Candel Therapeutics

Scientist II / Senior Scientist - – Viral Vector / Discovery

Needham, MA
Full Time
Mid Level

Scientist II/ Senior Scientist – Viral Vector / Discovery  

(Hybrid – Greater Boston, on-site lab work required) 

NOTE: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. At this time, the Company does not provide, and will not provide in the future, sponsorship for employment visas.

Why Work With Us? 

At Candel, our people drive our mission to transform cancer care. We value curiosity, collaboration, and bold science in a supportive environment where everyone has visibility and impact. You’ll join a team that embraces creativity, trusts its people, and fosters growth through coaching and open discussion. This is the place to bring your ideas forward, dig deep into data, and see your work make a real difference for patients. 

Our Science: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapies 

Candel is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing off-the-shelf, multimodal immunotherapies designed to stimulate personalized, systemic anti-tumor responses. Our platforms use genetically modified adenovirus and HSV constructs, advancing novel treatments through discovery, IND-enabling studies, and into clinical development. With positive Phase 3 results for our lead candidate and multiple pipeline programs on the horizon, it’s an exciting time to join us. Learn more: www.candeltx.com 

Position Summary 

This is a highly visible, hands-on role reporting directly to the VP of Research. As Scientist II /Senior Scientist, (We will determine final title and level based on your experience and background.) you’ll balance bench work and strategic contributions to advance novel viral vectors into IND-enabling studies and first-in-human trials. You’ll gain full-spectrum exposure across discovery, development, regulatory, and clinical programs, while contributing to the future of Candel’s viral immunotherapy platform. 

We’re looking for a scientist who thrives in a fast-paced biotech with a “can-do” mindset — someone versatile enough to design experiments at the bench, analyze data, and present insights across functions. If you’re inquisitive, data-driven, and energized by the chance to innovate while still being hands-on, this role offers both the challenge and growth you’re seeking. 

What You Will Do 

  • Support scientific strategy and execution for viral immunotherapy programs from discovery through IND-enabling studies. 

  • Design and optimize viral vectors (e.g., HSV) for therapeutic applications, including genome engineering and payload design. 

  • Oversee and perform in vitro and ex vivo assays to evaluate vector potency, transduction efficiency, and immunological activity. 

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including CMC and Regulatory to ensure seamless program progression. 

  • Guide the development and transfer of analytical and process development methods to the CMC team. 

  • Mentor and manage junior scientists and research associates; foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, and collaboration. 

  • Contribute to regulatory documentation, including IND-enabling study design and data interpretation. 

  • Stay current with scientific literature and emerging technologies in viral vector design, immunotherapy, and oncology. 

What You Will Bring 

  • Ph.D. in Virology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or related field with 3–5+ years biotech industry experience 

  • Extensive hands-on experience with viral vector systems, including design, production, purification, and characterization; HSV experience a plus 

  • Strong background in mammalian cell culture, transduction assays, and molecular biology techniques (qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry) 

  • Demonstrated experience developing and implementing platform-based approaches in cell and gene therapy (e.g., scalable vector design, modular assays, standardized workflows) 

  • Familiarity with IND-enabling studies, GLP/GMP environments, and regulatory expectations for gene therapy products 

  • Comfort running your own bench work while also contributing strategically 

  • Proven ability to thrive in a lean, entrepreneurial environment without big-pharma infrastructure 

  • Curious, data-driven mindset — eager to ask questions, revisit data, and generate new insights 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with confidence to present across levels and functions 

  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship is not available; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required 

Preferred Attributes 

  • Desire to grow into leadership, with experience mentoring or guiding junior staff 

Work Environment 

This is a hybrid role based in Greater Boston, with significant on-site lab work (bench and data analysis). Expect to be onsite most of the week to fully engage with research, team collaboration, and laboratory execution. 

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*