Associate Scientist, Protein Engineering & Discovery Platforms
United States - California - Foster CityResearchRegularОписание вакансии
We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.
Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.
Job Description
We are seeking a motivated Associate Scientist, Protein Engineering & Discovery Platforms to join Kite Research. This role is well suited for an early‑career scientist who will contribute to binder discovery, library screening, and optimization workflows in a highly collaborative discovery environment. The Associate Scientist will report to a senior technical lead responsible for protein engineering platforms and will play a key role in executing platform‑enabled experiments that support multiple discovery programs. This position emphasizes strong experimental execution, data quality, and reproducibility, with opportunities to develop deeper expertise in protein engineering, directed evolution, and discovery pipeline workflows.
Key Responsibilities
Experimental Execution & Data Generation
Execute well‑defined protein engineering, screening, and optimization experiments in support of discovery programs.
Perform library handling, selections, expression, purification, and analytical characterization according to established protocols.
Generate high‑quality, well‑documented experimental data to support iterative discovery cycles.
Platform Support & Workflow Enablement
Support core protein engineering platforms by reliably executing standard workflows and contributing to continuous improvement efforts.
Assist with sample preparation, assay setup, and data handoff for downstream analysis (e.g., NGS‑enabled screens, binding or functional assays).
Follow established technical standards for quality, throughput, and reproducibility.
Collaboration & Team Integration
Work closely with the supervising scientist and cross‑functional partners (e.g., Cell Biology, Automation, Data Science) to ensure experiments align with program goals.
Participate in team discussions, experimental planning meetings, and data reviews.
Communicate results clearly through lab notebooks/LIMS, data repositories, and team presentations.
Documentation, Compliance & Best Practices
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in electronic lab notebooks and relevant data systems.
Adhere to laboratory safety, compliance, and quality standards.
Contribute to protocol updates and documentation as workflows evolve.
Growth & Skill Development
Develop technical competence in protein engineering and discovery workflows through hands‑on execution and mentorship.
Demonstrate increasing independence in experimental troubleshooting and execution over time.
Seek and incorporate feedback to improve scientific rigor, efficiency, and collaboration.
Basic Qualifications
Master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant scientific experience
ORBachelor’s degree with 4+ years of relevant scientific experience
Preferred Qualifications
BS or MS in Protein Science, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline
Hands‑on laboratory experience in protein expression, purification, or biochemical assays
Strong attention to detail with a commitment to data quality and reproducibility
Experience with library‑based screening or selection methods (e.g., phage, yeast, or related display technologies)
Familiarity with standard protein characterization techniques (e.g., ELISA, SPR/BLI, SDS‑PAGE)
Experience working in a collaborative, fast‑paced research environment
Attributes for Success
Reliable experimentalist who executes protocols with consistency and care
Organized and thorough in data documentation and communication
Eager to learn and expand technical skill sets
Collaborative team member who responds well to scientific guidance and feedback
Comfortable working within defined workflows while contributing to iterative improvement
This role offers a strong foundation in protein engineering and discovery‑platform execution, with clear opportunities for skill development, technical growth, and increased scientific contribution over time.
For additional benefits information, visit:
https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing
* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.
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