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Scientist III

Planet Pharma
South San Francisco, California Posted Oct 8, 2026
On-siteUSD 65 - 75 / hour

About this role

Job Details

Locat ion: South San Francisco, California Category: Scientific Salary: Apply for details Country: United States Employment: Contract Worksite: On-Site

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Job Description

Target PR Range: 65-75/hr

*Depending on experience

Job Description:

The CAR-T Biology team in South San Francisco, part of the Immuno-Oncology Organization, is seeking a Scientist III to support the development of in vivo CAR-T platforms from concept through preclinical development. The candidate will work at the intersection of synthetic biology and immune modulation. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in CAR-T biology, T-cell functional assays, and therapeutic development. The role includes designing CAR constructs, executing advanced cell-based assays and collaborating with cross-functional teams to generate high-quality data that support pipeline programs.

Key Responsibilities

  • Apply subject matter expertise in T cell and synthetic biology approaches toward the development of the next-generation in vivo CAR-T cell therapies, and the ability to translate evolving scientific and intellectual property insights into impactful therapeutic programs.
  • Independently establish, track, and deliver on project milestones and experimental timelines, ensuring alignment with program objectives and organizational priorities, while adapting to evolving scientific needs.
  • Design and execute in vitro assays to evaluate CAR-T biology, including assessment of cytotoxicity, T-cell effector function, and immune cell phenotyping.
  • Organize, analyze, and synthesize complex scientific data, and effectively communicate experimental strategies, results, and interpretations to internal and external stakeholders through clear and impactful presentations and scientific reports.
  • Maintain comprehensive and well-documented records in an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN).

Qualifications

  • BS, or equivalent education, with typically 7 or more years of experience; or MS, or equivalent education, with typically 5 or more years of experience; or PhD level with experience in CAR-T, genetic medicine, or immuno-oncology.

  • Demonstrated ability to independently design, perform, and interpret key experiments to address scientific questions. Proven capacity to quickly learn and apply new laboratory techniques. Able to manage multiple tasks efficiently while meeting deadlines. Strong skills in scientific writing and verbal communication.

  • Extensive experience in assay development for CAR-T candidate generation and assessment

  • Previous experience in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct design, CAR-T production, and T cell function evaluation.

  • Deep expertise in primary T cell isolation, activation, transduction, T cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, cytokine profiling, multi-color flow cytometry, and immunological assays (e.g., ELISA, Luminex, cytotoxicity assays) is required.

  • Previous experience in leading preclinical cell therapy projects and mentoring scientists will be a plus

  • Experience in cell-based in vitro assay development and semi-automated liquid handling systems for high-throughput workflows is a plus.

  • Equal Opportunity Employer

  • We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is our policy not to discriminate against any applicant or employee, and we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment across all locations in which we operate. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our mission and enhance our ability to serve clients globally. If you have a disability or require any reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please inform your recruiter or contact us(opens in new tab) directly so that we can explore the appropriate arrangements.

  • Fraud Alert

  • Candidate safety is a top priority at Planet Pharma. The industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process and always double check the email address of the Recruiter to ensure it’s from an official Planet Pharma domain (@planet-pharma.com, @planet-pharma.co.uk, and @ppgadvisorypartners.com) and not a domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org or .jobs.

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