AstraZeneca

Associate Scientist, Analytical Sciences

AstraZeneca$69K — $104K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2 years of experience with a BS/BA or 1 year with MS/MA in a related field.
  • Strong expertise in cell-based assays for potency and immune function.
  • Hands-on experience in cell culture: thawing, expanding, and cryopreserving.
  • Proficiency in immune cell culture, especially primary T and engineered immune cells.
  • Skilled in data analysis and troubleshooting in cell-based assays.
  • Solid understanding of cell therapy processes and characterization testing points.
  • Ability to clearly communicate scientific findings.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and optimize immunoassay and cell-based testing operations for reliable results.
  • Collaborate to refine assays and increase throughput for faster outcomes.
  • Manage reagents and control materials to ensure testing capacity.
  • Thaw, culture, and assess cell lines for cytotoxicity and immune function.
  • Coordinate engineered immune cells for functional assay readiness.
  • Transfer immunoassays into operations and oversee training for staff.
  • Monitor data integrity and troubleshoot assay performance issues.
  • Translate analytical results into actionable insights for product development.

Benefits

  • 401(k) retirement plan contributions
  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • Paid leaves
  • Health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Potential for short-term incentive bonuses and equity-based long-term incentives
Full Job Description
Are you ready to turn rigorous immunoassay and cell-based data into decisions that shape the future of engineered cell therapy? Do you want to build scalable testing capabilities that help characterize products and move life-changing medicines forward faster?

Based in Santa Monica, CA, you will join a collaborative analytical operations team focused on delivering high-quality, decision-ready data for process and product characterization. Working closely with Analytical Development, Process Development, and Quality Control, you will optimize and run immunoassay and cell-based potency assays that directly influence how we develop, scale, and release next-generation cell therapies. Your work will help transform complex biology into clear evidence that advances our pipeline and ultimately benefits patients.

Accountabilities:
  • Operational Excellence: Lead the setup, execution, and continuous improvement of immunoassay and cell-based testing operations, ensuring reliable turnaround times and consistent data quality.
  • Assay Development and Optimization: Partner with method and automation developers to refine assays, increase throughput, and streamline documentation and analysis, enabling faster and more reproducible results.
  • Reagent and Control Stewardship: Manage critical reagents, assay control materials, and consumables to maintain uninterrupted testing capacity and robust assay performance.
  • Cell Culture and Assay Execution: Thaw, culture, expand, and cryopreserve suspension/adherent cell lines; perform cytotoxicity and cytokine release assays using cell imagers, cell counters, and immunoassay kits to evaluate potency and immune effector function.
  • Engineered Cell Coordination: Coordinate and prepare engineered immune cells for co-culture and functional assays, ensuring readiness and alignment with study timelines.
  • Method Transfer and Scale-Up: Lead transfer of immunoassays and cell-based methods into operations by assessing incoming test methods and reagents, planning training, and securing readiness for routine use.
  • Data Integrity and Trending: Maintain complete records for executed methods and results; monitor assay trends, identify shifts, and collaborate with developers to troubleshoot and sustain assay robustness.
  • Cross-Functional Impact: Translate analytical outcomes into clear insights for development teams, accelerating process understanding and product characterization.
  • Mentorship and Instrument Ownership: Provide technical mentorship to uphold scientific rigor; maintain instruments through calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting to maximize uptime and data integrity.


Essential Skills/Experience:
  • Two (2) years with BS/BA, or one (1) year with MS/MA in Immunology, Cell Biology, Oncology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline with experience in a biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, or academic setting.
  • Strong expertise in cell-based assays, especially those evaluating potency or immune effector function using cell imagers and immunoassays.
  • Hands-on experience with media preparations and suspension/adherent culture work: thaw, culture, expand, and cryopreserve.
  • Proficiency in immune cell culture, including primary T cells or engineered immune cells.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and troubleshooting of cell-based analytical assays.
  • Proficient knowledge of general cell therapy processes and understanding of sampling and testing points for characterization to support process development.
  • Ability to clearly convey scientific findings and development rationale.
  • Desirable Skills/Experience:
  • Experience in flow cytometry or genomic assays.
  • Familiarity with high-throughput assay workflows and collaboration with automation teams.
  • Experience with electronic data capture, data visualization, and assay trending tools.


Call to Action:
Step into this Santa Monica-based role to build a high-performing assay engine for engineered cell therapies-send your resume today and help turn rigorous data into medicines that change lives!

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $69,344.80 - $104,017.20 USD Annual. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Date Posted
07-Aug-2026

Closing Date
13-Aug-2026

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of prescription drugs. The company was formed in 1999 through the merger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group plc. AstraZeneca's products are used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. The company has operations in over 100 countries and employs more than 76,000 people worldwide. AstraZeneca is committed to developing innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of people around the world.
Learn more about AstraZeneca
Size
83,100 employees
Market Cap
$211.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+10.2%
Revenue
$26.6 billion
NASDAQ

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