Director, Bioconjugation

Scorpion Therapeutics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life, and LTD

Flexible Time Off

11 paid holidays

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics seeks a Director of Bioconjugation to shape strategy across ADC and antibody–RNA conjugates. You will lead a team of bioconjugation scientists, set conjugation strategy and partner with Chemistry on linker–payload design across small molecule cytotoxic payloads, oligonucleotide payloads, and dual‑payload formats.

The role builds platform capabilities and drives conjugate strategy from target selection through candidate nomination and transition to development, collaborating

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s 15+ years OR Master’s 12+ years OR PhD 8+ years; 6+ years leadership.
• Degree in relevant scientific discipline.
• Deep hands-on bioconjugation expertise (cysteine/lysine, site-specific/enzymatic, click/bioorthogonal; linker design).
• Experience with cytotoxic small‑molecule ADCs; antibody–RNA/oligonucleotide conjugates; degrader‑antibody/dual‑payload architectures.
• Experience with highly potent small‑molecule payloads (safe handling/containment).
• Program leadership (advance candidates to nomination/clinical development).
• Ability to interpret analytical data (RP‑HPLC, SEC, HIC, IEX, LC‑MS/HRMS, CE‑SDS).
• Excellent communication; influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead bioconjugation team; set scientific direction and deploy resources to portfolio priorities.
• Co-develop enterprise bioconjugation strategy with Global Chemistry (chemistry selection, site‑specificity, DAR distribution).
• Lead/co‑lead discovery program teams; own conjugate design and delivery strategy from concept to candidate selection/transition.
• Partner across Discovery Chemistry, Biologics/Protein Engineering, Discovery Biology/Translational Sciences, DMPK, Toxicology, Development; manage external relationships.
• Represent bioconjugation in governance/portfolio reviews; ensure discovery choices are manufacturable and analytically tractable.
• Champion data capture/standardization and computational/ML‑enabled design.

Skills

Bioconjugation

Leadership

Payload design

Analytical data interpretation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in relevant field

MS in relevant field

Bachelor’s in relevant field

Tools

RP-HPLC

SEC

HIC

IEX

LC-MS/HRMS

CE-SDS

Job description

Position Summary

Director of Bioconjugation to shape bioconjugation strategy across ADC and antibody–RNA conjugate (ARC/AOC) portfolios (antibody-based conjugates). Lead a team of bioconjugation scientists; set conjugation strategy and partner with Chemistry on linker–payload design across small molecule cytotoxic payloads, oligonucleotide payloads, targeted protein degrader payloads, and dual-payload formats. Build platform capabilities and drive conjugate strategy from target selection through candidate nomination and transition to development.

Key Responsibilities

• - Lead bioconjugation team; set scientific direction and deploy resources to portfolio priorities.
• - Co-develop enterprise bioconjugation strategy with Global Chemistry (chemistry selection, site‑specificity, DAR distribution, address oligonucleotide vs small‑molecule chemistry challenges).
• - Lead/co‑lead discovery program teams; own conjugate design and delivery strategy from concept to candidate selection/transition.
• - Partner across functions (Discovery Chemistry, Biologics/Protein Engineering, Discovery Biology/Translational Sciences, DMPK, Toxicology, Development); manage external relationships (academia, technology partners, CROs).
• - Represent bioconjugation in governance/portfolio reviews; ensure discovery choices are manufacturable and analytically tractable.
• - Champion data capture/standardization and computational/ML‑enabled design.

Qualifications

• - Bachelor’s 15+ yrs OR Master’s 12+ yrs OR PhD 8+ yrs; 6+ yrs leadership.
• - Degree in relevant scientific discipline.
• - Deep hands‑on bioconjugation expertise (cysteine/lysine conjugation; site‑specific/enzymatic; click/bioorthogonal; cleavable/non‑cleavable linker design).
• - Experience with cytotoxic small‑molecule ADCs; antibody–RNA/oligonucleotide conjugates; degrader‑antibody/dual‑payload architectures.
• - Experience with highly potent small‑molecule payloads (safe handling/containment).
• - Program leadership (advance candidates to nomination/clinical development).
• - Ability to interpret analytical data (RP‑HPLC, SEC, HIC, IEX, LC‑MS/HRMS, CE‑SDS).
• - Excellent communication; influence senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• - Progressive leadership (8+ yrs) as bioconjugation lead on discovery teams.
• - Oligonucleotide therapeutics depth (siRNA/ASO) for conjugates; glycan‑mediated bioconjugation; targeted protein degradation; dual/multi‑payload orthogonal strategies.
• - CMC/tech‑transfer exposure; IND‑enabling package support; high‑throughput/automated conjugation and computational/ML‑guided design; business development/due diligence; strong scientific reputation.

Benefits (as stated)

• - Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, disability; wellbeing and retirement/financial protection.
• - Flexible Time Off (U.S. exempt) plus 11 paid holidays; other vacation/holiday details for non‑exempt/RayzeBio/PR.