Immunology Senior Research Scientist - Flow Cytometry

Location: Seattle, WA; on-site five days per week

Salary: $124,200–$186,400 base salary per year, plus potential annual bonus and equity awards.

Company

Vertex is a global biotechnology company developing transformative medicines for people with serious diseases through scientific innovation.

What you will do

• Design, develop, optimize, and execute flow cytometry assays across discovery, translational, and development programs.
• Lead multicolor and high-dimensional immunophenotyping panel design, including marker selection, fluorochrome strategy, controls, gating, and data analysis.
• Integrate cellular and molecular profiling data, including transcriptomic, proteomic, and biomarker datasets, to support hypothesis generation and program strategy.
• Analyze complex cytometry data to generate insights into cell states, pathway activity, target engagement, disease biology, and mechanisms of action.
• Establish best practices for sample preparation, staining, acquisition, compensation, quality control, and reproducible data analysis.
• Lead cytometry workstreams, troubleshoot technical issues, evaluate emerging technologies, prepare scientific documentation, and mentor junior team members.

Requirements

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree with 6+ years; or a bachelor’s degree with 8+ years.
• Deep expertise in flow cytometry principles, instrumentation, assay development, immune profiling, and cellular phenotyping.
• Experience designing and optimizing high-parameter or multicolor panels, including intracellular and phospho-flow analysis.
• Proficiency with FlowJo, Dotmatics, or equivalent flow cytometry analysis software.
• Strong scientific reasoning, data interpretation, problem-solving, communication, organizational, and independent work skills.
• Ability to work on-site in Seattle five days per week.

Nice to have

• Experience with primary human blood- or tissue-derived samples, spectral flow cytometry, and cell sorting.
• Experience with BD, Cytek, or Sony cytometry platforms.
• Familiarity with R or Python-based data analysis workflows.
• Experience in immunology, inflammation, translational research, biomarker strategy, or clinical development.
• Experience integrating cytometry with single-cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, or proteomics datasets.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment in a research-focused biotechnology environment.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits with paid time off.
• Company shutdowns during the summer and winter, educational assistance, student loan repayment, and commuting subsidy.
• 401(k), matching charitable donations, annual bonus eligibility, and annual equity award eligibility.
• Continuous learning focused on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends.