Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where our company has codified its legacy for over a century. Our company's success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare. We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Today, we’re doubling down on this goal to take our company's leading discovery capabilities and world-class small molecule and biologics R&D expertise to create breakthrough science that radically changes the way we approach serious diseases.

Our Research and Development Division San Diego is a new research site through the acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences in 2023. The The goal of our cross-functional San Diego team is cross-functional (Discovery Biologics, Immunology, and Data Science) with the goal to discover and develop novel, innovative therapeutics in the field of Inflammation and Immunology. The Discovery Biologics Department is seeking an exceptional and experienced scientist candidate to drive biologics discovery, protein production, purification, engineering, and characterization.  The role is a key interface with Immunology and other drug discovery and development scientists and functions within across our company as well as with external academic and industrial partners.  

The successful candidate will lead projects from discovery to start of IND-enabling studies, with focus on antibodies, bispecific molecules, and evaluation of novel biologic platforms.

We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with a diverse group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Discovery Biologics representative / co-lead to advance programs from early discovery to start of IND-enabling studies.

• Manage the production and purification of antibodies in mammalian cell lines including transient HEK, CHO and other methods as needed.

• Lead a small team that supports drug discovery programs through design, engineering, and characterization of biologics, including antibodies and bispecific molecules.

• Train and develop junior scientists.

• Drive innovation by contributing to exploratory programs and technology development.

• Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability and inclusion.

• Effectively partner across multidisciplinary interfaces to achieve organizational objectives.

• Stay abreast of external advancements in the relevant scientific fields.

• Promote the external reputation of our company's Discovery Biologics by contributing to publications and conference presentations.

Required education & experience:

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular Biology or related field and minimum of 7 years of industry experience, or a M.S. and a minimum of 10+ years industry experience, or a BS with 14+ years of industry experience.

Required skills & experience:

• Deep scientific knowledge across workflows and domains integral to the discovery of protein therapeutics, including antibody discovery, protein expression/purification, antibody or protein design and engineering, protein characterization and developability assessment.

• Clear evidence of advancing a biotherapeutic programs into the clinic and driving scientific or platform innovations.

• Demonstrated passion for, and a track record of talent development.

• Champion for diverse and inclusive culture.

• Strong external reputation through high-impact publications, presentations, and scientific community engagement.

• Prior experience in leadership and direct/indirect management roles advancing protein therapeutics through discovery and early development.

Preferred skills

• Experienced in protein therapeutics beyond traditional mAbs including alternative non-Ig scaffolds, bi- or multispecifics, and fusion proteins.

• Project leadership experience across Discovery stages, from tool-molecule generation through preclinical development of therapeutic candidates.

• Excellent verbal and written communication ski