of life cycle management for cell therapy products in Johnson & Johnson’s pipeline.

You will be responsible for:

• Design and execute upstream process development studies for lentiviral therapeutic products and provide scientific guidance.
• Conduct cell culture experiments using shake flasks, bench-scale bioreactors, and automated high-throughput systems.
• Contribute todevelopmentof lentiviral processes to continuously improve productivity, quality, and manufacturability.
• Perform technology transfer to and collaborate with Johnson & Johnson’s manufacturing sites
• Support existing and new commercial manufacturing investigations and provide subject matter expert knowledge as part of product life cycle management
• Apply statistical experimental design, data analytics, and online monitoring and visualization tools to strengthen upstream process understanding.
• Analyze and interpret process data using JMP,MiniTab, Python, Spotfire, or similar platforms.
• Evaluate emerging novel upstream technologies that improve process robustness and development efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with downstream, analytical, formulation, modeling, automation to align study design and deliverables
• Mentor junior scientists and provide scientific leadership across programs and cross-functional workstreams.
• Author technical reports, development summaries, scientific presentations, protocols, and regulatory-supporting documentation.

Qualifications :

Required:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience; ORBS or MS with 4-6 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with process development of viral based products.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture process development for biologics, cell and gene therapy, RNA therapeutics, or related viral vector modalities.
• Hands-on experience with cell culture, bioreactor operation, media optimization, process monitoring, and process scale-up.
• Strong data analysis, experimental design, and technical documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, interpret, and communicate complex studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional team environments.
• Previous experience with technology transfer of a bioprocess to clinical or commercial GMP manufacturing is strongly preferred
• Occasional weekend work may be required
• Up to 10% domestic and international travel may be required

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:

PreferredSkills:

Analytical Reasoning, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), Coaching, Consulting, Critical Thinking, Drug Discovery Development, Emerging Technologies, Molecular Diagnostics, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacovigilance, Process Improvements, Quality Assurance (QA), Relationship Building, Research Documents, Scientific Research, Technologically Savvy