R&D Scientific Infrastructure Strategy Lead
About the job
- At least 8 years of experience, with a PhD, MD, or equivalent curriculum and significant laboratory research experience; candidates without a formal degree may be considered if they have comparable depth and breadth of training and experience and meet job-specific criteria.
- Proven track record in laboratory planning and workflow design, with the ability to challenge standard paradigms and pioneer future-facing, AI-driven autonomous workflows.
- Technical understanding of laboratory casework, environmental health and safety considerations, and laboratory utilities fundamentals, alongside the ability to design for sensitive modern instrument infrastructure, including vibration, acoustics, electromagnetic interference, and ergonomics.
- Deep foundational knowledge of the drug discovery workflow process and ability to navigate complex, multi-year department and facility projects while aligning spatial vision with organizational ambitions.
- Ability to independently conceive, initiate, and direct project teams through all development stages; coordinate goals; and seek input from internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to listen to scientific staff, translate their vision into granular technical requirements, and help scientists adapt to new ways of working.
- Ability to balance scientific ambition with cost and schedule constraints, attend to technical details, lead mockup reviews, and make project decisions.
- Ability to build trusted relationships across the organization, foster inclusion, help teams prioritize and simplify workloads, and present progress to senior management.
- Translate AI-driven automated laboratory workflows and Phenotype Space Profiles into physical space, embedding Computational Sciences within laboratory neighborhoods.
- Map and optimize workflows for people, samples, waste, and materials, and develop scalable, cost-efficient concepts for shared resources such as cold storage and core equipment.
- Design and facilitate workshops to transition users' existing workflows into automated, shared laboratory environments.
- Own and maintain the equipment list and utilities matrix, coordinating power, data, gases, waste, and environmental controls across the ecosystem.
- Specify bench-level utility placements that support bespoke laboratory setups and evolving autonomous workflows with robotics, enabling zones to be renovated without disrupting ongoing operations.
- Conduct design reviews, resolve architectural and engineering redlines, and define requirements for specialized environments such as CryoEM, NMR, reagent repositories, and proof-of-concept rooms.
- Plan physical mockups to validate design strategies and support instrument relocation, installation verification, and user commissioning to achieve facility operational readiness on Day 1.
About the company
Genentech is a biotechnology company focused on researching and developing medicines and therapies to address unmet medical needs. It uses large-scale R&D, with about 13,500 employees and 40 approved medicines; it develops biologics and other therapies marketed through healthcare providers, generating revenue from sales. It differentiates itself with a large patent portfolio (around 20,000 patents) and multiple FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designations, along with a patient-centric approach that weighs access and affordability. Its goal is to advance medical science and deliver high-quality, effective therapies that improve patient health and support the broader medical community.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$47.8M
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
1976
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Hillsboro broke ground September 28, 2026 on a $750 million device fill-finish plant.
- The project adds 250 jobs and strengthens U.S. supply for oncology, neurology, immunology.
- Roche opened Boston's CVRM Innovation Center on September 17, 2026, expanding discovery capacity.
What critics are saying
- September 2026 layoffs cut 265 South San Francisco jobs, ending a 40-year plant.
- June and July 2026 cuts removed 103 gRED roles, signaling continuing research retrenchment.
- Vabysmo concentration leaves Genentech vulnerable to a retinal franchise reversal by 2027.
What makes Genentech unique
- Roche-backed Genentech pairs drug discovery with manufacturing, diagnostics, and global commercialization at scale.
- Vabysmo delivered real-world eye-disease data on September 30, 2026 across 28 countries.
- The September 24, 2026 Earendil deal shows Genentech still commands elite biotech partners.
