Director, Antibody Engineering and Discovery

iBio, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 184,000 - 244,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

iBio, Inc. in San Diego seeks an experienced scientific leader to direct the Antibody Engineering and Discovery team, overseeing expression, purification, engineering, and screening.

You will drive programs from discovery through lead optimization, delivering well-characterized molecules for in vivo proof-of-concept studies with translational teams. The ideal candidate brings deep antibody engineering expertise and broad biologics drug discovery experience, including multispecific antibodies,

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant field with extensive biotechnology industry experience.
• Track record advancing antibodies from discovery to in vivo proof-of-concept.
• Experience designing multispecific antibodies and antibody–peptide conjugates.
• Demonstrated leadership of scientific teams and cross-functional collaboration.
• Expertise in protein expression, purification, and cell-based screening within antibody discovery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Antibody Engineering and Discovery team, setting priorities and objectives across production, engineering, and screening.
• Own progression of platform-derived antibodies from initial characterization to lead selection and in vivo readiness.
• Design and optimize antibody–peptide fusions and conjugates; select architectures, sites, and linkers based on activity and developability.
• Oversee construct design, mammalian expression, purification, and production of research-grade molecules for screening and in vivo studies.
• Lead robust cell-based assays for screening, hit confirmation, and lead optimization with binding and functional readouts.
• Integrate binding, kinetics, and biophysical data to guide molecule selection and developability assessments.

Skills

Antibody engineering

Team leadership

Mammalian expression

Purification

Cell-based assays

Protein purification

Biologics discovery

Education

PhD preferred

Biotech degree

Tools

Chromatography

Mass spectrometry

SPR/BLI

Job description

iBio is an AI-driven innovator developing therapies for cardiometabolic, obesity, and cardiopulmonary diseases. iBio’s mission is to decrease drug failures, shorten development timelines, and open up new frontiers against the most promising therapeutic targets. iBio is based in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit www.ibioinc.com.

Join Our Growing Team

We are seeking an experienced scientific leader to direct our Antibody Engineering and Discovery team, overseeing protein expression, purification, molecular engineering, characterization, and functional screening. This role will lead programs from antibody sequences and hits emerging from iBio’s discovery platform through lead optimization and delivery of well-characterized molecules for in vivo proof-of-concept studies with the translational team.

The ideal candidate combines deep antibody engineering expertise with broad biologics drug discovery experience and strong technical expertise in cell-based assays. Experience developing multispecific antibodies, antibody-peptide fusions, and peptide conjugates is central to the role. This leader will combine team management with direct scientific problem-solving to advance differentiated molecules across conventional and emerging biologic formats.

This role reports to the Vice President, Research and Early Development and is based onsite in San Diego, CA.

• Lead and develop the Antibody Engineering and Discovery team, establishing clear priorities, roles, objectives, and accountability across protein production, engineering, and screening activities.
• Own the progression of platform-derived antibodies from initial characterization through engineering, lead selection, and readiness for in vivo proof of concept. Define stage-appropriate decision criteria and resolve key scientific and technical risks.
• Lead the design and optimization of antibody-peptide fusions and peptide conjugates, integrating protein engineering, peptide pharmacology, and conjugation chemistry. Select molecular architectures, attachment sites, and linkers based on functional activity, stability, exposure, and developability. Advance monoclonal antibodies, multispecifics, and other complex formats as program priorities require.
• Oversee construct design, mammalian expression, purification, and production of research-grade molecules. Troubleshoot low yield, mispaired chains, aggregates, fragments, and other product-related impurities, and deliver material of suitable quality and quantity for screening and in vivo studies.
• Lead development and execution of robust cell-based assays for antibody screening, hit confirmation, and lead optimization, including binding, receptor signaling, agonism or antagonism, and disease-relevant functional readouts.
• Integrate binding kinetics, potency, selectivity, epitope information, and biophysical data to guide molecule selection. Assess developability, including solubility, aggregation, thermal and storage stability, and peptide or linker integrity.
• Partner with platform, computational, and structural biology teams to translate sequence and structural insights into testable engineering hypotheses and efficient design-build-test cycles.
• Partner with the translational team to define species cross-reactivity, surrogate needs, functional benchmarks, and material requirements for in vivo studies. Establish a clear handoff supported by reproducible potency, identity, purity, stability, endotoxin control, and compatibility with dosing conditions.
• Collaborate with CMC and early development colleagues to identify manufacturability and downstream development risks early and support transfer of constructs, methods, and characterization data as programs advance.
• Recruit, coach, and retain scientific talent; manage external laboratories, CROs, and specialized chemistry partners; and plan budgets, capacity, and timelines across competing programs.
• Present data, program updates, and recommendations to senior leadership. Maintain rigorous documentation and data integrity, contribute to intellectual property, and perform other duties consistent with the scope and level of the role.

