Full-Time

Senior Analyst

Quality Control Analytical

Posted on 8/15/2025

Umoja Biopharma

Umoja Biopharma

201-500 employees

In vivo CAR T-cell cancer therapy

Compensation Overview

$68k - $97.5k/yr

Lafayette, CO, USA

In Person

Category
Biology & Biotech (4)
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Requirements
  • Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology, Biology, or other life science with a minimum of 2+ years in a cGMP regulated QC environment (Senior Analyst Level)
  • Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology, Biology, or other life science with a minimum of 5+ years in a cGMP regulated QC environment (Specialist Level)
  • Quality Control experience in cGMP regulated laboratory, including knowledge of the analytical method lifecycle (qualification, validation, transfer)
  • Strong molecular biology analytical background, specifically, PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry and cell-based assays
  • Knowledge of relevant pharmaceutical regulations and regulatory guidance
  • A passion for teamwork and unwavering commitment to purpose, team success, and the championing of an outstanding workplace culture
  • Demonstrated leadership and ownership of project deliverables within a team
  • Firm grasp of Operational Excellence/Continuous Improvement philosophies and experience with practical application in a regulated laboratory environment
  • Ability to lead peers by example and elevate the performance of a team through teamwork, collaboration and effective knowledge sharing
  • Proven ability to self-manage internal and cross-functional projects and drive completion to timelines
Responsibilities
  • Demonstrate the Umoja values as part of a high-performing, people-focused, inclusive, and collaborative organization
  • With minimal oversight, perform QC Analytical testing and support activities for product release, stability, in-process, and protocol-based testing
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on a subset of identified QC method technologies, acting as point of contact for troubleshooting, quality investigations, and qualification initiatives
  • With management input, assist in the development, implementation, and refinement of phase appropriate QC programs and processes (Critical reagent qualification, method trending, lab investigations, invalid process, critical reagents, LIMS, etc.)
  • Collaborate with the Analytical Development team to provide needed support and QC feedback during method development, qualification, transfer, and remediation activities
  • Champion and advance Operational Excellence/LEAN initiatives within the QC laboratories to ensure continuous improvement across all programs, processes, and systems. Owns and drives assigned LEAN projects to completion
  • Willingness to flex outside of direct responsibilities and support other functions (Analytical Development, QC Microbiology, Sample Management, Stability, Validation, etc.) to ensure company goals and timelines are met. Additionally, translate those experiences into productive cross functional relationships.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous experience with laboratory startup, quality systems, and analytical method lifecycle
  • Previous experience and understanding of digital PCR, Flow Cytometry and cell-based Methods
  • Experience in cGMP cell and gene therapy manufacturing and/or testing facility

Umoja Biopharma develops immunotherapies that reprogram patients’ T cells inside the body (in vivo) to attack cancer. Its main product approach is a CAR T-cell gene therapy platform designed to be produced in-house and sold as off-the-shelf regimens, enabling scalable treatment for both solid tumors and blood cancers that have not responded to other therapies. The treatment works by modifying the patient’s immune system directly in the body to create CAR T cells that can target and kill cancer cells, aiming for lasting remissions. Unlike many therapies that extract cells from a patient, modify them outside the body, and then reinsert them, Umoja Biopharma focuses on in-body cell reprogramming and in-house manufacturing to streamline delivery. The company differentiates itself through its in vivo, off-the-shelf CAR T approach and its goal of broad applicability across cancer stages, seeking to provide accessible, scalable cancer treatments across solid and hematologic cancers.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$363M

Headquarters

Seattle, Washington

Founded

2019

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • FDA IND clearance for UB-VV111 enables Phase I recruitment in relapsed B-cell lymphomas and CLL.[6]
  • AbbVie partnership validates VivoVec platform with exclusive options on CD19 and four discovery targets.[6]
  • Board appointments of Dr. Marcela Maus and Dr. Athena Countouriotis strengthen clinical and commercial execution capabilities.[1]

What critics are saying

  • Dr. Philip Low's March 2026 death removes foundational CAR T researcher; TumorTag program continuity threatened.[1]
  • Single Louisville facility dependency creates supply chain vulnerability during Phase I/II scale-up expansion.[1]
  • Interius INT2104 now in EU Phase 1; competitive in vivo programs compress Umoja's first-mover advantage window.[1]
  • ENLIGHTen solid tumor trial lacks published efficacy data; negative results invalidate platform claims and burn $100M Series C.[1]
  • Lentiviral vector manufacturing and safety remain regulatory flashpoints; FDA could impose costly additional requirements.[1]
  • AbbVie exclusive options create dependency on single pharma partner for pipeline prioritization and commercialization control.[1]

What makes Umoja Biopharma unique

  • In vivo CAR T generation eliminates weeks-long ex vivo manufacturing, reducing cost and complexity versus competitors.[5]
  • Integrated VivoVec, RACR, and TumorTag platforms designed to work synergistically for enhanced potency and control.[4]
  • Off-the-shelf allogeneic approach with Louisville lentiviral vector facility enables scalable production for broader patient access.[6]

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Commuter Benefits

Phone/Internet Stipend

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Yahoo Finance
Mar 23rd, 2026
Umoja Biopharma appoints Dr Marcela Maus and Dr Athena Countouriotis to board of directors

Umoja Biopharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, has appointed Dr Marcela Maus and Dr Athena Countouriotis to its board of directors. Dr Maus is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of cellular immunotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is internationally recognised in immunology and T cell-based cancer therapies, having authored over 200 publications. Dr Countouriotis is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Avenzo Therapeutics. She previously led Turning Point Therapeutics from IPO to acquisition in 2022 and has over 20 years of industry experience. The appointments will support Umoja's VivoVec platform, which generates CAR T cells directly in the body, aiming to simplify delivery and expand access to transformative cancer therapies.