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Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
-3%1 year growth
-3%2 year growth
-3%2026 Patient Innovators Awards winners announced at Courier Health's annual Summit. Oct 13, 2026, 09:00 ET Honorees celebrated as biopharma gathered in New York City to chart the future of the patient experience NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Courier Health, the leading technology company for managing patient experiences, today announced the winners of the second annual Patient Innovators Awards, which recognize the biopharma teams and leaders going above and beyond to improve patient access, innovation, and overall outcomes. Winners were announced live on October 6th at the third annual Patient Innovators Summit in New York City. The invite-only event brought together Patient Services, Access & Reimbursement, and Commercial IT & Analytics leaders from more than 75 biopharma companies. Together, attendees represented more than 100 disease states and roughly 35 million patients with previously unmet needs. Four teams and one individual were recognized for driving innovation and measurably improving the patient experience: * Rare Disease Champions of the Year: KalVista, a Company of Chiesi Group * Patient Services Team of the Year: Priovant Therapeutics * Field Access Team of the Year: UCB, Inc. * Patient Champion of the Year: Rob Chuba, Alkermes * Patient Innovators of the Year: Bristol Myers Squibb's CAR T-cell therapy Patient Access Support Services (PASS) team "Being named Patient Services Team of the Year is a testament to the team and program we're building," said Lee Liberator, Vice President of Patient Services and Reimbursement at Priovant Therapeutics. "We've built a unique program centered around what patients actually need from us, and we're proud to be recognized for our commitment to innovating and championing a better patient experience." In his opening keynote, Danny Sigurdson, Founder and CEO of Courier Health, described the moment as a fork in the road. As manufacturers take greater internal control of their programs, data ownership, outcomes-based measurement, and AI-enabled workflow innovation have become critical. Organizations that invest in the right foundation will gain greater operational leverage to focus on their core competency - supporting patients and providers - while those that don't will fall further behind. "This year's Patient Innovators Awards winners are proof that a better path, and a brighter future, is already being built," said Danny Sigurdson. "These teams and our individual Patient Champion of the Year aren't afraid to challenge the status quo and rethink how their programs run. They never lose sight of the patient, and it's an honor to recognize their contributions." This year's Patient Innovators Summit featured 11 industry speakers from companies including Alkermes, Beren Therapeutics, Corcept Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, Dyne Therapeutics, Genentech, and Tarus Pharmaceuticals. The audience also heard a powerful firsthand story from Mark Dant, rare disease advocate and Volunteer Executive Director for the Ryan Foundation. About Courier Health Courier Health is a New York City-based technology company on a mission to improve the patient experience for hundreds of millions of people living with a chronic condition or rare disease. The company develops and delivers the fastest-growing patient experience solution for the life sciences industry. Companies that choose Courier Health are achieving double-digit improvements to patient starts, time-to-start and ongoing adherence to life-altering therapies. As host of the invite-only Patient Innovators Summit and publisher of The State of Patient-Centricity in Biopharma report, Courier Health is backed by leading investors, including Oak HC/FT, Norwest and Work-Bench. Follow Courier Health on LinkedIn and learn more at www.courierhealth.com. SOURCE Courier Health
The FDA has approved Genentech's Tecentriq in combination with a fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin for adjuvant treatment of stage III deficient DNA mismatch repair colon cancer. This marks Tecentriq's twelfth indication in the US. The approval follows results from the Phase III ATOMIC study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The trial showed Tecentriq plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 50% compared to chemotherapy alone. The 36-month disease-free survival was 86% with Tecentriq combined with mFOLFOX6, versus 76% with mFOLFOX6 alone. Nearly 25% of colon cancers are diagnosed at stage III. Almost one in three patients with stage III colon cancer experience recurrence within five years. This represents the first approved adjuvant immunotherapy regimen for this patient population.
