Senior Principal Scientist: Metabolomics/Cell Therapy Media Development

Genentech•San Diego, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is a vital part of our Cell Therapy Process Development team within Pharma Technical Cell and Gene Therapy Development (PTCC), which is committed to advancing next-generation cell therapies through innovative metabolomics research and media optimization. As a member of this team, you will lead cutting-edge efforts to develop and optimize cell culture media platforms while collaborating closely with key stakeholders across Analytical Development, Research, Manufacturing Operations, and cross-functional teams within Genentech and Roche. You will serve as the primary in-house expert on state-of-the-art cell therapy media development practices, translating deep scientific expertise into strategic innovations that enable breakthrough therapies to reach patients. This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of cell therapy manufacturing while fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture focused on continuous improvement.

Requirements

Established track record for strong technical leadership in metabolomics research and/or cell culture media development.
PhD in biological sciences, chemical engineering, or related discipline with 5+ years of relevant research and development experience in metabolomics and/or cell culture media development.
Proven track record of leading complex technical projects from conception to completion with strong organizational skills and scientific rigor; demonstrated ability to translate research insights into practical manufacturing solutions.
Demonstrated success building, managing, and developing highly productive technical teams with an emphasis on creating an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and fosters collaboration.
Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional partners, customers, and collaborators; excellent skills in influencing, communication, and working effectively across organizational boundaries in complex matrixed environments.
Established track record of excellent verbal and written communication demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and ability to articulate complex scientific concepts to audiences at all levels.

Responsibilities

Lead metabolomics research initiatives focused on developing and optimizing cell culture media for a diverse portfolio of cell therapy products.
Provide scientific and strategic guidance to establish highly-productive platform processes while serving as the primary technical expert and thought leader in cell therapy media development.
Design and develop chemically-defined cell culture media platforms tailored to meet the unique needs of T cell therapies, stem cell therapies, and other cell-based products.
Apply advanced metabolomics tools, computational methods, and -omics technologies to deeply understand cell metabolism and drive continuous improvement in cell culture performance.
Lead technology transfer initiatives and collaborate with manufacturing operations to translate laboratory innovations into scalable, robust processes.
Provide technical leadership and strategic guidance to process development teams, media preparation operations, and supply chain partners to resolve complex challenges and optimize raw material selection.
Mentor and develop scientific staff within the Cell Therapy Process Development group, fostering a culture of technical excellence, lean thinking, and continuous improvement.
Interface effectively across multiple internal stakeholder groups (Analytical Development, Research, Manufacturing, Quality) and external collaborators to align priorities and drive impactful outcomes.
Establish thought leadership through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and participation in industry discussions on metabolomics and cell therapy manufacturing.