Director, Research & Development

About Moonlight Bio:

Moonlight Bio is a Seattle-based, preclinical stage biotech company pioneering the development of cutting-edge cell therapies for the treatment of cancer. Our team is comprised of highly collaborative individuals who are passionate about designing innovative technologies and drug candidates with the potential to transform the lives of cancer patients. Engaging across the full landscape of drug development, Moonlight’s team members are pursuing opportunities in discovery research, component design and screening, preclinical modeling, process and analytical development, translational studies, and partnerships necessary to enable and advance our core technologies. We believe in fostering a healthy work-life balance – when we’re not busy in the lab, we enjoy the natural beauty and recreational activities that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Roles & Responsibilities:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Director to join our Research team, reporting to the VP of Research & Development and working on-site in our office and laboratory in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. This position is primarily a lab-based role and will establish and lead innovative research strategies that 1) define key problems to solve in selected indications; 2) develop internal technologies or identify external collaborations to address defined problems; and 3) integrate layers of technologies to design highly differentiated product concepts for experimental evaluation. The ideal candidate will be an emerging leader in the cell and gene therapy field, who has demonstrated an outstanding record of scientific excellence, effective collaboration, and the ability to inspire, mentor, and lead other scientists, while continually growing in knowledge and capabilities, bringing passion and inquisitiveness to tackle the many challenging problems that come with developing advanced, cell-based therapies.

A typical day may involve the following activities:

· Developing research strategies and programs focused on CAR architecture innovation and regulatable expression of CAR and/or potency enhancements.

· Developing mouse models that recapitulate relevant tumor and immune biological states to enable rigorous functional and mechanistic characterization of product candidates.

· Identifying optimal gene delivery strategies for engineering T cells to address therapeutic and manufacturing challenges.

· Supporting pipeline activities, including research-scale process optimization and development of analytical approaches to assess the genome integrity of gene edited T cells.

· Serving on cross-functional project teams and actively engaging and leading team discussions and decisions.

· Compiling, analyzing, and presenting data to various audiences, including executive leadership, advisory boards, founding academic lab directors, and external collaborators.

We are looking for candidates who possess the following qualifications:

· PhD degree in biology, immunology, biomedical engineering, or related discipline with 7+ years of post-graduate experience and 5+ years of industry experience.

• Extensive knowledge and technical proficiency in engineered T cell biology, complex cell therapy architectures, gene delivery and related in vitro and in vivo characterization, and functional assessments.
• Demonstrated track record of producing high quality scientific results, both as an individual contributor and in a leading role.
• Reputation and credibility as an emerging leader in the field with a particular focus on innovation, evidenced by a strong publication record or validated contributions in advancing science.
• Exceptional organization and communication skills (written and oral) to meet deadlines and balance time and effort across multiple workstreams.
• Enthusiasm to lead by example and encourage creative, solution-oriented thinking, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

At Moonlight Bio, we are committed to growing and nurturing a diverse team, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to characteristics and statuses protected under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Our employee benefits include PTO, subsidized on-site parking, medical, dental, and vision plans and other benefits from your first day of employment.

Join us at Moonlight Bio and contribute to groundbreaking research that has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment! With dedication to professional development, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives while advancing your career in the dynamic field of cell therapy.

Please submit your resume/CV and cover letter to careers@moonlightbio.us