Senior Scientist Discovery, Immunology

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Biological Research

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

About Immunology

Our Immunology team leads in the development of transformational medicines for immunological disorders and illnesses. You can influence where medicine is going by restoring health to millions of people living with immune diseases.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are seeking a highly motivated, lab-based Senior Scientist to join the Immunology Discovery group in Cambridge, MA.

The successful candidate will drive research aimed at understanding the roles of immune cell populations within tissues during health and disease and translating these insights into novel therapeutic opportunities. They will design and execute mechanistic studies to interrogate disease-relevant pathways, evaluate potential therapeutic targets, and generate data that informs progression of discovery-stage programs.

The individual will work in close partnership with cross-functional teams spanning biology, therapeutics discovery, translational sciences, and computational biology. This role offers an opportunity to contribute directly to the advancement of innovative therapies for immune-mediated diseases.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate immune mechanisms, validate therapeutic targets, and support progression of discovery programs.
• Develop and apply disease-relevant cellular and tissue-based models to evaluate the function of immune and stromal cell populations in inflammation and immune-mediated disease.
• Generate mechanistic insights through pharmacological, genetic, and cellular approaches to interrogate pathways of interest.
• Design innovative experimental strategies to test hypotheses, advance novel biological concepts, and support therapeutic decision-making.
• Analyze, integrate, and communicate complex datasets to develop clear biological narratives that inform project strategy and key portfolio decisions.
• Document research findings in internal reports, scientific publications, and presentations.
• Present data and scientific recommendations at project team meetings, governance discussions, and external scientific conferences.
• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary discovery teams and contribute scientific expertise to internal and external research collaborations.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Cell Biology, or a related scientific discipline with 1-3 years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry experience and a demonstrated track record of scientific achievement is required.
• Strong background in immunology with demonstrated expertise in immune cell biology; experience with Type II immune cells and pathways, and their roles in tissue inflammation, disease pathogenesis, and therapeutic response, is highly preferred.
• Hands-on experience developing and utilizing in vitro models of inflammation, including primary human immune cell isolation, culture, and functional characterization, is required.
• Experience working with stromal cell populations such as fibroblasts, epithelial cells, or other tissue-resident cell types is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, analyze, troubleshoot, and document complex laboratory studies is required.
• Independently design, execute, and lead multiparameter flow cytometry experiments, including panel design, sample preparation, instrument operation, data analysis, and interpretation of immune cell phenotypes and function (required). Experience with spectral flow cytometry is preferred.
• Experience with other methods used to assess gene and protein expression, including quantitative PCR, ELISA, MSD/Luminex, and western blotting.
• Experience characterizing the potency, mechanism of action, and biomarker responses of antibody and/or small molecule therapeutics is preferred.
• Strong scientific communication skills, including the ability to effectively present complex data to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to thrive in a highly matrixed and team-oriented research environment.
• Maintain scientific rigor through meticulous documentation, data quality control, and adherence to laboratory best practices.
• Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
• This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
• Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
• Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

The anticipated base pay range for this position is: $109,000 - $174,800

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

Johnson and Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please email the Employee Health Support Center (ra-employeehealthsup@its.jnj.com) or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Accelerating, Analytical Reasoning, Clinical Data Management, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Design of Experiments (DOE), Drug Discovery Development, Issue Escalation, Molecular Diagnostics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Product Knowledge, Research Proposals, Scientific Research, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Technologically Savvy

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$109,000.00 - $174,800.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

Vacation –120 hours per calendar year

Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year

• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
• For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits