Principal Scientist, Translational Oncology – Single Cell and Spatial Genomics, Solid Tumors

Natera

1d•$171,900 - $214,950•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to serve as a translational and strategic leader within our Oncology research organization. This role sits at the crossroads of reverse translation, biomarker science, and cutting-edge genomics technology — driving mechanistic insight from the clinic back into discovery to accelerate and de-risk our oncology pipeline. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in cancer biology, a track record of cross-functional leadership in a pharma or biotech environment, and hands-on experience building and deploying single cell and spatial omics capabilities.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a closely related field
6+ years of experience post-Ph.D. in oncology translational research within biotech or pharma, including demonstrated growth into senior or principal scientist roles
Deep scientific expertise in at least one of the following: cancer cell biology, tumor immunology, cell engineering, or neoantigen biology
Hands-on experience with single cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, or multiomics platforms; experience building or scaling these capabilities in an organizational context is strongly preferred
Strong publication and/or patent record reflecting independent scientific contribution
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional programs and influencing without authority across Research, Clinical, and Biomarker teams
Prior experience managing and mentoring scientists at multiple career stages
Exceptional scientific communication skills; ability to synthesize complex data and present compellingly to diverse audiences

Responsibilities

Drive discovery and translational projects in collaboration with AI and internal research teams with a primary focus on integrating scRNA-seq and spatial biology into Natera’s pipeline.
Collaborate with external translational teams on building single-cell and spatial biology workflows into their early phase clinical studies.
Leverage novel technologies to inform collaborative reverse and forward translation efforts as well as internal target discovery and validation projects.
Design and execute lab-based research programs that bridge clinical observations with mechanistic hypotheses, supporting asset progression and CDP expansion
Lead and contribute to technology area team focused on single cell genomics and spatial omics, building out multiomics capabilities to support foundational models and RWD efforts
Partner with internal and external collaborators to establish, optimize, and deploy cutting-edge platforms for translational applications
Serve as an internal expert and thought leader on emerging genomics technologies relevant to oncology drug discovery and development
Represent translational science on life cycle, RWD, and BioPharma BD teams
Collaborate with Clinical, Biomarker, Discovery, and Regulatory colleagues to shape clinical trial design and biomarker plans
Build and maintain external scientific partnerships and advisory relationships as appropriate
Lead and mentor a team of scientists and contractors, with a strong commitment to career development and scientific growth
Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture with clear goals and accountability