Job: Vector Development & Genetic Engineering Construct Design Lead, Cell Therapy
Work Location: Upper East Side
Organization: Meyer Cancer Center
Work Days:
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Position SummaryWe are seeking a motivated team leader with deep expertise in viral and non-viral vector and genetic construct design to drive next-generation gene delivery strategies in a fast-paced, collaborative, and delivery-focused clinical translation research environment. The lead will establish a cutting-edge research group and platform innovations for the design of lentiviral vectors, transposon-based architectures, and mRNA-based delivery systems, for applications spanning functional genomics, cell engineering, and therapeutic development of T cell therapies. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical engineering expertise with strategic leadership to translate biological objectives into high-performance genetic constructs.
Job Responsibilities- Design, build, and optimize plasmid constructs for lentiviral vector systems, including transfer, packaging, and envelope components and multi-gene cargos.
- Engineer self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral backbones, optimizing key elements such as LTRs, (psi) packaging signal, RRE, cPPT/CTS, and WPRE.
- Design and implement optimized transposon-based systems including donor vector architecture (ITRs/TIRs), multi-cargo optimization, and transposase delivery strategies.
- Architect expression systems with precise control over gene expression (constitutive, inducible, cell-type specific, or multiplexed designs).
- Drive initiatives to evaluate constraints such as payload size, recombination risk, silencing, and integration profiles across delivery platforms.
- Lead efforts to develop and refine mRNA delivery constructs, including optimization of UTRs, codon usage, modified nucleotides, cap structures, and poly(A) tail configurations for enhanced stability and translation.
- Contribute to strategic direction and next-generation capabilities by evaluating emerging delivery modalities and synthetic biology approaches.
- Provide leadership and guidance, implement vector development strategies, anticipate risks to timelines and deliverables, provide mitigation strategies.
- Partner and align with cross functional teams to integrate learnings and advance gene therapy initiatives.
- Mentor and develop scientists and staff, promote scientific rigor, collaboration, independent thinking, and career advancement.
- Oversee the authoring and review of technical and regulatory documents.
Education- PhD in Molecular Biology, Virology, Genetic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or related field.
Experience- 10+ years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry experience in gene delivery systems or advanced molecular cloning.
- Proven track record of designing and implementing complex genetic constructs.
Required Technical Expertise- Deep knowledge of lentiviral vector biology and design, including multi-plasmid systems and safety features.
- Expertise in plasmid architecture, including promoters (e.g., EF1, CMV, CAG), enhancers, insulators, and post-transcriptional regulatory elements.
- Experience designing mRNA constructs for transient expression and delivery optimization.
- Strong understanding of transposon systems and stable integration strategies.
- Proficiency with DNA design software and sequence analysis tools (e.g., SnapGene, Benchling, Geneious).
- Familiarity with gene expression tuning, including codon optimization, RNA stability, and translational efficiency.
- Ability to interpret NGS and Sanger sequencing data for construct validation.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with CRISPR/Cas systems, including multiplexed guide RNA architectures and delivery strategies.
- Background in cell therapy, gene therapy, or genome engineering applications.
- Familiarity with non-viral delivery systems (e.g., LNPs for mRNA).
- Exposure to scale-up considerations and translational/regulatory frameworks.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams.
- Ability to work in a highly collaborative, engaged and fast-paced environment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- Engineering-driven approach to biological problem solving
- High attention to detail in sequence-level design
- Ability to balance innovation with practical constraints
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Passionate about scientific innovation, cell therapy discovery and development
Licenses and CertificationsWorking Conditions/Physical DemandsLab Environment- Operates at the interface of academia and biotech: hypothesis-driven research combined with milestone-oriented execution
- Access to cutting-edge genomic technologies and collaborative expertise
- Emphasis on rapid iteration, data-driven decision making, and translational impact
