Senior Research Associate, Mammalian Cell Engineering Operations

Lila Sciences • Cambridge, MA

20d • $80,000 - $106,000

About The Position

The Senior Research Associate will play a central role in supporting and advancing LILA’s cell-based research programs. This position is highly hands-on and will focus on the culture and manipulation of a broad range of mammalian cell types, including primary cells. The ideal candidate brings deep practical expertise in building robust and reproducible cell culture workflows and is excited to help develop and transition protocols from manual execution toward more standardized, scalable, and automation-enabled processes over time. Experience in cell engineering (Stable Cell line generation) and lentiviral vector (LVV) production is highly desirable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of experience, or Master’s degree with 2+ years of experience, in Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Industry-relevant, hands-on experience with a strong emphasis on mammalian cell culture and cell engineering.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated excellence in experimental documentation and SOP development, with a strong focus on reproducibility and quality.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt in a fast-paced, innovative, and highly collaborative research environment.
• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of experience, or Master’s degree with 2+ years of experience, in Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Industry-relevant, hands-on experience with a strong emphasis on mammalian cell culture and cell engineering.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated excellence in experimental documentation and SOP development, with a strong focus on reproducibility and quality.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt in a fast-paced, innovative, and highly collaborative research environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of experience, or Master’s degree with 2+ years of experience, in Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Industry-relevant, hands-on experience with a strong emphasis on mammalian cell culture and cell engineering.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated excellence in experimental documentation and SOP development, with a strong focus on reproducibility and quality.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt in a fast-paced, innovative, and highly collaborative research environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and optimize stable and transient mammalian cell engineering workflows, including CRISPR-based genome editing, lentiviral vector (LVV) production and titering, and transposase-based systems; experience with primary cell engineering and transduction is strongly preferred.
• Culture, maintain, and optimize mammalian cell lines and primary cells, applying best-in-class aseptic technique across thawing, expansion, passaging, cryopreservation, and cell banking, while proactively monitoring culture health and troubleshooting variability.
• Perform cell-based assays and downstream analytical readouts, including assessments of viability, proliferation, and phenotype using flow cytometry, qPCR, ELISA, and imaging-based approaches; analyze and clearly summarize results to inform program and experimental decisions.
• Rigorously document experimental protocols, data, and observations in electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), ensuring accuracy, reproducibility, and compliance with internal standards.
• Support the development and adoption of automation-enabled cell culture and assay workflows, contributing to increased throughput, robustness, and scalability.
• Collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams, providing technical input into experimental design, process optimization, and project planning, and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level