Working with Us Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.
Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.
The Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center is one of BMS’s differentiated research platforms delivering innovative therapies to patients. Our mission is to drive leadership in the use of cellular therapies to harness the power of the immune system in treating hematologic malignancies, solid cancers, and autoimmune disease. More specifically, our discovery and translational scientists are focused on developing next-generation, engineered cell-based therapies. The team is committed to discovering and developing transformative therapies that harness the power of the immune system to improve patient outcomes.
Here, you will get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities that are uncommon in scale and scope. You’ll pursue innovative ideas while advancing professionally alongside some of the brightest minds in biopharma.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Scientist to join the Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery team and help drive next-generation CAR T and eTCR therapies for patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. In this role, you will independently participate and/or manage project workstream(s), design and interpret complex studies of engineered T cell biology, and translate results into science-driven decisions. You will exercise independence and latitude in advancing your project(s), serve as a technical point of contact within the team, and mentor more junior colleagues. The ideal candidate combines deep T cell immunology expertise with the judgment to work through ambiguous, complex problems under limited supervision.
Position Responsibilities
In the role of Senior Scientist on the Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery team, the ideal candidate:
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- Applies thorough knowledge of T cell immunology (activation, signaling, differentiation, exhaustion, and immune-regulation pathways) and developed knowledge of antibody properties to conduct experiments characterizing engineered CAR/eTCR T cells to enable science-driven decision-making.
- Designs, coordinates and executes screening strategies and fine-detailed, nuanced mechanistic studies that assess engineered T cell constructs and functional responses leveraging automation where applicable, enabling data-driven prioritization of candidates, in accordance with project and department objectives.
- Works independently on deliverables in managing assigned project workstream(s); suggests modifications to protocols or alternative protocols, introducing new ideas on how to design, execute, and analyze experiments, routinely using the scientific literature and internal BMS datasets to solve problems.
- Interprets and synthesizes complex datasets from cellular, molecular, and functional assays (flow cytometry, IncuCyte, MSD, high-content imaging) to identify biological trends, guide experimental follow-up, and prioritize candidates.
- Leads discussions and makes presentations in multidisciplinary meetings, logically presenting information to convey clear, key messages, and is expected to explain, persuade, and build alignment.
- Acts as a functional mentor to more junior team members and may serve as a technical point of contact within the work group/project team.
- May participate in the development of patent applications and publications, and may represent the department or function on a program/project team or sub-team.
- Maintains electronic notebooks rigorously and in a timely manner to support project milestones and patent/regulatory filings.
Experience =
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree w/ 7+ years of academic and / or industry experience
Or
- Master’s Degree w/ 5+ years of academic and / or industry experience
Or
- Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences w/ 2+ years of academic and / or industry experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Thorough knowledge of T cell immunology, immuno-oncology, or a related specialized discipline, with developed knowledge of adjacent disciplines (e.g., bioengineering, molecular biology).
- Developing knowledge of the drug discovery/development process and proficiency in scientific/technical writing (protocols, reports, contributions to regulatory documents).
- Extensive hands-on experience with in vitro technologies used to engineer and functionally assess T cells (viral transduction, targeted gene editing, MSD/ELISA, IncuCyte, multi-parameter flow cytometry, imaging).
- Experience analyzing large/complex datasets (e.g., multiparametric flow, NGS) using JMP, R, or a programming language is strongly desired.
- Demonstrated ability to independently identify problems and recommend/develop solutions; strong project-management orientation across multiple concurrent workstreams.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills in a matrixed, cross-functional environment; ability to work productively as both a team member and an independent contributor.
- Skilled at critical and probabilistic thinking, able to apply prior experience and theoretical knowledge to identify and solve complex scientific problems
LI-Onsite
If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.
Compensation Overview:
Seattle - WA: $136,030 - $164,841

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:
- Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
- Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
- Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
Work-life benefits include:
Paid Time Off
- US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
- Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays
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