Principal Scientist, Drug Substance-Process Science/Immunology

Allogene Therapeutics, headquartered in South San Francisco, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (AlloCAR T) products for cancer and autoimmune disease. The company is led by a management team with significant experience in cell therapy and is developing a pipeline of “off-the-shelf” CAR T cell product candidates to deliver readily available cell therapy on-demand.

About the role

Allogene Therapeutics is seeking a Principal Scientist for the Cell Starting Material - Process Sciences group within the Process and Product Development organization. This role will drive innovation, develop new cell therapy technologies, and implement robust CAR-T processes to advance Allogene’s core technologies in GMP manufacturing facilities. The individual will be responsible for characterization of cell starting material and developing cell isolation technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of high-impact Cell Starting Material characterization studies using QbD principles.
• Execute characterization activities focused on elucidating dependencies between cell starting material and drug product quality attributes.
• Evaluate and develop innovative cell isolation technologies.
• Develop and implement technical strategies aligned with departmental and program objectives.
• Drive process understanding and control strategy development to support clinical and commercial manufacturing.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in cell therapy process sciences, providing scientific and technical leadership.
• Interpret complex datasets and communicate findings to cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Identify process risks and opportunities; propose and implement innovative solutions and process improvements.
• Support the preparation of technical reports, regulatory documents (e.g., IND/BLA sections), and scientific publications.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Analytical Sciences, MSAT, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure seamless program execution.
• Act as a technical mentor, coaching scientists on study design, data interpretation, and scientific decision-making.
• Remain current with relevant cell therapy, immunology, and bioprocessing literature.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology, Immunology, or a related field with at least 7 years of relevant experience; or MS with at least 10 years of industry experience; or BS with at least 12 years of industry experience.
• Desired expertise in immunology and/or cellular biology.
• Demonstrated expertise in aseptic technique, cell-based assays, and cell culturing.
• Experience in cell isolation and enrichment from a variety of biological sources.
• Experience with cell isolation technologies for cell therapy.
• Experience optimizing cryopreservation media and processes.
• Strong analytical mindset for interrogating datasets.
• Demonstrated experience building robust experimental frameworks to interrogate biological systems, with a strong emphasis on interdependencies among different cell types, process characterization, DOE, and data-driven decision-making.
• Strong understanding of cell therapy manufacturing processes (e.g., gene editing, viral transduction, cell expansion, formulation).
• Proven track record of leading complex technical programs and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including authoring technical documents and presenting to senior leadership.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus
• Equity
• Health insurance
• Generous time off, including 2 annual holiday company-wide shutdowns

Pay

The expected salary range for this role is $155,000 - $180,000 per year. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, business needs, and other job-related factors permitted by law.