Kite Pharma

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 looking for a highly motivated Associate Scientist to join our Method Development & Automation Team. This is a unique opportunity to join a highly innovative gene therapy company developing the next generation of CAR T therapies. You would have the opportunity to make significant contributions in our dynamic team where self-driven, enthusiastic employees thrive. In this role, the ideal candidate will leverage a diverse set of analytical tools to develop and refine robust methods that support the characterization and quality assessment of cell therapy products, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and compliance with regulatory standards to prioritize both efficacy and patient safety.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in analytical method development utilizing molecular biology techniques, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and/or compendial methods. They will be responsible for designing, optimizing, and validating assays to assess product quality, purity, and functionality. The preferred candidate will have a strong understanding of method development concepts for enabling the development of robust analytical strategies to support regulatory and manufacturing needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform molecular biology assays such as PCR, ddPCR, restriction digestion, and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
• Analyze and interpret complex data to support method development and product characterization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate analytical methods into manufacturing and regulatory workflows.
• Author technical reports, SOPs, and validation documentation for regulatory submissions.
• Ensure compliance with Good Documentation Practices (GDP), GMP, and quality assurance guidelines.
• Author, review, and edit technical documents such as SOPs and/or reports

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Immunology, Biology, Cancer Biology or related discipline with 4+ years of experience OR
• MS in Immunology, Biology, Cancer Biology or related discipline with 2+ years of experience

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on, industry experience with PCR (preferably ddPCR) methods development
• Experience with data analysis software, such as MS Excel, PLA, JMP and SoftMax Pro.
• Strong scientific writing and presentation skills
• Ability to think critically and demonstrate troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Highly collaborative with excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and willing to accept temporary responsibilities outside of initial job description
• Comfortable in a fast-paced small company environment with minimal direction

The salary range for this position is: $99,705.00 - $129,030.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

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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Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

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Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.