Umoja Biopharma
Mar 6th, 2026
Umoja Biopharma Honors the Life and Legacy of Scientific Co-founder Dr. Philip Low

Umoja Biopharma honors the life and legacy of scientific co-founder Dr. Philip Low. SEATTLE, WA, March 6, 2026 - Umoja Biopharma announces with deep sadness the passing of Dr. Philip Low, a pioneering scientist, entrepreneur, and one of its scientific co-founders, whose career reflected a lifelong commitment to translating innovative science into patient impact. Dr. Low passed away this week at the age of 78, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in drug discovery and development, including Umoja's first clinical-stage program built on his foundational work at Purdue University. "Phil was a once-in-a-generation scientist whose work fundamentally reshaped our understanding of how CAR T cells can and should work in the body," said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Umoja Biopharma. "He brought not only extraordinary intellectual rigor to Umoja's early days, but a deep conviction that novel, groundbreaking science must ultimately serve patients. We are profoundly grateful for his scientific leadership and mentorship. Phil was a great friend and colleague. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues at Purdue." Over nearly five decades at Purdue University, Dr. Low became one of the world's most influential scientists in academic drug discovery. He joined Dr. Andrew Scharenberg and Dr. Ryan Crisman in the founding of Umoja Biopharma in 2019. Dr. Low's work was fundamental in the discovery and development of Umoja's early scientific exploration in solid tumors, including its TumorTag programs and Phase I ENLIGHTen clinical trial in partnership with Seattle Children's Research Institute. About Umoja Biopharma Umoja Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Umoja's VivoVec(TM) in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient's own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company's state- of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Umoja believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Umoja on LinkedIn and visit umoja-biopharma.com.

GeekWire
Mar 18th, 2025
Geekwire Awards: Health Innovation Of The Year Field Is Dominated By Finalists Battling Cancer

The 2025 GeekWire Award finalists for Health Innovation of the Year are dominated by ventures that aim to outwit cancer with groundbreaking new technologies. The contenders range from a newly formed startup to a leading U.S. cancer institute and companies in between. Joining the cohort is a business with technology to help healthcare providers better manage appointments and access to providers.This awards category recognizes pioneering health, life science, biotechnology or medical breakthroughs that hold great promise for improving peoples’ lives and enhancing the healthcare system.The finalists are Archon Biosciences, DexCare, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Talus Bioscience and Umoja Biopharma.Last year’s winner was CalmWave, a Seattle health-tech startup that created a system for making sense of the alarms triggered by the devices that monitor hospital ICU patients.Continue reading for details on each of this year’s finalists, and vote here or below.Archon BiosciencesArchon Biosciences emerged from stealth last October with $20 million in funding. The Seattle biotech company is running with technology developed in the lab of University of Washington biochemist and Nobel Prize winner David Baker.Archon’s proprietary protein structures, known as Antibody Cages or AbCs, combine two biomedical tools — naturally occurring antibodies and custom-designed proteins — to create a single new protein structure. These protein structures, or AbCs, are optimized with the aid of generative AI to travel in the body in controllable ways and engage with target cells in a more specific manner.“What we like to say is, it’s not whether you’re given a drug, it’s how you’re given it,” said CEO and co-founder James Lazarovits

GeekWire
Mar 4th, 2025
Tech Moves: Starbucks Names Cfo; Avanade Bolsters C-Suite; Tune Therapeutics Gets Ceo

Tech Moves covers notable hires, promotions and personnel changes in the Pacific NW tech community. Submissions: [email protected] Smith, CFO of Starbucks. (LinkedIn Photo)— Starbucks announced Cathy Smith as its chief financial officer. Smith was most recently at Nordstrom for two years, and has held CFO roles at Bright Health, Target, Express Scripts, Walmart and others. Her longest role was at the defense and space juggernaut Raytheon.Smith succeeds Rachel Ruggeri, who was at Starbucks for more than two decades, ascending to the CFO role in 2021.The coffee giant announced layoffs of 1,100 corporate employees, including 612 in Seattle. It marks one of Starbucks’ largest layoffs and comes as CEO Brian Niccol turns to tech to help turn around the slumping business after taking over in September.— Avanade, a Seattle-based tech consulting and services company, announced a slate of C-suite hires

Benzinga
Jan 14th, 2025
Umoja Biopharma Raises $100M Series C

Umoja Biopharma announced a $100 million Series C financing to advance its in vivo CAR T cell therapy pipeline. The round was co-led by Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio, with participation from investors like ARK Invest and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The funds will support clinical development, including the lead CD22 UB-VV400 program. Campbell Murray, M.D., joins the Board of Directors. This financing highlights Umoja's potential to innovate in oncology and autoimmune treatments.

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