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

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.