Principal Scientist I – CAR-T Biology, Immuno-Oncology Discovery

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

AbbVie’s CAR-T Biology team in South San Francisco, part of the Immuno-Oncology Organization, is seeking a Principal Research Scientist I to lead cutting-edge research and drive projects focused on in vivo CAR-T platforms from conception through preclinical development. The ideal candidate will possess profound expertise in CAR-T biology and therapeutic development, alongside a proven track record in managing and mentoring scientific teams to successfully achieve project goals.

Pivotal to the role is conceptualizing and executing innovative, multidisciplinary research strategies to advance both current and next-generation in vivo CAR-T cell therapies. The successful candidate will set research strategies, guide and advise a team on experimental plans, and make hands-on contributions to key scientific initiatives. Effective communication of project objectives, timelines, and deliverables to stakeholders is essential.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement research strategies for innovative CAR-T therapies, ranging from the selection of CAR targets, binders, & transgenes to the establishment of biologically relevant preclinical model systems to support candidate advancement
• Oversee CAR-T project execution, ensuring alignment with therapeutic hypotheses, available datasets, and the competitive landscape.
• Lead and mentor a team of scientists in developing CAR-T candidates and experimental systems for preclinical assessment.
• Collaborate with biotherapeutics and genetic medicine stakeholders to address key CAR-T therapeutic challenges through preclinical composition design.
• Represent project teams by communicating scientific strategy, progress, and risk assessment to stakeholders.
• Establish and manage workplans with stakeholders to ensure timely achievement of project milestones.
• Drive project progress from inception through preclinical stages, ensuring timely delivery of team and individual objectives.
• Enhance AbbVie’s reputation by presenting research findings and innovative ideas to stakeholders and collaborators.

• Initiate CAR-T biology discovery initiatives aligned with the organization’s vision and strategic

Scientific Qualifications:

• BS or equivalent education and extensive, Typically, 14+ years of experience; MS or equivalent education with typically 12+ years of experience; PhD with typically 6+ years of experience in CAR-T, genetic medicine, or immuno-oncology.
• Deep subject matter expertise in CAR-T biology, including genetic medicine approaches, novel biological systems, and assay development for candidate generation and assessment.
• Extensive experience in assay development and leading preclinical cell therapy research teams.
• Preferably experienced with in situ/in vivo delivery platforms for CAR-T therapies.
• Demonstrated proficiency in T cell biology, immuno-oncology, flow cytometry, and functional assay design
• Expertise in data analysis and mining large datasets is a plus.

Leadership attributes:

• Proven ability to manage and mentor both PhD and non-PhD scientists, fostering independent research and professional growth.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional discovery teams from program inception to candidate selection.
• Exceptional project management and multitasking skills; adept at setting and managing timelines for self and team.
• Openness to new ideas, nurturing innovation while balancing practical execution.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and cross-functional stakeholders to create a high-performance environment.
• Proactive ownership of challenges, commitment to finding innovative solutions, and a drive to go beyond the status quo.
• Persistent and resilient in overcoming obstacles to achieve project milestones.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs​

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

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