HEAD OF BIOINFORMATICS / COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Maxion Therapeutics Ltd; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Maxion Therapeutics Ltd recherche un Head of Bioinformatics/Computational Biology pour diriger les approches guidées par l'IA et la structure dans la conception d'anticorps thérapeutiques. Ce rôle unique offre l'opportunité de bâtir de nouvelles capacités dès le départ et d'aider à façonner une fonction croissante au sein de l'entreprise. Un candidat idéal aura un PhD ou une expérience dans un domaine pertinent et sera prêt à assumer un rôle de leadership tout en étant impliqué dans l'exécution.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Generous pension contribution

Private Life and Medical Insurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Participation in company Share Option Scheme

On site parking

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• PhD ou expérience équivalente en biologie computationnelle.
• Compétences techniques solides et expérience avec des biologiques.
• Capacité à diriger et à aider à construire une nouvelle capacité.

Responsibilities

• Diriger le développement de l'approche bioinformatique pour le design d'anticorps.
• Travailler avec des équipes internes et externes sur des programmes de découverte.
• Jouer un rôle clé dans le recrutement et le mentorat de nouvelles recrues.

Skills

Strong programming skills

Experience with bioinformatics or ML toolkits

Deep understanding of protein structure

Strong communication skills

Proactive problem-solving

Education

PhD in computational biology or related field

Tools

Python

R

AlphaFold

RFdiffusion

Job description

HEAD OF BIOINFORMATICS / COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Pampisford , Cambridge

About Maxion

Maxion Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing antibody-based drugs for previously untreatable ion channel- and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven diseases, including autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and cardiovascular disease.

The Company is developing a pipeline of potentially first- and best-in-class therapeutics using its proprietary KnotBody technology to generate potent, selective, and long-acting therapeutics by combining naturally occurring mini-proteins ('knottins') with antibodies using state-of-the-art phage and mammalian display technologies.

Maxion was founded in 2020 by highly respected biotech entrepreneurs and scientists Dr John McCafferty, CTO and Dr Aneesh Karatt-Vellatt, CSO. Dr McCafferty previously co-invented antibody phage display, which was the subject of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to his co-inventor Sir Gregory Winter. Maxion's portfolio and growth is being advanced by a team of highly experienced leaders in the discovery and development of antibody-based drugs. The Company is based near Cambridge, UK and is backed by international blue-chip investors. For more information, please visit:

https://www.maxiontherapeutics.com/.

About the Role

We are seeking a talented, hands-on Head of Bioinformatics/Computational Biology to lead the development of AI- and structure-guided approaches to therapeutic antibody and KnotBody design. This is a unique opportunity for someone who is excited to roll up their sleeves, build new capabilities from the ground up, and help shape a growing function within Maxion.

The successful candidate will lead the full-scale buildout of Maxion's bioinformatics framework and will work closely with both internal R&D teams and external collaborators to drive forward discovery programmes. They will also play a key role in hiring and mentoring additional team members as the company grows.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have a PhD (or equivalent industry experience) in computational biology, structural bioinformatics, protein engineering, or a related field, and be ready to step into a leadership role while remaining hands-on in execution.

Experience working with biologics, particularly therapeutic antibodies, is essential.

You should bring strong technical skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced biotech environment. Experience building or leading small teams is highly desirable.

Essential Skills

• Strong programming skills (e.g. Python, R) and experience with bioinformatics or ML toolkits.
• Proven ability to independently design and execute computational strategies in protein or antibody engineering.
• Deep understanding of protein structure, sequence-function relationships, and modelling approaches.
• Comfortable with tools like AlphaFold, RFdiffusion, or similar generative or inverse folding models.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Willingness to be hands-on, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and iteration.
• Experience mentoring or managing others, or clear potential to grow into a team leadership role.
• Interest in building and leading a growing computational function in a mission-driven biotech.

Preferred skills/experience

• Publication(s) in relevant peer-reviewed journals, ideally focused on antibody design, AI-driven protein modelling, or non-standard scaffolds (e.g. knottins, minibinders, etc.).
• Experience applying generative or structure-based models to challenging target classes (e.g. ion channels, GPCRs).
• Familiarity with deploying or adapting models such as AlphaFold, RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, or inverse folding methods in a drug discovery context.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary based on experience
• A comprehensive benefits package including generous pension contribution, Private Life and Medical Insurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, participation in the company Share Option Scheme, on site parking and more.
• Significant opportunities for career progression within a dynamic company.
• Located in a state-of-the art Science Park with easy access to Cambridge by car, train and bus, and offering on-site gym, cafe, and a vibrant social community.
• Working alongside an innovative team of scientists, including the founders, who are Key Opinion Leaders in the field.
• A supportive work environment with a key focus on fostering collaborative working environment within a friendly team.

To apply for this position, just click on the link to upload your CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for this role, including your salary expectations. Due to data safety, please do not email or apply via direct messaging.

This is a permanent position.