Senior Associate Scientist

⚡ Position Title: Scientist Senior Associate

📌 Work Location: Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

🧠 Assignment Duration: 06 Months

💼 Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

⚡ Position Summary:

The organization Thousand Oaks Global Critical Reagents (GCR) Team is looking for an experienced, hands-on scientist to join the GCR — Process Excellence (GCR-PEX) team.

This senior role balances advanced laboratory execution (cell culture, reagent generation and characterization) with technical leadership of process development, laboratory automation, and digital transformation.

⚡ Key Responsibilities:

• Create and characterize adherent and suspension assay cell lines and develop high-quality assay-ready (ready-to-plate) cell banks for cell-based potency assay methods in Process Development (PD) and Quality Control (QC), with a primary focus on adherent mammalian cell lines.
• Support mammalian cell culture work end-to-end for assay cell bank generation (planning, media preparation, expansion, harvest, cryopreservation, and documentation).
• Operate and use WAVE™ 25 Rocker and Corning® HYPERStack® vessels for scale-up culture and banking activities with primary focus on closed-system multi-layer vessels (HYPERStack®) for adherent cell lines.
• Lead process development and automation projects that increase throughput, reduce variability, and strengthen data integrity for assay cell bank and reagent workflows.
• Evaluate, pilot and integrate laboratory automation (liquid handlers, tube handlers, etc.); develop vendor assessments and implementation plans.
• Author, revise and own SOPs and protocols to enable robust processes and successful transfer to operations.
• Manage and improve digital inventory workflows; integrate process data to support forecasting and replenishment triggers.
• Perform and support advanced reagent work: antibody/protein purification and conjugation.
• Translate research and experimental results into concise technical recommendations and present to cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to staff; act as a subject matter expert for GCR operations.
• Perform inventory management tasks, global shipping, reagent sub-aliquoting, and documentation in accordance with applicable SOPs.
• Operate lab and automation equipment, including centrifuges, HPLC systems, incubators, freezers, LN₂ dewars, vial fillers, labelers, and cappers.
• Handle daily tasks and team support while managing projects in a fast-paced setting.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality and data integrity expectations.

⚡ Qualifications & Experience:

• Master’s degree (cell biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or similar) and ≥ 2 years industry experience in cell culture/process development/reagent generation; OR Bachelor’s degree and ≥ 4 years relevant industry experience demonstrating increasing responsibility.
• Strong hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture with a primary focus on adherent cell lines; experience with suspension as needed; creation/characterization of cell banks.
• Strong aseptic technique and experience working in a sterile environment (BSL-2 biosafety cabinets), including routine contamination control.
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement and laboratory automation projects from pilot through implementation/transfer.
• Proficiency with digital lab documentation and data tools (ELN, advanced Excel; data visualization tools such as Spotfire, Tableau).
• Proven ability to communicate technical information clearly to peers and senior stakeholders (SOPs, technical summaries, presentations).
• Strong mentorship and ability to work effectively in a team and cross-functional environment.
• Detail-oriented self-starter: independently deliver lab/process-improvement projects; prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, communicate risks with mitigations, and maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to work full-time onsite at the organization Thousand Oaks campus.