Scientist I, Analytical Development

Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating and, one day, curing life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, we are advancing the next generation of cell therapy through a portfolio of innovative technologies, including autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo cell therapy approaches. Our research spans chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T), T-cell receptor (TCR-T), natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies, and other emerging platforms designed to transform the treatment of serious diseases.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic and scientifically driven Scientist I to join the Functional, Flow Cytometry and BioAnalytics team within our empowered Analytical Development organization. This role will focus on the establishment, development, and qualification of analytical methods, including compendial methods, flow cytometry, cell-based potency, and immunoassays to support the development and manufacture of Legend’s cell and gene therapy pipeline. This laboratory-focused role will require developing, optimizing, and executing analytical methods for product characterization, release, and stability testing. The role involves authoring and reviewing documents, maintaining electronic laboratory notebooks, and contributing to cross-functional collaboration with other functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and execute analytical methods to support viral vector and CAR-T product characterization, including compendial methods, titer, particle size, flow cytometry, and cell-based potency methods.
• Author and review methods, protocols, and reports.
• Maintain reagent inventory and order materials as laboratory activities require.
• Generate and qualify critical materials for analytical methods.
• Observe all laboratory safety standards including PPE use and BSL2 best practices.
• Perform pre-qualification, assay qualification, product release testing, and product characterization testing in a quality control environment.
• Technology transfer of methods to QC and external collaborators and receive methods from internal and external collaborators.
• Maintain contemporaneous and accurate electronic laboratory records, including instrument maintenance records and sample inventory, following ALCOA+ standards.
• Perform peer review and data integrity reviews in the analytical development and quality control environments.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with PD, QC, and Manufacturing teams to ensure seamless assay execution, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Present scientific data at internal and external forums.
• Balance multiple projects while meeting established timelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 5 or more years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 3 to 5 years of experience, or PhD with 0 to 2 years of experience.
• Strong laboratory background, including experience with developing flow cytometry, mammalian cell culture, ELISA, and cell-based assays.
• Experience implementing or executing compendial methods is preferred.
• Experience with lentiviral vector characterization, including infectious titer, potency, and transduction efficacy assays.
• Solid understanding of ICH guidelines and regulatory expectations for method qualification.
• Experience with assay qualification, release testing, and product characterization testing in a regulated environment.
• Experience with document change management and document review/approval workflows is preferred.
• Guide the establishing and authoring of SOPs/procedures for established methods.
• Detail-oriented with expertise in problem-solving and solid decision-making abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• GraphPad Prism, other data analysis tools (PowerBI, JMP, R).
• Flow cytometry software (CytoExpert, FCS Express, NovoExpress, FlowJo, etc.).
• Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN), LabVantage, etc.
• Strong written and verbal English skills are required. Mandarin preferred.

Pay

Base pay range: $96,267 - $126,351 USD.

Other types of pay: Performance-based bonus and/or equity is available to employees in eligible roles.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one.
• Eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment.
• Paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and eleven (11) company holidays.
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
• Life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Legal assistance and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Voluntary commuter benefits, family planning and care resources, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs.