Senior Lab Operations Specialist, Flow Cytometry

gilead

Foster City, USonsite$118k-$153k/yrPosted Jul 27, 2026
Posting intelligenceActively listed

Skills

workday

About the role

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers.

We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Senior Lab Ops Specialist, Flow Cytometry to join the Flow Cytometry Core team within the Gilead Sciences Research Department. The successful candidate will support the daily operations of the flow cytometry core laboratories, ensuring a high-functioning environment that meets the needs of Gilead’s Oncology, Inflammation, and Virology therapeutic areas.

Unique Selling Point of this role: This role offers the opportunity to contribute to and support research across Gilead’s departments. As a high-visibility, collaborative position, it allows you to impact cutting-edge scientific research while working in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.

You will...

Maintain and troubleshoot instrumentation, perform startup, shutdown, daily cleaning, and QC procedures

Train and advise users on conventional, spectral, and imaging cytometry platforms, as well as perform cell sorting

Troubleshoot flow-based assays to deepen our understanding of disease pathobiology and assist with lab inventory and automation

Perform instrument calibration, maintenance, and cleaning to ensure optimal performance

Troubleshoot and diagnose complex instrumentation issues; perform repairs or coordinate with field engineers

Conduct multiparameter cell sorting, including setup and operation of sorters; optimize sorting conditions for specific assays (BSL2+ sorting experience is a plus)

Share best practices and provide expert guidance on panel design, sample preparation, and assay optimization

Execute experiments to validate and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for flow cytometry assays

Assist and train core users in flow technologies, experimental design, and data analysis

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field and 5+ years in flow cytometry required

Masters degree in life sciences or related field and 3+ years in flow cytometry required

Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to apply critical thinking to resolve assay and instrumentation issues

Excellent verbal, technical, and interpersonal communication skills

Highly collaborative, quick learner, resourceful problem solver, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment

Strong background in cell biology and immunology, with technical expertise in cell-based assays is required

Preferred:

Demonstrate solid knowledge of conventional and spectral flow cytometry; experience with imaging cytometry is a plus (proficiency with BD, Beckman Coulter, ThermoFisher, and Sony instruments is highly desired)

Familiarity with BSL2 and aseptic techniques

Proficient in Windows-based systems and able to quickly learn new software and hardware

Prior experience in a core facility setting is highly desirable

Advanced expertise in both conventional and spectral flow cytometry, along with cell sorting experience is strongly preferred

People Leader Accountabilities:

Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.

Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.

Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.

The salary range for this position is: $117,895.00 - $152,570.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

For additional benefits information, visit:

Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

For jobs in the United States:

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Gilead Sciences will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.

Compensation

This Operations role pays $118k-$153k/yr. Within typical range for operations roles in United States.

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