Biotech & Life Sciences

From discovery to diagnostics. Methodical recruiting for science-driven teams.

Biotech and life sciences organizations live at the intersection of research, regulation, and real human impact. You don’t just need smart people—you need scientists, engineers, and operators who can work in GxP environments, drive programs forward, and communicate clearly with cross-functional teams.

ControlHire’s Biotech & Life Sciences practice connects companies with the lab, development, and operations talent that keeps pipelines moving—from early discovery through translational work, devices and diagnostics, and beyond.

Who We Support

Platform biotech and therapeutics companies (small molecule, biologics, CGT, RNA, etc.)
Diagnostics and medical device companies (IVD, imaging, point-of-care, digital diagnostics)
Genomics, proteomics, and “omics” platform companies
Cell & gene therapy developers (ex vivo / in vivo, autologous / allogeneic)
Contract research organizations (CROs) and contract testing labs
CDMOs focused on biologics, cell therapies, and advanced modalities
Life sciences tools, reagents, and instrumentation companies
Public health, academic spin-outs, and translational research institutes

Types of Engagements

Direct-Hire – scientists, engineers, specialists, managers, and directors across functions
Interim & Fractional Leadership – interim heads of R&D, PD, QA/QC, or operations during scaling and transition
Executive Search – CSO, Head of Research, VP Biology, VP Translational, VP CMC (biologics/CGT), and more
Temp & Contract – surge support for lab operations, method development, tech transfer, validations, and studies
Contract-to-Hire – “prove it in the lab” before committing on key scientific and operations role

ControlHire & ControlTemp

We support direct-hire, executive search, temp, contract, and contract-to-hire, for finance and accounting roles at all levels.

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Discovery, Assay, & Screening

Preclinical, Translational & In Vivo

Finding and validating the right targets:

Research Associate / Senior Research Associate (molecular, cell, immunology, etc.)
Associate Scientist / Scientist / Senior Scientist – Discovery Biology
Molecular Biologist / Cell Biologist / Immunologist / Microbiologist
Biochemist / Structural Biologist
Pharmacologist (in vitro / in vivo)
High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Scientist
Assay Development Scientist / Bioassay Scientist
Drug Discovery Scientist – small molecule, biologics, RNA, CGT
Target ID & Validation Scientist
Biomarker Discovery Scientist
Discovery Project Manager / Scientific Program Manager

Preclinical, Translational & In Vivo

Bridging the gap: bench and clinical:

In Vivo Research Associate / In Vivo Scientist (rodent models, PK/PD)
Preclinical Scientist / Senior Preclinical Scientist
Toxicology Scientist / Toxicologist
DMPK Scientist (Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics)
PK/PD Scientist / Modeler
Translational Scientist / Translational Medicine Lead
Biomarker Scientist (clinical / translational)
Preclinical Study Director / Study Monitor
Preclinical Operations Manager / Vivarium Manager

Bioinformatics & Computational

Preclinical, Translational & In Vivo

Bioinformatics & Computational

Data behind the biology:

Bioinformatics Analyst / Bioinformatics Scientist
Computational Biologist / Systems Biologist
Genomics Data Scientist / NGS Data Analyst
Proteomics / Metabolomics Data Scientist
Single-Cell Data Scientist (scRNA-seq, CyTOF, etc.)
Machine Learning Scientist (omics, image analysis, drug design)
Data Engineer – Life Sciences / Scientific Data Engineer
LIMS / ELN Administrator / Developer
Informatics Product Manager / Scientific Software PM
Head of Bioinformatics / Director of Computational Biology

Process, Biologics, & CGT

Lab Operations, Facilities & EHS

QC, QA & GxP for Life Sciences

Industrializing complex therapies:

Upstream Process Development Scientist (cell culture, fermentation)
Downstream Process Development Scientist (purification, chromatography)
Cell Culture Scientist / Cell Therapy PD Scientist
Viral Vector Process Development Scientist
Analytical Development Scientist – Biologics / CGT
Method Development & Validation Scientist (potency, identity, purity, stability)
Formulation Scientist (biologics, CGT, complex injectables)
Tech Transfer Scientist / MSAT Scientist
Bioprocess Engineer / Manufacturing Engineer – Biologics / Cell Therapy
GMP Manufacturing Associate / Senior Manufacturing Associate
Lead / Supervisor – Manufacturing (clinical or commercial)
Process Engineer – Single-Use / Bioreactor Systems
MSAT Manager / Director (Manufacturing Science & Technology)
Director / VP CMC – Biologics / Cell & Gene

QC, QA & GxP for Life Sciences

Lab Operations, Facilities & EHS

QC, QA & GxP for Life Sciences

Quality Control (QC):

