Principal Scientist

Career Category

Job Description

Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients

At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas –Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease– we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Principal Scientist

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will build, optimize, and scale the molecular characterization engines behind our GEM platform—bringing rigor, innovation, and technical leadership to the science that powers our research pipeline.

Key Responsibilities:

Genotyping, Molecular Characterization & Assay Development

• Design, develop, and execute genotyping and characterization assays using ddPCR, qPCR, long-read sequencing (ONT), and NGS platforms.
• Develop and implement validation strategies, including:
o Off-target analysis (e.g., CRISPR specificity, rhAmpSeq or similar approaches)
o Copy number variation (CNV) and zygosity determination
o Structural variant and insertion site mapping
o Allele configuration confirmation across model types
• Perform comprehensive characterization of GEMs, including CRISPR-engineered knockout, knock-in, conditional, large insertions, and complex multi-gene models.
• Integrate molecular and sequencing data to generate high-confidence conclusions and support delivery of fully characterized, high-quality models.

Technology Development & Automation

• Drive implementation and optimization of high-throughput workflows, including liquid handling automation and integrated genotyping pipelines.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to enhance model characterization, throughput, and data quality.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of genotyping pipelines and sequencing-based workflows.
• Collaborate with bioinformatics and data teams, where applicable, to support data analysis workflows.

Instrumentation & Lab Infrastructure

• Apply technical expertise to the setup, optimization, and troubleshooting of key instrumentation platforms (e.g., ddPCR systems, ONT platforms, fragment analyzers, automation systems).
• Contribute to development and maintenance of SOPs, instrument logs, and performance tracking.
• Contribute to building scalable lab infrastructure to support increasing GEM portfolio complexity.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the GEM Lead to support execution of the GEM platform and associated workflows.
• Collaborate with Comparative Medicine, Therapeutic Areas, Functional Genomics, and external CROs to ensure coordination of activities.
• Act as a scientific resource to cross-functional teams in support of model validation strategies and risk assessment.
• Communicate clearly and proactively to support alignment on timelines, deliverables, and workflow dependencies.

Operational Excellence & Data Integrity

• Support implementation of sample tracking, data management, and reporting systems (e.g., Benchling or equivalent ELN platforms).
• Ensure accurate documentation and traceability from experimental design through model validation.
• Contribute to defining QC checkpoints that maintain scientific standards and reduce downstream risk.

Scientific Contribution & Knowledge Sharing

• Share expertise and contribute to training of lab personnel in genotyping and molecular workflows.
• Contribute to development of best practices and standardized workflows.
• Contribute to scientific and technical documentation (e.g., study reports, internal documentation, or publications) as appropriate.

Ethical & Scientific Stewardship

• Ensure work aligns with animal welf