Each of us cares about someone who will need medicines. That's why our vision is to repeatedly beat the odds to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients that need them. We pursue truth and scientific rigour and have the courage to work at the edge of the unknown.
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on QC Microbiology Lead - someone who wants to own a program end-to-end - from hands-on testing and troubleshooting to guiding the team around you. This is a primarily bench-based role; you will be in the lab daily, running and troubleshooting assays alongside your team rather than managing from a distance. You will bring deep technical expertise and a strong in-lab presence across microbial methods, EM programs, utilities monitoring, and contamination investigations, while also supporting broader QC functions such as stability, sample management, raw materials testing, and analytical assays including UPLC, ELISA, or spectrophotometry.
How you might spend your days
- Providing daily in-lab mentorship to the QC team, fostering strong technique, aseptic practices, and microbiological best practices
- Leading all Microbiology operations, including bioburden, endotoxin, microbial ID, growth promotion, EM sampling, water testing, and trending
- Troubleshooting microbiological assays, contamination events, and EM deviations, ensuring timely and compliant resolution
- Ensuring microbiology labs and adjacent QC spaces remain inspection-ready, including GMP housekeeping and equipment readiness
- Coordinating stability pulls, sample preparation, testing, and data tracking across QC programs
- Overseeing sample receipt, chain-of-custody, aliquoting, storage conditions, and distribution workflows
- Supporting routine sampling, testing, and trending of Utilities (WFI, clean steam, compressed gases) with appropriate documentation
- Reviewing micro data packages, protocols, reports, and testing documentation for accuracy and adherence to ALCOA++ principles
- Collaborating with Analytical Development, Quality Assurance, Materials, and Manufacturing teammates to ensure smooth operational flow and timely release/testing
We'd love to hear from you if
- You bring deep, hands-on microbiology experience in a regulated (GMP) QC environment, and are confident in leading microbial methods, EM programs, utilities monitoring, and contamination troubleshooting
- You have experience mentoring or leading team members working within microbiology labs or cleanroom/controlled environments
- You have 10+ years of hands-on QC microbiology experience in a GMP setting, in addition to a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or a related life sciences field
- You communicate clearly, collaborate well, and maintain calm, structured decision-making under pressure
- You demonstrate strong ownership, accountability, and a solutions-focused mindset when supporting analysts or resolving micro-related issues
- You are organized, detail-oriented, and committed to inspection readiness and data integrity
- You thrive in an environment requiring in-lab leadership, cross-functional coordination, and prioritization of operational needs
- You have experience with stability programs, sample management workflows, and raw materials testing coordination
- You are familiar with analytical assays such as UPLC, ELISA, or spectrophotometry (desirable)
What we offer
AbCellera's hiring range for this role is CAD $105,600 - $132,000 annually, commensurate with your education and job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, annual bonus dependent on team and company performance, and a 6% (non-match) RRSP contribution.
You will have a CAD $1,500 annual Active Lifestyle Allowance, annual vacation, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health benefits. Scientific and technical mentorship is a priority. And you'll find a strong sense of community and connections across AbCellera through our work, clubs, and socials.
About AbCellera
Creating medicines is the most important work we can do.
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody-based medicines in the areas of endocrinology, women's health, immunology, and oncology. We have built a platform for advancing antibody drug programs from target to clinic, and we are using it to build our internal pipeline.
Today, our pipeline includes two drug candidates in clinical development, two preclinical development candidates (DCs) in Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities, and more than 20 active discovery programs across multiple modalities and indications.
We believe that when tenacious people share a vision and work together, they can truly have a positive impact. That's why we hire for character and intelligence, not just for CVs or experience.
We look for people with drive and energy. People we trust. People who need to know their days are being well spent. That their work really matters. In the end, our success will be measured by the impact of our medicines.
To apply
Please submit your application through our website and refer to Job ID 23334 in your cover letter. We receive a large volume of applications and are only able to contact those who are selected for an interview. All communication from our Talent Discovery team will come from an @abcellera.com email address.
