Senior Scientist, Molecular Biology

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

About The Position

At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. The Protein Therapeutics department is seeking a highly motivated laboratory-based scientist to lead the Molecular Biology function within the Mammalian Expression team. In this capacity, the successful candidate will provide scientific direction for the design, development, and execution of high-throughput expression construct and cassette generation workflows that support Gilead’s therapeutic programs in areas such as Virology, Inflammation, and Oncology. This individual will spearhead initiatives to advance integrated synthetic biology workflows, facilitating efficient transitions from sequence design in silico to high-quality, expression-ready constructs for recombinant protein expression at all scales. The ideal candidate will possess extensive molecular biology expertise, collaborative leadership skills, and a proven track record in developing and optimizing robust, data-driven platforms that accelerate gene-to-protein delivery across diverse projects.

Requirements

8+ Years with BS OR 6+ Years with MS OR 0+ Years with PhD/PharmD

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology, biochemical engineering, biological sciences or related disciplines with postdoctoral training and 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
M.S. with 12+ years or B.S. with 15+ years of relevant industry experience will be considered.
Demonstrated deep expertise in molecular cloning, DNA assembly and construct design for protein expressions, including hands-on expertise with multiple DNA assembly methods such as Gibson, Golden Gate and In-Fusion cloning.
Demonstrated experience developing, optimizing, and scaling high-throughput molecular biology workflows supporting biologics discovery processes.
Experienced in automation-related workflows from development to implementation, using robotic platforms or related technologies to increase capacity and efficiency.
Experience in DNA repository management, plasmid inventory systems or sample archival infrastructure.
Experience managing external CROs to support workflow execution, data delivery and timeline-driven project support.
Experience working cross-functionally with informatics, automation or other technical teams to support data integrity, workflow standardisation and operational efficiency.
Demonstrated competency in Geneious Prime, GeneData Biologics and other bioinformatics tools.
Experience in programming/scripting languages such as Python, Excel macros is a plus.
Highly collaborative with strong organisational and time management skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively on multiple programmes in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Strong data management and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Supervisory experience managing both scientists and workflows is expected

Responsibilities

Provide scientific and operational guidance for the molecular cloning function, overseeing the design and delivery of complex plasmid and expression constructs utilizing various assembly technologies including Gibson, Golden Gate, and In-Fusion cloning, with workflows tailored for scalable automation.
Lead the development and enhancement of high-throughput construct generation platforms by integrating robotic systems and innovative technologies to expand capacity and reduce cycle time in gene-to-protein workflows.
Direct the implementation and ongoing refinement of automated sequence verification workflow, including management of external CRO activities to ensure high-quality data generation and capture.
Oversee rigorous sample quality control to maintain high standards of data accuracy and compliance.
Collaborate strategically with Research Informatics and cross-functional teams to establish standardized, compliant workflows for nucleic acid data registration, streamline operations, and strengthen digital connectivity throughout the workflow.
Supervise and drive continuous improvement of the Protein Therapeutics DNA repository to maintain a reliable, scalable, and well-governed plasmid inventory and archival system to fully support mammalian cell transfection activities and broader platform requirements on time and within budget.
Act as the scientific liaison with external CRO partners to streamline ordering and delivery processes, reducing DNA readiness timelines and increasing operational efficiency.
Provide scientific contributions and data to support publications, patent submissions, and presentations at internal and external meetings.
Present findings to project teams and senior management regularly.
Mentor and develop team members