Associate Director - Preclinical Development, Immunology

Terray; Monrovia (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement contribution

Stock options

Job summary

A pioneering biotechnology firm located in California seeks an Associate Director - Preclinical Development in Immunology. The role involves leading a motivated team in assay development, collaborating with biology and chemistry teams to advance small-molecule drug discovery projects. Candidates should have a PhD in immunology, over 10 years of industry experience, and a strong background in immunology and assay development. Compensation ranges from $180,000 to $263,000 annually with extensive benefits and a positive work environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in small-molecule drug discovery.
• Deep expertise in immune signaling pathways and disease mechanisms.
• Hands-on experience with immunological assays.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team in assay development for internal and partner programs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance projects efficiently.
• Develop assay funnels for optimization of inflammation targets.

Skills

Leadership skills

Immunology expertise

Assay development

Collaboration

Data analysis

Problem-solving

Education

PhD in immunology

Tools

Flow cytometry

Cytokine profiling

ELISA

Western blot

Job description

Associate Director - Preclinical Development, Immunology

Company Overview: Terray Therapeutics is a venture-backed biotechnology company led by pioneers and long-time leaders in artificial intelligence, synthetic chemistry, automation, and nanotechnology. We’re regenerating chemical data purpose-built to propel drug discovery into the information age — and we’re redoing it on a larger scale and faster than has ever before been possible.

Our closed loop system generates precise chemical datasets at unrivaled scale that work seamlessly with AI to systematically map biochemical interactions between small molecules and causes of disease. Iterative cycles of virtual molecular design and experimentation power AI and machine learning models, which in turn guide the next cycle of design. With a chemistry engine that measures billions of interactions daily and becomes increasingly precise with every cycle, we can answer an unprecedented array of questions — deriving insights that enable us to predictably create drugs for patients in need.

Position Summary: Terray Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and experienced immunologist to join our biology team. This is a strategic role working closely with the CSO and other leads in the preclinical team and across the company to support our small‑molecule pipeline. In this role, the Associate Director will lead the team responsible for all cell‑based assay development and execution, including hit validation, structure‑activity relationships, and lead optimization. The candidate will provide immunology expertise to evaluate new targets and expand our internal pipeline programs. They will be a pivotal collaborator within a multidisciplinary team. The successful candidate will have a strong background in assay development for inflammation targets in the context of small molecule drug discovery. This role will be full‑time, onsite, and will report to the CSO.

The core responsibilities of this position are:

• Lead a small, highly motivated team of assay scientists who develop and run cell assays in support of internal and partner pipeline programs
• Work closely with scientists across the company in biology, chemistry, platform, screening, data, and computational teams to efficiently advance projects from hit validation through hit‑to‑lead and lead optimization to lead candidate selection
• Develop cell‑based assay funnels to support structure‑activity optimization for our inflammation target portfolio as programs progress to hit‑to‑lead and lead optimization
• Expert understanding of inflammatory pathways as they relate to the target and disease mechanism
• Analyze and interpret experimental data and communicate results in project team meetings

Experience and Qualifications: Part of Terray’s success is nurtured by a hands‑on work environment where everyone is accountable, vested in a vision of excellence, and actively taking part in the success of the business. Terray supports a positive work environment where employees can feel engaged, recognized, and empowered to be creative. They will exhibit the ability to work well under pressure to provide results in a short timeframe. The company is looking for a highly responsive, goal‑oriented individual who will bring significant energy and drive to solve complex technical problems and help us achieve our mission to advance human health.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in the small‑molecule field of immunology with 10+ years of small‑molecule drug discovery industry experience
• Deep expertise in immunology, with a strong understanding of immune signaling pathways, disease mechanisms, and immune modulation strategies
• Extensive experience with small‑molecule drug development from target validation through lead optimization
• Expertise in evaluating novel targets for drug development, including developing a robust screening approach and desired target product profile
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills with demonstrated experience managing a small team of highly motivated scientists
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team and drive program progress; comfortable working on multiple projects in parallel and operating within a matrixed structure
• Hands‑on experience in developing and optimizing a range on immunological assays (Flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, ELISA, Luminescence/fluorescence-based, Western blot, immunoprecipitation, etc.) and measuring small molecule inhibition (IC50) is required
• Demonstrated technical proficiency, attention to detail, ability to troubleshoot and solve problems, and to deliver high‑quality data
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, and can thrive in a highly collaborative research environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands‑on experience with lab automation, high‑throughput screening (384‑well format), or liquid handling systems is preferred

Compensation Details: $180,000 - $263,000 (annually) depending on skill level; participation in the Company’s option plan; 3% retirement safe harbor contribution; fully paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.