Senior Principal Scientist: Metabolomics​/Cell Therapy Media Development

The Position

This role is a vital part of our Cell Therapy Process Development team within Pharma Technical Cell and Gene Therapy Development (PTCC), which is committed to advancing next-generation cell therapies through innovative metabolomics research and media optimization.

As a member of this team, you will lead cutting‑edge efforts to develop and optimize cell culture media platforms while collaborating closely with key stakeholders across Analytical Development, Research, Manufacturing Operations, and cross‑functional teams within Genentech and Roche. You will serve as the primary in‑house expert on state‑of‑the‑art cell therapy media development practices, translating deep scientific expertise into strategic innovations that enable breakthrough therapies to reach patients.

This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of cell therapy manufacturing while fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture focused on continuous improvement.

In this role, you will lead metabolomics research initiatives focused on developing and optimizing cell culture media for a diverse portfolio of cell therapy products. You will provide scientific and strategic guidance to establish highly‑productive platform processes while serving as the primary technical expert and thought leader in cell therapy media development.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Designing and developing chemically‑defined cell culture media platforms tailored to meet the unique needs of T cell therapies, stem cell therapies, and other cell‑based products
• Applying advanced metabolomics tools, computational methods, and –omics technologies to deeply understand cell metabolism and drive continuous improvement in cell culture performance
• Leading technology transfer initiatives and collaborating with manufacturing operations to translate laboratory innovations into scalable, robust processes
• Providing technical leadership and strategic guidance to process development teams, media preparation operations, and supply chain partners to resolve complex challenges and optimize raw material selection
• Mentoring and developing scientific staff within the Cell Therapy Process Development group, fostering a culture of technical excellence, lean thinking, and continuous improvement
• Interfacing effectively across multiple internal stakeholder groups (Analytical Development, Research, Manufacturing, Quality) and external collaborators to align priorities and drive impactful outcomes
• Establishing thought leadership through peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations, and participation in industry discussions on metabolomics and cell therapy manufacturing

Position may be based out of South San Francisco or San Diego, CA.

The successful candidate will have an established track record for strong technical leadership in metabolomics research and/or cell culture media development.

• Advanced degree and extensive experience:
  PhD in biological sciences, chemical engineering, or related discipline with 5+ years of relevant research and development experience in metabolomics and/or cell culture media development
• Strategic technical leadership:
  Proven track record of leading complex technical projects from conception to completion with strong organizational skills and scientific rigor; demonstrated ability to translate research insights into practical manufacturing solutions
• Team development and inclusive leadership:
  Demonstrated success building, managing, and developing highly productive technical teams with an emphasis on creating an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and fosters collaboration
• Matrixed stakeholder management:
  Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with cross‑functional partners, customers, and collaborators; excellent skills in influencing, communication, and working effectively across organizational boundaries in complex matrixed environments
• Thought leadership and communication:
  Established track record of excellent verbal and written communication demonstrated through peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations, and ability to articulate complex scientific…