Head of Biologics Engineering

Sotalent; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 333,000; Full time

Job summary

Sotalent seeks a visionary Head of Biologics Engineering & Next-Generation Platform Innovation in Boston to lead discovery-to-development programmes and build scalable biologics tech. You will steer portfolio strategy, mentor talent, and partner across biology, engineering, and translational science to deliver differentiated therapeutics.

The role demands deep expertise in protein therapeutics, multispecific formats, AI-driven design, and automated lab technologies, with a proven record of

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or equivalent advanced scientific qualification in a relevant field.
• Significant leadership experience in biologics R&D within biotech/pharma.
• Proven track record advancing biologics from discovery to development preparation.
• Deep knowledge of protein therapeutics, antibody engineering, or multispecifics.
• Experience building or transforming scientific platforms and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of AI, ML, and computational biology in discovery.

Responsibilities

• Define a long‑term research strategy for emerging biologic medicines and multispecifics.
• Establish scientific priorities balancing innovation and portfolio value.
• Develop a technology roadmap for design, protein optimisation, and translational research.
• Assess new methods, external tech, and partnerships to strengthen capabilities.
• Lead senior scientific discussions and governance reviews.
• Direct discovery programmes from target assessment to IND‑enabling activities.
• Coordinate contributions across biology, engineering, translational science, DMPK, CMC, regulatory, and clinical development.
• Ensure research programmes are supported by robust evidence and clear rationale.
• Allocate resources, identify risks, and maintain milestone delivery.
• Promote early clinical relevance, patient needs, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Demonstrate value of investments through improved discovery timelines.

Skills

Biologics leadership

Strategic planning

Computational biology

AI awareness

Cross-functional leadership

Education

PhD/MD or equivalent

Job description

Head of Biologics Engineering & Next-Generation Platform Innovation

This role combines strategic portfolio leadership with hands‑on scientific direction, overseeing the progression of promising biologic concepts from early research through therapeutic candidate selection and preparation for clinical development. The successful individual will bring extensive experience in protein therapeutics, molecular engineering, and translational research, together with an appreciation of how artificial intelligence, computational modelling, and automated laboratory technologies can transform drug discovery.

A central priority will be to expand the organisation's capabilities beyond conventional antibody therapeutics, creating differentiated approaches to complex biological targets and challenging disease mechanisms. The role requires a leader who can identify promising scientific opportunities, deliver valuable development programmes, and build durable technology capabilities that support future innovation.

The successful candidate will also play a pivotal role in developing scientific talent, strengthening cross‑functional collaboration, and ensuring that technological investments translate into meaningful therapeutic opportunities for patients.

Scientific Strategy and Portfolio Development

• Define a long‑term research strategy for emerging biologic medicines, including multispecific proteins, functionally engineered molecules, and other advanced therapeutic formats.
• Establish scientific priorities that balance innovation, therapeutic potential, development feasibility, and portfolio value.
• Develop an integrated technology roadmap covering molecular design, protein optimisation, translational research, product development considerations, and clinical relevance.
• Assess emerging scientific methods, external technologies, licensing prospects, and partnership opportunities that could strengthen internal capabilities.
• Represent the organisation in senior scientific discussions, strategic planning forums, governance reviews, and external research collaborations.

Research Programme Leadership

• Direct biologic discovery programmes from initial target assessment through molecule optimisation, development candidate selection, and investigational new drug (IND)-enabling activities.
• Apply evidence‑based decision frameworks to evaluate targets, therapeutic formats, candidate molecules, and competing research priorities.
• Coordinate scientific contributions across biology, protein engineering, translational medicine, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), safety, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), regulatory affairs, and clinical development.
• Ensure research programmes are supported by robust biological evidence, a clear therapeutic rationale, meaningful differentiation, and an acceptable development risk profile.
• Allocate resources effectively, identify emerging risks, and maintain delivery against critical scientific and portfolio milestones.
• Promote early consideration of clinical relevance, patient needs, safety, and manufacturing feasibility throughout discovery.

