Principal Scientist, Translational Oncology – Single Cell and Spatial Genomics, Solid Tumors

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to serve as a translational and strategic leader within our Oncology research organization. This role sits at the crossroads of reverse translation, biomarker science, and cutting-edge genomics technology — driving mechanistic insight from the clinic back into discovery to accelerate and de-risk our oncology pipeline. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in cancer biology, a track record of cross-functional leadership in a pharma or biotech environment, and hands-on experience building and deploying single cell and spatial omics capabilities.

What You'll Do

Discovery & Translational Research Leadership

• Drive discovery and translational projects in collaboration with AI and internal research teams with a primary focus on integrating scRNA-seq and spatial biology into Natera's pipeline.
• Collaborate with external translational teams on building single-cell and spatial biology workflows into their early phase clinical studies.
• Leverage novel technologies to inform collaborative reverse and forward translation efforts as well as internal target discovery and validation projects.
• Design and execute lab-based research programs that bridge clinical observations with mechanistic hypotheses, supporting asset progression and CDP expansion

Technology & Capabilities

• Lead and contribute to technology area team focused on single cell genomics and spatial omics, building out multiomics capabilities to support foundational models and RWD efforts
• Partner with internal and external collaborators to establish, optimize, and deploy cutting-edge platforms for translational applications
• Serve as an internal expert and thought leader on emerging genomics technologies relevant to oncology drug discovery and development

Cross-Functional & Strategic Engagement

• Represent translational science on life cycle, RWD, and BioPharma BD teams
• Collaborate with Clinical, Biomarker, Discovery, and Regulatory colleagues to shape clinical trial design and biomarker plans
• Build and maintain external scientific partnerships and advisory relationships as appropriate

People & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a team of scientists and contractors, with a strong commitment to career development and scientific growth
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture with clear goals and accountability

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a closely related field
• 6+ years of experience post-Ph.D. in oncology translational research within biotech or pharma, including demonstrated growth into senior or principal scientist roles
• Deep scientific expertise in at least one of the following: cancer cell biology, tumor immunology, cell engineering, or neoantigen biology
• Hands-on experience with single cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, or multiomics platforms; experience building or scaling these capabilities in an organizational context is strongly preferred
• Strong publication and/or patent record reflecting independent scientific contribution
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional programs and influencing without authority across Research, Clinical, and Biomarker teams
• Prior experience managing and mentoring scientists at multiple career stages
• Exceptional scientific communication skills; ability to synthesize complex data and present compellingly to diverse audiences