Alector licenses Parkinson's drug program to Genentech for $1.27B. On Oct 7, 2026 Alector has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop and commercialize AL050, an investigational therapy designed to treat a key cause of neurodegeneration linked to Parkinson's disease. Under the agreement, Genentech will receive worldwide rights to AL050, which is designed to address deficiencies in glucocerebrosidase (GCase), an enzyme linked to Parkinson's disease, particularly in people carrying mutations in the GBA1 gene. Alector will receive $100 million upfront from Genentech and could receive up to an additional $1.17 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. The company will also be eligible for tiered royalties based on net sales. AL050 combines an engineered version of the GCase enzyme with Alector's proprietary Alector Brain Carrier (ABC) technology. The approach is designed to help the therapy cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain, where GCase deficiency can cause harmful lipids to build up in nerve cells. The therapy is intended to break down glucosylsphingosine and glucosylceramide, two lipids that can accumulate when GCase activity is reduced. Alector believes reducing this buildup could help improve cell function and potentially slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. GCase deficiency is increasingly being studied as an important driver of Parkinson's disease. People with GBA1 mutations are at higher risk of developing the disease, although GCase-related mechanisms may also play a role in patients without these mutations. Under the partnership, Genentech will take responsibility for the development, regulatory work, manufacturing and commercialization of AL050 across all potential indications. Alector will retain ownership of its ABC technology and continue using the platform in its wholly owned pipeline. Alector CEO Arnon Rosenthal said the company designed AL050 to address two major challenges in treating GCase deficiency: developing an enzyme with strong and lasting activity and delivering it effectively into the brain. The deal also gives Alector additional resources to advance its other programs. The company said the partnership extends its cash runway into 2029. Alector plans to use these resources to advance its subcutaneously delivered, brain-enabled anti-Aβ antibody program toward multi-cohort clinical data in Alzheimer's disease. The company also plans to move its brain-enabled tau siRNA and alpha-synuclein siRNA programs through IND-enabling studies and toward regulatory filings. The collaboration marks another major step in Genentech's efforts to develop new treatments for Parkinson's disease, while giving Alector the financial support to continue developing therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases.
Genentech AI leader richard Bonneau departs amid talent war. This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, at no cost to you. The artificial intelligence sector within the pharmaceutical industry has experienced another major shakeup following the departure of a key executive. Richard Bonneau, a prominent AI leader who spearheaded critical computational biology initiatives, has officially left Genentech. This high-profile exit highlights an ongoing corporate tug-of-war for elite technological expertise. Major drugmakers are aggressively competing to secure specialized minds who can seamlessly integrate advanced machine learning into modern research and development pipelines. Table of Contents The battle for elite computational talent. Traditional pharmaceutical giants face unique hurdles when trying to retain top-tier tech leadership in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Nimble startups and heavily funded biotechnology enterprises frequently lure innovators away with massive resources and flexible environments. For those fascinated by how technology reshapes specialized fields, keeping pace with these shifts requires continuous learning. Exploring recent optics articles or reviewing breaking developments can offer broader perspectives on how technical industries adapt to rapid transformation. The impact on modern drug discovery pipelines. Genentech has channeled substantial investments into machine learning to revolutionize how new treatments are discovered and developed. Although Bonneau's future destination remains undisclosed, the corporation is expected to press forward with its core artificial intelligence strategy. The broader life sciences landscape continues to treat computational expertise as an absolute premium asset. Observers expect the fierce competition for visionary leaders to persist as data-driven methodologies redefine the boundaries of modern science. Additional Reading:
Alector soars as Roche licenses Parkinson's therapy for up to $1.27 billion. Published on 10/05/2026 at 08:08 am EDT - Modified on 10/05/2026 at 08:16 am EDT Oct 5 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche will pay up to $1.27 billion to license Alector's experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease, the US biotech said on Monday, sending its shares surging 72% in premarket trading. Genentech, a unit of Roche, will pay Alector $100 million upfront and up to $1.17 billion more if the treatment reaches development, regulatory and sales targets. Alector is also eligible for royalties. Here are some details: o The agreement grants Genentech exclusive worldwide rights to develop, make and sell AL050, an experimental treatment designed to address a lack of an enzyme linked to Parkinson's disease o Genentech will be responsible for development, regulatory submissions, manufacturing and commercialization of the treatment o AL050 is an enzyme replacement therapy designed to address the deficiency of the GCase enzyme that leads to the buildup of certain fats and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease o The deal is the latest in a series of licensing agreements by Roche as it works to expand its drug pipeline o In June, Roche agreed a licensing and collaboration deal with Nurix Therapeutics worth up to $2.3 billion for a blood cancer drug (Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed) (C) Reuters - 2026