Associate Director/Scientific Leader, Protein Design and Informatics

GlaxoSmithKline; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 114,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical company seeks an Associate Director/Scientific Leader in Protein Design and Informatics to drive drug discovery through advanced computational methods. The successful candidate will develop and implement predictive models while fostering a collaborative team environment. Candidates should possess a PhD in relevant fields and significant industry experience. This position offers a competitive salary, annual bonus, and supports hybrid working practices.

Benefits

Annual bonus based on performance

Healthcare and wellbeing programmes

Pension plan membership

Shares and savings programmes

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in relevant fields with 3+ years of industry experience.
• Prior experience working as a team lead or in a matrix environment.
• Experience working across scientific and technical disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational methods and predictive models for drug discovery.
• Collaborate with departments to enhance team culture and efficiency.

Skills

Protein structural or sequence analysis

Python programming

Team lead experience

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent in Bioinformatics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Structural Biology

Job description

Overview

Site Name: UK - Hertfordshire - Stevenage, USA - California - San Francisco, USA - Massachusetts - Cambridge, USA - Pennsylvania - Upper Providence

Posted Date: Jan 28 2026

As an Associate Director/Scientific Leader in the Protein Design and Informatics (PDI) team, you will focus on developing, integrating, and embedding bleeding edge computational methods and predictive in silico models that drive the discovery of new medicines and vaccines. This work is part of the larger Data, Automation, and Predictive Sciences (DAPS) department, with an initiative to research and implement new methods for automating the entire Design-Make-Test-Analyze cycle, impacting target discovery to the clinic across all stages of a therapeutic project.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with many departments across GSK, building a high-performing, collaborative, curious, agile, quality-driven team culture with peer review and continuous improvement, focused on creating medicines for patients.

We strive to create a place where people can grow, be safe, feel welcome, valued, and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programmes. We embrace modern work practises with a hybrid working model to balance remote and in-office work.

Discover more about our company-wide benefits and life at GSK on our Life at GSK page.

Why you?

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

• PhD or equivalent in Bioinformatics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Structural Biology, or related fields with 3+ years of industry experience
• Experience in protein structural or sequence analysis
• Experience in one or more programming languages (e.g. Python)
• Prior experience working as a team lead or in a matrix environment
• Experience working across scientific and technical disciplines to deliver impactful solutions

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus

• Experience developing or applying modern ML architectures for protein design models (LLMs, diffusion models, flow-matching, Bayesian Optimization, GNNs, etc.)
• Experience designing de novo binders for specified targets and epitopes
• Experience with cloud engineering, production-ready robust and scalable scientific workflows
• Experience building and deploying agentic workflows
• Experience analyzing NGS-derived antibody repertoires for sequence- and structure-based design
• Experience predicting structures of RNA or nucleic acid-protein complexes
• Experience with molecular simulation and conformational analysis techniques
• Demonstrated learning agility and scientific curiosity while maintaining focus on impact amid uncertainty and change
• Ability to generate conclusion reports, present data in team meetings, and contribute to abstracts and publications for the scientific community

#LI-GSK

Based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, salary ranges for this position are $157,575 to $262,625 annually. The US salary ranges consider factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and market rate. This position offers an annual bonus and eligibility for a long-term incentive program based on role level. Available benefits include health care and other insurance for employee and family, retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, compensation will be discussed during recruitment.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, focusing on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases. We are committed to creating an environment where people can thrive, with a culture of ambition for patients, accountability for impact, and doing the right thing.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any basis prohibited by law.

We support an agile working culture for all roles. If flexibility is important to you, discuss opportunities with our hiring team.

For adjustments in the process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities, contact [e-mail] for a call. If your inquiry is not about adjustments, refer to the Recruitment FAQ guide. The link provides answers to common questions.

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