Experience

• BS/BA, MS/MA, or PhD in protein engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or a related field, with 15+, 13+, or 8+ years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, respectively. A PhD is preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing therapeutic antibodies from discovery hits through engineering and lead optimization to molecules suitable for in vivo proof of concept.
• Substantial experience designing and optimizing multispecific antibodies, with direct experience in antibody-peptide fusions and/or peptide conjugates and the ability to lead both formats.
• Demonstrated technical leadership in protein expression, purification, analytical characterization, and cell-based screening within antibody discovery programs.
• Experience leading and developing scientific teams, managing external partners, and driving cross-functional decisions in a matrixed biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment.

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Deep expertise in antibody engineering, including sequence optimization, affinity and specificity tuning, humanization, Fc engineering, and the design and troubleshooting of multispecific architectures.
• Strong understanding of peptide fusion and conjugation approaches, including attachment sites, linkers, conjugation stoichiometry, payload accessibility, stability, and preservation of antibody and peptide function.
• Expertise in mammalian protein expression, chromatography-based purification, and analytical methods to assess identity, purity, integrity, aggregation, and stability, such as SEC, CE-SDS, and mass spectrometry.
• Expertise in designing, troubleshooting, and interpreting cell-based assays for screening and discovery. Ability to select appropriate cell systems, establish controls, interpret concentration-response relationships, and distinguish target-mediated activity from assay artifacts.
• Strong working knowledge of binding and kinetic assays, such as SPR or BLI, and the ability to integrate biochemical, biophysical, and cellular data into lead-selection decisions.
• Broad understanding of biologics drug discovery, including mechanism of action, target biology, translational relevance, early PK/PD considerations, and the tradeoffs between potency, selectivity, exposure, and developability.
• Sound scientific judgment, effective people leadership, and clear communication. Ability to prioritize experiments, manage risk and resources, and operate with urgency in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Preferred

• Experience with antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, targeted delivery approaches, or other nontraditional antibody formats, including assessment of conjugate integrity, cellular uptake, and functional delivery.
• Experience engineering receptor agonists or antibody-peptide therapeutics for obesity, cardiometabolic disease, cardiopulmonary disease, or related indications.
• Experience with primary cells or physiologically relevant cellular models, assay miniaturization, automation, and high-throughput screening workflows.
• Familiarity with structure-guided and computational protein design, strategies to reduce immunogenicity risk, and early CMC considerations for complex biologics.
• Experience in a small biotechnology company and a record of contributing to patents, publications, or development candidate selection.

California Base Salary Range

The expected annual base salary range for this position is $184,040.00 to $243,960.00, plus bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base salary range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by various factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant, years of relevant experience, job-related skills, relevant education attained, work location, and organizational needs. This range may be modified in the future. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.

What We Offer

We provide competitive and comprehensive benefits to our employees. Below are some highlights of our benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Flexible time off and seven designated holidays each calendar year
• 401(k) with Company match as described in plan documents
• Life insurance and short-term and long-term disability insurance

EEO Statement

iBio is proud of its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

iBio is committed to helping individuals with disabilities to participate in the workforce and ensure equal opportunity to compete for jobs. If you require an accommodation to submit a resume for positions at iBio, please email [e-mail] for further assistance. Please note that this email address is intended only to request an accommodation as part of the application process. Any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Notice to Recruiters

Thank you for your interest in iBio and our recruitment opportunities. Recruiting and employment are managed through the Human Resources Department. iBio requires a signed agreement to be in place prior to the presentation of any candidates. We ask that recruiters and agencies do not contact or solicit employees or managers in an attempt to present candidates. iBio will not be obligated or responsible for any requested fees for candidate resumes that are unsolicited and/or submitted to hiring managers without a written agreement between iBio and any recruiters or agencies.