Senior Principal Scientist (Oncology)

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Salary: $168,000–$197,000 USD per year, plus potential bonus, stock, benefits, and other variable compensation.

Company

Biopharmaceutical oncology company developing investigational therapies and conducting global Phase 3 clinical studies in non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

What you will do

• Screen and rank antibody candidates using ELISA, cell-based binding assays, flow cytometry, and primary cells.
• Develop, optimize, qualify, analyze, and summarize assays supporting candidate selection.
• Run PBMC-based tumor-killing assays and co-culture systems, measuring T-cell and NK-cell activation, proliferation, cytokine release, cytotoxicity, and Treg depletion.
• Design and execute ADCC, CDC, and ADCP assays across Fc formats, target-expression levels, and cell models.
• Support animal and PK/PD studies, working with contract research organizations and academic laboratories.
• Prepare scientific analyses, executive summaries, conference abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, SOPs, and protocols while serving as a subject-matter expert on cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• PhD with at least 3 years of industry experience, or MS with at least 5 years of industry experience, in cell biology, immunology, cancer biology, or a related field.
• Experience with multi-antibody characterization, including ELISA and cell-based binding assays.
• Hands-on experience with ADCC, CDC, and ADCP assays.
• Experience working with primary human PBMCs, isolated T cells and NK cells, PBMC-based tumor-killing assays, immune-cell activation assays, and Treg depletion assays.
• Ability to work independently and communicate scientific findings through presentations, posters, and manuscripts.
• Ability to assess emerging technologies, scientific literature, and competitive landscapes in oncology and immunology.

Nice to have

• In vivo animal experience, particularly PK/PD studies in mouse tumor models.
• Antibody affinity measurement using SPR or BLI and reporter-gene assays.
• Publication record in immuno-oncology.
• Multiplex immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, or experience with IND study reports.

Culture & Benefits

• Values include integrity, excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and commitment to people.
• Potential total compensation includes bonus, stock, benefits, and other applicable variable compensation.
• Work contributes to clinical oncology programs addressing serious unmet medical needs.
• Equal opportunity employment with a commitment to a diverse working environment.