Sr Scientist, Analytical Ops

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

Senior Scientist, Automation, PAT, and AI ; Analytical Development, Method Development, Automation, and Digital Innovation

Reporting to the Principal Scientist, Method Development and Automation Team

Job Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join the Method Development and Automation team within Analytical Development. This high-impact role will help shape the next generation of automated, process analytical technology (PAT)-enabled, and AI-supported analytical workflows that improve throughput, reproducibility, data integrity, operational efficiency, infrastructure utilization, and readiness for deployment across Process Development, QC, and Manufacturing environments. This is a multidisciplinary role applying the foundation of automation, PAT, and AI for building next-generation data-rich analytical workflows and digital infrastructure for cell therapy development and manufacturing readiness.

The successful candidate will lead the design and implementation of automated analytical methods, integrated laboratory workflows, and practical AI-enabled capabilities that streamline operations and improve infrastructure efficiency. This individual will work at the intersection of analytical science, automation, digital integration, process understanding, and AI-enabled workflow optimization to enable scalable, compliant, and data-rich testing strategies that support product development, lifecycle management, QC transfer, operational decision-making, and real-time or near-real-time process insight.

Why this role matters: This role offers the opportunity to build capabilities that directly influence how analytical methods are developed, automated, transferred, sustained, and digitally scaled. The successful candidate will help accelerate testing timelines, improve data quality, reduce manual variability, strengthen infrastructure utilization, identify AI-enabled operational efficiencies, and advance analytical insights that support process monitoring, control strategy, and QC readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead development, optimization, automation, and lifecycle management of analytical workflows across plate-based, culture-based, molecular, impurity, and related assay formats.

Translate manual and semi-manual methods into robust, reproducible automated workflows using liquid handlers, integrated systems, instrument software, and digital tools.

Design and execute studies supporting method development, robustness, comparability, verification, validation, QC transfer, and lifecycle management.

Evaluate, implement, and sustain automation platforms, PAT tools, instrument integrations, consumables, and enabling technologies that improve throughput, reproducibility, process monitoring, and compliant execution.

Advance fit-for-purpose PAT opportunities that enable rapid, real-time, in-line, on-line, or at-line measurements linked to critical quality attributes, critical process parameters, and key process decisions.

Integrate automation and PAT outputs with LIMS, ELN, structured data systems, instrument connectivity, electronic batch records, and advanced analytics platforms.

Identify, evaluate, and implement practical AI-enabled opportunities that improve operational efficiency, reduce manual or repetitive work, enhance data accessibility, streamline documentation or review workflows, and strengthen laboratory infrastructure utilization.

Partner with IT, data science, automation, and laboratory stakeholders to define use cases, data requirements, governance expectations, and adoption pathways for AI-supported workflows in analytical development and manufacturing-adjacent environments.

Partner across Process Development, MSAT, QC, Manufacturing, Attribute Sciences, and Analytical Lifecycle Management to align automation and PAT strategies with control strategy, GMP readiness, sampling strategy, and transfer expectations.

Author, review, and present technical documentation, data packages, recommendations, and project updates in support of compliant execution, investigations, change controls, and technology transfer.

Serve as a subject matter expert and mentor, helping build scalable automation, PAT, AI, digital, and analytical technology capabilities across teams.

Hands-on experience developing, optimizing, automating, or transferring analytical methods in a regulated or quality-focused biopharmaceutical, cell therapy, gene therapy, biologics, or complex therapeutic setting.

Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling systems, integrated analytical instruments, assay workflow optimization, or comparable enabling technologies.

Experience identifying or implementing AI, advanced analytics, workflow automation, data integration, or digital infrastructure solutions that improve operational efficiency, laboratory productivity, or decision support.

Working knowledge of analytical method development, experimental design, data analysis, troubleshooting, technical documentation, GMP expectations, and data integrity principles.

Strong communication, collaboration, prioritization, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional and fast-paced environments.

Basic Qualifications:

PhD with 2+ years elevant experience in analytical development, method development, method automation, bioassay development, or a related biopharmaceutical laboratory environment.

OR

MS with 6+ years, elevant experience in analytical development, method development, method automation, bioassay development, or a related biopharmaceutical laboratory environment.

OR

BS with 8+ years of relevant experience in analytical development, method development, method automation, bioassay development, or a related biopharmaceutical laboratory environment.

Career Growth Opportunities:

Build visible expertise at the intersection of analytical development, automation, PAT, AI, digital integration, and process understanding.

Shape automation, PAT, and AI strategies that influence method development, QC transfer, manufacturing readiness, operational efficiency, infrastructure utilization, and lifecycle management.

Partner with cross-functional leaders to drive high-impact technology evaluations, AI-enabled workflow improvements, capability building, and data-driven process monitoring approaches.

Grow as a technical subject matter expert, mentor, and strategic contributor within Analytical Development and broader CMC networks.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring strong scientific judgment, hands-on automation expertise, curiosity for emerging analytical technologies and AI-enabled operational tools, and the ability to influence in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Experience developing, optimizing, automating, and deploying analytical methods in biopharma, cell therapy, gene therapy, biologics, or other complex therapeutic environments.

Hands-on expertise with liquid handling and automation platforms such as Hamilton, TECAN, Biomek, Integra, or comparable systems.

Experience with high-