Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Safety

Company: 6084-Janssen Research & Development Legal Enti
Location: San Diego
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. Job Function: Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development Job Sub Function: Nonclinical Safety Job Category: Scientific/Technology All Job Posting Locations: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, San Diego, California, United States of America, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America Job Description: About Innovative Medicine Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Safety to be located in Spring House, PA, Cambridge, MA or San Diego, CA. Purpose: The Sr. Principal Scientist will serve as a key member of the Translational Safety team in Translational PK/PD & Investigative Toxicology (TPPIT) and Preclinical Sciences & Translational Safety (PSTS) and will be responsible for leading predictive toxicology initiatives in the early drug discovery and de-risking. The successful candidate will work in matrixed teams evaluating, validating, recommending and integrating conventional in vitro models and complex cellular model systems for predicting off-target and major organ toxicities and guiding drug candidate selection during the early drug development process. This scientist will work closely with teams across PSTS on mechanistic studies as needed while focusing on moving our predictive toxicity workflows to the next level. The Distinguished Scientist will be responsible for communicating predictive investigative screening plans and updates to PSTS issues teams, project teams, and global leadership in partnership with leaders in Translational Safety and in Therapeutic Development. Strong knowledge of AI/ML model development is essential as we invest in an R&D wide digital transformation. You will be responsible for: Lead efforts to build and refine robust high-throughput in vitro organ specific cellular screening workflows Serve as the liaison between High throughput screening, Data Sciences, In Silico Modeling and Preclinical Safety Teams In collaboration with External Scientific Innovation and Business Development, evaluate external environment to identify new technologies, platforms & CROs with novel, cutting edge applications for in vitro toxicology Partner with members of Translation Safety & Discovery, Product Development and Supply (DPDS) functional groups to oversee the conversion of mechanistic cellular, molecular & biochemical toxicology assays into high throughput predictive screening assays Function as a key member of Global Translational Safety Team partnering with global leads to establish strategic goals and objectives Communicate screening plans and updates to leadership and multidisciplinary teams Maintain toxicology expertise through collaborations within TPPIT & PSTS globally, DPDS, and through organizational associations, literature reviews, continuing education, and publications. Partner with Global Lead of Cellular & Molecular Toxicology, as well as Safety Pharmacology leads to establish strategic goals and objectives. Identify topics appropriate for internal and external scientific publication, author scientific publications, posters and or draft documents for official communication (i.e. Contributing Scientist Reports, weight of evidence packages). Qualifications / Requirements: Education: A minimum of a Ph.D. and postdoctoral work in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Biology or related field is required. Skills/Experience: A minimum of 2 years postdoctoral training and 6 years of relevant work experience is required. Demonstrated knowledge in designing and conducting mechanistic in vitro studies incorporating high throughput applications of cell-based models required. Experience with high throughput applications of organotypic models incorporating multiple cell types including immune cells required. Demonstrated knowledge of drug discovery and experience with drug modalities beyond small molecules required. Advanced knowledge of cellular and molecular toxicology and demonstrated experience driving projects to completion required. Track record of working collaboratively to solve sophisticated scientific problems required. Experience working on & leading highly matrixed, multi-disciplinary teams required. Experience with AI/ML and in silico toxicology modeling preferred. Board Certification in Toxicology preferred. Must be highly motivated, curious, and organized individual with a team-oriented mentality who enjoys working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and working collaboratively across functions. Excellent written, visual, and oral communication skills. The expected pay range for this position is $137,000 to $235,750. The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/ performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis. Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance. Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)). This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program. Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits: Vacation –120 hours per calendar year Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year For additional general information on company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits This job posting is anticipated to close on March 21, 2026. The Company may however extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on https://www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications. Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource. Required Skills: Preferred Skills: Clinical Data Management, Drug Discovery Development, EHS Compliance, Emergency Planning, Performance Measurement, Presentation Design, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Process Optimization, Program Management, Regulatory Affairs Management, Research and Development, Risk Management, Safety Audits, Safety Investigations, Safety-Oriented, Scientific Research, Strategic Thinking, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility The anticipated base pay range for this position is : $137,000.00 - $235,750.00 Additional Description for Pay Transparency: Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)). This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program. Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits: Vacation –120 hours per calendar year Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

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