Virology – Scientist / Associate Scientist
Location: Seattle, WA (onsite)
Company: Stealth mode biotech
About the Company
We’re an early-stage, venture-backed biotech operating in stealth mode. We’re building a nimble team that thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly from idea to experiment, and collaborates closely across science and operations to inform decision-making.
The Opportunity
This is a hands-on, high-impact role within our virology group. You will work under the supervision of a senior scientist, contribute to day-to-day operations and data quality, and directly support DC candidate selection and product characterization.
What You’ll Do:
Support virology lab operation
- Support BSL-2/BSL-2+ operations, including procurement, instrument commissioning/qualification, biosafety practices, inventory, sample tracking (ELN/LIMS), and facility/vendor interfaces.
Neutralization & titering assays
- Establish, execute, and troubleshoot in vitro neutralization assays under guidance, using reporter virus (e.g., luciferase/fluorescence readouts) and immunostaining formats.
- analyze and interpret IC₅₀; establish acceptance criteria, controls, and data QC for reproducible decision-making.
- Contribute to potency assay development, optimization, qualification, and transfer in alignment with ICH guidelines.
Viral stocks generation and characterization
- Create and manage master seed / working pools for characterized mutant strains as needed.
- Perform plaque purification across multiple rounds to isolate pure clones; confirm clonality and fitness characteristics prior to scale-up.
Cross-functional impact
- Partner closely with protein sciences, discovery biology, and external CROs to align assay timelines, materials, and data packages; present crisp summaries and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Provide scientific input to bioanalytical (bioA) assay strategies (e.g., ligand-binding PK/PD, titer, ADA/neutralizing antibody) in partnership with CROs.
- Author technical reports and contribute to regulatory submissions
What You’ll Bring:
Minimum qualifications
- B.S or M.S. with 2+ years of hands-on experience in virology, microbiology, molecular biology, or related field (industry preferred).
- Demonstrated expertise with reporter virus or immunostaining neutralization assays in BSL-2/2+ labs, including plate-based readouts and assay statistics.
- Hands-on experience with plaque purification and clonal characterization.
- Proficiency with IC₅₀, MOI calculations, and assay troubleshooting.
- Strong mammalian cell culture skills (adherent and suspension), impeccable documentation, and GLP-minded data hygiene.
Preferred qualifications
- Prior experience establishing or significantly expanding BSL-2/BSL-2+ capabilities (equipment selection, SOPs, IBC/EHS alignment).
- Experience with potency assay development and implementation (fit-for-purpose; research or pre-GxP).
- Exposure to bioanalytical (bioA) method development or oversight with CRO partners (e.g., ligand-binding PK, ADA/NAb), including experimental review and data QC.
- Working knowledge of basic bioinformatics (variant calling/annotation, alignment QC) and qPCR/dPCR assays.
- Experience coordinating CRO partners and assembling concise data packages for milestones.
- Knowledge in GMP requirements and ICH guidelines
Traits for success
- Highly motivated, autonomous operator with a builder’s mindset; flexible, meticulous, and eager to learn and optimize.
- Clear, concise communicator who can synthesize complex datasets and recommend next steps to senior leadership.
Tools & Environment (representative)
Class II biosafety cabinets; CO₂ incubators; plate readers (luminescence/fluorescence/absorbance); centrifugation and sterile processing; imaging for plaque readouts; cold storage (-80 °C/-20 °C/4 °C); ELN/LIMS for sample and data tracking.
Title & Level:
Level open: we anticipate hiring between Associate Scientist to Scientist
Why Join Us
- Foundational role with direct impact on portfolio decisions and timelines.
- Tight collaboration with seasoned company builders.
Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees.
How to Apply: Please send your CV and a brief note highlighting hands-on experience with neutralization assays, serial passaging under selective pressure, plaque purification, and sequencing-based characterization.