QC Analyst – Chemistry (HPLC, GC, LC-MS, etc.)
QC Analyst – Microbiology (bioburden, endotoxin, environmental monitoring)
QC Scientist / Senior QC Specialist
Stability Analyst / Stability Coordinator

Quality Assurance (QA):

QA Associate / QA Specialist – GMP / GLP / GCP
Batch Record Reviewer / Document Control Specialist
Deviation & CAPA Specialist
Supplier Quality Specialist / Vendor Quality
Equipment / Computer Systems Validation (CSV) Specialist
QA Operations Manager / QA Manager – Site or Department
Director of Quality – Biologics / CGT / Diagnostics
Head of Quality / VP Quality & Compliance

Lab Operations, Facilities & EHS

Everyday Lab:

Lab Technician / Lab Assistant / Lab Coordinator
Lab Manager / Lab Operations Manager
Facilities Technician – labs, cleanrooms, utilities
Calibration & Maintenance Technician
Sample Management / Biobank Technician
LIMS Coordinator / Lab Systems Support
EHS Specialist (biosafety, chemical safety, OSHA, environmental)
Biosafety Officer / EHS Manager – Life Sciences

Devices, Diagnostics, & Life

Hardware, assays, and platforms:

R&D Engineer – Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Systems Engineer – IVD / Instrumentation
Assay Development Scientist – IVD / Companion Diagnostics
Reagent Development Scientist / Formulation Chemist
Design Assurance Engineer / Quality Engineer – Devices
Verification & Validation (V&V) Engineer / Scientist
Regulatory Affairs Specialist – Devices / IVD
Clinical Affairs Specialist – Devices / Diagnostics
Field Application Scientist (FAS)
Field Service Engineer – Instruments / Capital Equipment
Product Manager – Life Science Tools / Diagnostics

Clinical & Medical

Devices, Diagnostics, & Life

Bridging scientific programs with clinical:

Clinical Scientist / Senior Clinical Scientist
Medical Director – Early or Translational Development
Medical Affairs Scientist / Medical Information Specialist
MSL (Medical Science Liaison) – life science tools / diagnostics / therapeutics
HEOR / RWE Analyst (for advanced platforms and therapies)

Commercial, BD & Corporate

Devices, Diagnostics, & Life

Commercial, BD & Corporate

Science to market:

Business Development Analyst / Manager (platform / BD&L / partnerships)
Alliance Manager / Partner Manager
Product Manager – Platform / Tools / Diagnostics / Therapeutic
Marketing Manager – Life Science Tools / Biotech Service
Technical Sales Specialist / Sales Engineer
Key Account Manager – Academic / Biopharma / Hospital Systems
Scientific Communications / Medical Writer – life sciences
Program / Portfolio Manager – R&D / Platform / Diagnostic pipeline
Operations Manager – R&D or Technical Operations

Leadership:

Head of Research / CSO
Head of Platform / Head of Technology
VP R&D / VP Biology / VP Translational
VP Technical Operations / VP CMC – Biologics / CGT
GM / Business Unit Head – Devices / Diagnostics / Tools

How We Recruit In Biotech & Life Sciences

Methodical Recruiting. Not Post-and-Pray.

Biotech and life sciences hiring fails when you treat technical, GxP-affected roles like generic jobs.

Discovery & Role Definition – We start by understanding your science and business model (therapeutic area, modality, platform, or product), where this role sits in the lifecycle (discovery, translational, development, manufacturing, or commercial), your GxP expectations, key technologies and techniques used in the lab or production environment, and what success looks like over the next 6–24 months.
Market Mapping & Calibration – Before we send candidates, we map the talent pool by location, seniority, and compensation, identify target company and institute types (big pharma, nimble biotech, diagnostics, CRO/CDMO, academic spin-outs), and align on how much you need from “must have done this exact thing before” vs “strong adjacent experience and upside,” so expectations are realistic on both sides.
Targeted Sourcing, Not Just Job Boards – We focus on candidates who have actually worked with relevant modalities, technologies, and stages (cell & gene therapy, biologics, NGS, IVD, regulated devices, etc.), using direct outreach, scientific and industry networks, specialized job boards, and our own database of life sciences professionals—instead of just posting a generic ad and hoping the right profile appears.
Scientific, Technical & Behavioral Screening – We tailor screening to each function, covering hands-on techniques, platform experience, and development-stage familiarity (e.g., in vivo work, assay development, process scale-up, QC/QA in GMP, design control for devices), as well as comfort in cross-functional, fast-changing environments and ability to communicate clearly with scientists, clinicians, regulators, and commercial stakeholders—so by the time you meet them, you’re seeing candidates vetted for both scientific depth and practical fit.

Whether you’re adding a single research associate, standing up a new platform team, or searching for your next Head of R&D or CMC, ControlHire’s Biotech & Life Sciences practice is built to filter deeper, move faster, and help you control what you can—and hire better.

Hiring?