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McNamara joined Tectonic from the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), where he rose to the title of head of biotherapeutics and biotechnology over a 16-year spell at the group.

GNF hired McNamara in 2005. After a series of promotions, McNamara reached the role of executive director of biotherapeutics and biotechnology in 2018. The position gave McNamara oversight of 130 scientists and engineers working across most of GNF’s platform technologies.

In his long spell at GNF, McNamara directly contributed to eight clinical candidates, including the FXR agonists LJN452 and LMB763, and was involved in three FDA-approved drugs, including Braftovi and Zykadia. Braftovi, now sold by Pfizer, originated at Novartis, but the Swiss pharma offloaded the BRAF inhibitor as part of its acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline's oncology business.

At Tectonic, McNamara applies his skills to optimize the GEODe platform.