Advanced Protein Engineering and Multispecific Therapeutics

• Establish a scalable research capability for designing and optimising complex biologic molecules with differentiated therapeutic properties.
• Integrate protein engineering, structural analysis, computational modelling, and experimental screening to improve molecular performance.
• Develop design strategies that address potency, target selectivity, tissue distribution, conditional activation, stability, manufacturability, and therapeutic safety margins.
• Identify opportunities to create new therapeutic formats capable of addressing disease mechanisms that are difficult to target with conventional antibodies.
• Establish consistent methods for assessing molecular quality and translating platform discoveries into viable development candidates.
• Demonstrate the value of technology investments through improvements in discovery timelines, candidate quality, and pipeline differentiation.

Computational Discovery and Laboratory Innovation

• Lead the integration of predictive computational methods with experimental protein engineering and advanced screening technologies.
• Collaborate with internal data science specialists and external technology partners to develop computationally guided workflows for molecular design and optimisation.
• Expand the use of laboratory automation, robotics, high‑throughput experimentation, and modern scientific data systems.
• Promote iterative discovery processes in which experimental results inform subsequent computational predictions and design decisions.
• Establish effective approaches to capturing, organising, and reusing research data so that scientific knowledge accumulates across programmes.
• Evaluate emerging artificial intelligence and machine learning applications based on their scientific value, reliability, and potential to improve research productivity.

Organisational Leadership and Talent Development

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary scientific organisation spanning biologic discovery, molecular engineering, computational research, and enabling technologies.
• Recruit and retain highly capable researchers while establishing clear development opportunities for emerging scientific leaders.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, constructive challenge, collaboration, and high scientific standards.
• Establish effective governance arrangements, operating processes, and performance measures for research programmes and technology platforms.
• Develop productive relationships with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, technology providers, and other external scientific organisations.
• Ensure that long‑term platform development remains aligned with immediate research priorities and delivery commitments.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Candidates should demonstrate the following qualifications and capabilities:

• A PhD, MD, or equivalent advanced scientific qualification in a relevant field.
• Significant leadership experience in biologics research and development within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical sector.
• A demonstrated history of progressing therapeutic biologics from early discovery through candidate selection and preclinical development preparation.
• Extensive knowledge of protein therapeutics, antibody engineering, multispecific molecules, computational protein design, or related advanced biologic technologies.
• Experience establishing, expanding, or transforming scientific platforms and multidisciplinary research organisations.
• A strong understanding of artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational biology, and quantitative methods used in therapeutic discovery.
• Evidence of successfully combining computational approaches with laboratory experimentation to improve research decisions and programme outcomes.
• Experience leading complex initiatives across discovery, translational science, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and business functions.
• A proven ability to recruit, motivate, develop, and retain high-performing scientific teams.
• Strong strategic judgement, communication skills, and the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear organisational priorities.

The ideal candidate will combine scientific depth with an entrepreneurial approach to drug discovery. They will be capable of identifying opportunities beyond established therapeutic approaches while maintaining a strong focus on developing medicines with meaningful clinical potential.

They should be comfortable making decisions in evolving scientific environments, bringing together experts from different disciplines, and turning promising technologies into practical research capabilities. Equally important is the ability to inspire teams, challenge established assumptions constructively, and maintain accountability for scientific quality and programme delivery.

The successful leader will understand that technological innovation is most valuable when it produces differentiated therapeutic candidates and improves the likelihood of clinical success.

Performance Objectives

Success in this position will be assessed through scientific, organisational, and portfolio outcomes, including:

• Implementation of a clear strategy for advanced biologic therapeutics and emerging molecular formats.
• Development of a strong, collaborative scientific organisation with effective leadership succession and talent development.
• Advancement of multiple biologic discovery programmes toward development candidate selection and IND‑enabling studies.
• Establishment of a reproducible multispecific molecule discovery capability that creates new therapeutic opportunities.
• Meaningful integration of computational design, AI‑enabled analysis, automated experimentation, and patient‑relevant scientific insights.
• Demonstrable improvements in research efficiency, experimental quality, decision‑making, and the differentiation of development candidates.
• Creation of sustainable discovery technologies that support a continuing pipeline of innovative biologic medicines.

Compensation and Benefits

Primary location: Boston, Massachusetts

Indicative annual base salary: $212,000–$333,190

The salary range represents the anticipated base compensation for this position. The final offer will be determined by several considerations, which may include relevant professional experience, scientific expertise, educational background, specialist credentials, and the location from which the employee will perform their duties.

Compensation will be established in accordance with applicable state and local pay requirements.

Additional employee benefits are available in accordance with the employer's applicable benefits programmes and eligibility policies.