Sr Associate Scientist, Process Development
About The Position
At Gilead, we are driven by a shared mission to discover, develop, and deliver transformative therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases. Achieving this mission requires not only scientific excellence, but also innovation in how we design, execute, and interpret process development experiments. Within Process Development and Manufacturing (PDM), the Purification Development organization is responsible for developing robust, scalable, and manufacturable downstream processes that enable reliable clinical and commercial supply. As Biologics pipelines grow in complexity, we are advancing automation-enabled, data-driven purification platforms to accelerate development timelines and strengthen process understanding. The Opportunity In this role, you will help transform how purification processes are developed by integrating miniaturized, high-throughput experimentation with mechanistic and data-driven modeling. You will contribute to the design and deployment of scalable purification screening platforms that enable rapid evaluation of resin behavior, operating conditions, and molecule specific interactions using limited material. By combining robotics, advanced analytics, and modeling, this role supports earlier, more confident technical decision-making through improved assessment of purification risk, robustness, and manufacturability across the development lifecycle. You will work closely with purification scientists, automation engineers, analytical teams, and data scientists, with opportunities to influence platform strategy and impact multiple programs across the Biologics portfolio.
Requirements
- B.S. with 5 years of industry experience in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, or biochemistry) OR M.S. with 3 years of industry experience in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, or biochemistry)
- Strong foundation in protein purification, chromatography mechanisms, and downstream process development
- Hands on experience with laboratory automation and high-throughput robotics (e.g. Hamilton, Tecan, or similar platforms)
- Experience designing and executing miniaturized purification, binding, or screening assays
- Background in mechanistic modeling of purification or related physical/chemical processes
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, analyze, and troubleshoot complex experimental systems
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to connect experimental observations to mechanistic and quantitative understanding
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative and team-oriented mindset
Nice To Haves
- Experience applying machine learning, multivariate analysis, or advanced statistics to experimental datasets
- Proficiency in Python, R, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis, modeling, and automation integration
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and continuously improve automated, high-throughput purification assays, including miniaturized resin screening and binding studies
- Develop and maintain scalable, reproducible robotic workflows using liquid handling and automation platforms
- Translate traditional column scale purification concepts into low-mass, high-information screening formats that support rapid decision making
- Develop and apply mechanistic models (e.g., adsorption, binding kinetics, transport phenomena) to interpret purification data and guide experimental design and operating window definition
- Apply multivariate analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling to analyze complex datasets, identify trends, and predict purification performance under varying conditions
- Integrate experimental and computational approaches to improve understanding of resin–protein interactions, process sensitivities, and scale relevant behavior
- Enable early identification of process risks, sensitivities, and operating windows to support purification process design
- Inform resin selection, buffer strategies, and process parameters using data driven insights
- Contribute to platform and capability development that benefits multiple programs across the Gilead Biologics portfolio
- Partner closely with cross functional teams in Purification, Automation, Analytics, and Data Science
- Communicate results clearly through technical reports, presentations, and data visualizations tailored to diverse audiences
- Contribute to Gilead internal best practices, knowledge sharing, and long-term technology strategy within Purification Development
Benefits
- discretionary annual bonus
- discretionary stock-based long-term incentives
- paid time off
- company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
