Vector Development & Genetic Engineering Construct Design Lead, Cell Therapy

Job: Vector Development & Genetic Engineering Construct Design Lead, Cell Therapy

Work Location: Upper East Side

Organization: Meyer Cancer Center

Work Days:

Sponsorship Eligibility: [[custSponsored]]

Classification: [[custFTEclassification]]

Posting End Date: [[cust_PostingEndDate]] Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated team leader with deep expertise in viral and non-viral vector and genetic construct design to drive next-generation gene delivery strategies in a fast-paced, collaborative, and delivery-focused clinical translation research environment. The lead will establish a cutting-edge research group and platform innovations for the design of lentiviral vectors, transposon-based architectures, and mRNA-based delivery systems, for applications spanning functional genomics, cell engineering, and therapeutic development of T cell therapies. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical engineering expertise with strategic leadership to translate biological objectives into high-performance genetic constructs.

Job Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize plasmid constructs for lentiviral vector systems, including transfer, packaging, and envelope components and multi-gene cargos.
• Engineer self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral backbones, optimizing key elements such as LTRs, ψ (psi) packaging signal, RRE, cPPT/CTS, and WPRE.
• Design and implement optimized transposon-based systems including donor vector architecture (ITRs/TIRs), multi-cargo optimization, and transposase delivery strategies.
• Architect expression systems with precise control over gene expression (constitutive, inducible, cell-type specific, or multiplexed designs).
• Drive initiatives to evaluate constraints such as payload size, recombination risk, silencing, and integration profiles across delivery platforms.
• Lead efforts to develop and refine mRNA delivery constructs, including optimization of UTRs, codon usage, modified nucleotides, cap structures, and poly(A) tail configurations for enhanced stability and translation.
• Contribute to strategic direction and next-generation capabilities by evaluating emerging delivery modalities and synthetic biology approaches.
• Provide leadership and guidance, implement vector development strategies, anticipate risks to timelines and deliverables, provide mitigation strategies.
• Partner and align with cross functional teams to integrate learnings and advance gene therapy initiatives.
• Mentor and develop scientists and staff, promote scientific rigor, collaboration, independent thinking, and career advancement.
• Oversee the authoring and review of technical and regulatory documents.

Education

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Virology, Genetic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or related field.

Experience

• 10+ years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry experience in gene delivery systems or advanced molecular cloning.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing complex genetic constructs.

Required Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of lentiviral vector biology and design, including multi-plasmid systems and safety features.
• Expertise in plasmid architecture, including promoters (e.g., EF1α, CMV, CAG), enhancers, insulators, and post-transcriptional regulatory elements.
• Experience designing mRNA constructs for transient expression and delivery optimization.
• Strong understanding of transposon systems and stable integration strategies.
• Proficiency with DNA design software and sequence analysis tools (e.g., SnapGene, Benchling, Geneious).
• Familiarity with gene expression tuning, including codon optimization, RNA stability, and translational efficiency.
• Ability to interpret NGS and Sanger sequencing data for construct validation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CRISPR/Cas systems, including multiplexed guide RNA architectures and delivery strategies.
• Background in cell therapy, gene therapy, or genome engineering applications.
• Familiarity with non-viral delivery systems (e.g., LNPs for mRNA).
• Exposure to scale-up considerations and translational/regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative, engaged and fast-paced environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Engineering-driven approach to biological problem solving
• High attention to detail in sequence-level design
• Ability to balance innovation with practical constraints
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Passionate about scientific innovation, cell therapy discovery and development

Licenses and Certifications

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Lab Environment

• Operates at the interface of academia and biotech: hypothesis-driven research combined with milestone-oriented execution
• Access to cutting-edge genomic technologies and collaborative expertise
• Emphasis on rapid iteration, data-driven decision making, and translational impact

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar was established in 2001 as a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation (QF). The first medical school in Qatar and a pioneer of coeducation at the university level, WCM-Q offers an integrated Six-Year Medical Program that incorporates pre-medical and medical studies and leads to the Cornell University M.D. degree.

Teaching is by Cornell and Weill Cornell faculty, including physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) who hold Weill Cornell appointments. Enrollment has grown rapidly from 25 first-year pre-medical students in the fall of 2002 to over 300 students from more than 30 countries today.

WCM-Q is part of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, which was founded over 100 years ago, and shares the same mission:

• to provide the finest education possible for medical students

• to conduct research at the cutting edge of knowledge

• to improve healthcare both now and for future generations

• to provide the highest quality of care to the community

WCM-Q’s home city is Doha, a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis with a culturally diverse population, a rapidly growing economy, and modern infrastructure. WCM-Q is a member of Qatar Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with multiple centers focused on education, research and innovation, and community development. WCM-Q is located within Education City, the flagship development of QF, which occupies more than 12 square kilometers and is home to some of the world’s leading educational institutions, including Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and overseas campuses of elite universities, such as VCUarts Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Northwestern Qatar, Georgetown University in Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and HEC Paris in Qatar.

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Minorities/Females/Vet employer.