Senior ​/ Principal Scientist (Immuno-Oncology & Functional Biology

Company Description

Elite Immune - the R&D engine of Reyoung Bio - is approaching the commercial approval of its first product: our lead RSV prophylactic antibody is currently under NMPA review and is expected to launch this year. The company continues to develop next-generation multispecific antibodies across infectious disease, respiratory, and oncology indications, with R&D sites in Tianjin, Shanghai (under build-out), and Maryland, USA.

The Senior / Principal Scientist (Immuno-Oncology & Functional Biology) is a full-time, on-site role based in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area. To expand our translational immuno-oncology and multispecific antibody early-discovery pipeline, we are hiring a Senior / Principal Scientist. This role sits at the intersection of target biology, multispecific antibody engineering, and functional evaluation. The core mission is to translate translational IO targets into executable, decision-grade, and reproducible cellular functional validation systems, and to nominate and advance lead molecules based on functional data.

Responsibilities include target biology validation, multispecific target-pair and MoA rationale, internal cellular functional platform build-out, functional screening cascades for candidate molecules, and CRO collaboration management. The candidate will work closely with antibody discovery, CMC, translational medicine, and external CRO / academic partners, and will contribute to key scientific decisions including target validation, target-pair rationale, and preclinical candidate (PCC) nomination. The output from this role will directly shape next-generation molecule selection across the company’s bispecific and multispecific antibody pipeline.

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Tumor Biology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline; research / development experience in translational immuno-oncology, antibody therapeutics, multispecific antibodies, cell therapy, or immunotherapy.
• Strong cellular functional assay design capability, with hands-on expertise in one or more of the following: flow cytometry, co-culture assays, cell killing assays, reporter assays, cytokine readouts, and primary immune cell assays.
• Solid target biology judgment, with the ability to assess target value, indication fit, validation path, and potential risks by integrating literature, databases, expression profiles, disease mechanisms, and functional experimental data.
• Familiarity with key translational IO mechanisms, particularly one or more of the following: T cell biology, NK cell biology, checkpoint biology, myeloid biology, tumor microenvironment, and immune cell recruitment / activation / suppression.
• Ability to triage candidate molecules based on functional data — not merely execute experiments. Capable of judging whether an experimental model is appropriate, controls are sufficient, data are reliable, and results support advancement.
• Working knowledge of bispecific / multispecific antibody development logic, with the ability to contribute to project decisions from the perspectives of target selection, target-pair rationale, functional validation, and safety window. Experience with T cell engagers, NK engagers, checkpoint biology, costimulation, or tumor-targeted immune modulation is preferred.

• Prior involvement in antibody therapeutics, bispecific / multispecific antibodies, T cell engagers, NK engagers, CAR-T, TCR-T, ADC, or other translational immuno-oncology programs.
• Full-cycle project experience from target selection and validation to candidate molecule screening, or independent establishment of key cellular functional assays used to support R&D decisions.
• Hands-on experience with primary immune cell assays, multicolor flow cytometry panel design, cell killing assays, reporter cell line assays, CRISPR / lentiviral systems, or cell line engineering.
• Familiarity with how antibody format, valency, affinity tuning, epitope, and geometry affect functional activity and safety window.
• Experience with CRO management, IND-enabling efficacy studies, translational biomarkers, scRNA-seq, CyTOF, spatial…