Head of Biologics Engineering & Next-Generation Platform Innovation

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 333,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Boston, MA seeks a visionary Head of Biologics Engineering & Next-Generation Platform Innovation to lead end-to-end biologics strategy beyond traditional antibodies, spanning design, developability, translational science, and AI-enabled discovery.

You will build a world-class multispecific platform, drive IND-enabling programs, and develop talent while partnering with R&D leadership to deliver durable pipeline value.

Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent scientific training in a relevant discipline.
• Extensive leadership experience in biologics discovery and development within the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated success advancing biologics programs from discovery through candidate selection and IND-enabling stages.
• Deep expertise in biologics engineering, antibody therapeutics, multispecific formats, protein design, or related next-generation modalities.
• Proven experience building and scaling scientific platforms, technology organizations, or multidisciplinary discovery teams.
• Strong understanding of AI, computational biology, machine learning, and data-driven approaches to drug discovery.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate computational and experimental sciences to accelerate decision making and program success.
• Track record of leading effectively across scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, and business functions.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and inspire high-performing scientific organizations.

Responsibilities

• Define the scientific vision, strategy, and portfolio framework for biologics beyond traditional monoclonal antibodies.
• Build a differentiated platform strategy spanning molecule design, engineering, developability, manufacturability, translational science, and clinical application.
• Identify and evaluate transformative technologies, external partnerships, licensing opportunities, and strategic collaborations.
• Serve as a senior scientific leader and trusted advisor to executive leadership, governance committees, and the external scientific community.
• Lead biologics programs from target validation through lead optimization, candidate nomination, and IND-enabling development.
• Drive rigorous, data-driven decision making across targets, modalities, molecules, and portfolios.
• Integrate expertise across discovery biology, protein engineering, translational medicine, DMPK, safety, CMC, regulatory, and clinical development.
• Ensure programs are grounded in strong human biology, clear differentiation, robust developability, and a compelling probability of technical and clinical success.
• Balance scientific ambition, portfolio prioritization, risk management, resource investment, and executional excellence.
• Create scalable multispecific biologics platform and advance AI-enabled design approaches.

Skills

Biologics leadership

Biologics engineering

Antibody therapeutics

Multispecific formats

Protein design

AI & computational biology

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional leadership

Scientific leadership

Education

Ph.D./M.D. or equivalent

Tools

Computational design

AI platforms

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an exceptional scientific leader to join the Global Biologics Leadership Team as Head of Biologics Engineering & Next-Generation Platform Innovation.

This leader will define and execute the strategy for next-generation biologics beyond conventional monoclonal antibodies, while driving programs from early discovery through candidate selection and IND-enabling development. They will combine deep expertise in biologics discovery, engineering, and translational science with emerging capabilities in AI-driven design, computational biology, and automated experimentation to build a differentiated and sustainable innovation engine.

The successful candidate will bring a strong Drug Hunter mindset, a track record of delivering impactful pipeline assets, and the vision to create platform capabilities that accelerate the discovery of transformative medicines. They will be responsible for advancing both near-term program value and long-term technology leadership while developing the next generation of biologics scientists and leaders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Define and Lead the Next Generation of Biologics Innovation

• Establish the scientific vision, strategy, and portfolio framework for biologics beyond traditional monoclonal antibodies, including multispecific, conditionally active, multi functional and highly developable emerging biologic modalities.
• Build a differentiated platform strategy spanning molecule design, engineering, developability, manufacturability, translational science, and clinical application.
• Identify and evaluate transformative technologies, external partnerships, licensing opportunities, and strategic collaborations.
• Serve as a senior scientific leader and trusted advisor to executive leadership, governance committees, and the external scientific community.

2. Deliver High-Impact Programs from Discovery to IND

• Lead biologics programs from target validation through lead optimization, candidate nomination, and IND-enabling development.
• Drive rigorous, data-driven decision making across targets, modalities, molecules, and portfolios.
• Integrate expertise across discovery biology, protein engineering, translational medicine, DMPK, safety, CMC, regulatory, and clinical development.
• Ensure programs are grounded in strong human biology, clear differentiation, robust developability, and a compelling probability of technical and clinical success.
• Balance scientific ambition, portfolio prioritization, risk management, resource investment, and executional excellence.

3. Build a World-Class Multispecific Biologics Platform

• Create a scalable discovery and engineering platform capable of generating differentiated multispecific biologics with superior pharmacological and translational properties.
• Advance next-generation design approaches through the integration of protein engineering, structural biology, computational design, AI-enabled molecule generation, and advanced screening technologies.
• Establish design principles that optimize potency, specificity, conditional activity, tissue selectivity, manufacturability, and therapeutic index.
• Translate platform innovation into measurable gains in speed, quality, differentiation, and pipeline productivity.

4. Establish an AI- and Automation-Enabled Biologics Engineering Engine

• Partnering with external and Takeda AI leaders, build a computational prediction driven, display technology enabled lead optimization and engineering workflow to convert early biologics lead molecules to transformative lead candidates.
• Drive adoption of automation, robotics, high-throughput experimentation, modern laboratory informatics, and closed-loop discovery systems.
• Develop an enterprise knowledge framework that enables biological, experimental, clinical, and program insights to compound over time.

5. Build Talent and Shape Organizational Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional talent across biologics discovery, protein engineering,
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, accountability, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity.
• Develop future scientific leaders while balancing platform investment with delivery of pipeline milestones.
• Establish effective operating models, governance mechanisms, and external scientific networks that enhance organizational performance.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent scientific training in a relevant discipline.
• Extensive leadership experience in biologics discovery and development within the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated success advancing biologics programs from discovery through candidate selection and IND-enabling stages.
• Deep expertise in biologics engineering, antibody therapeutics, multispecific formats, protein design, or related next-generation modalities.
• Proven experience building and scaling scientific platforms, technology organizations, or multidisciplinary discovery teams.
• Strong understanding of AI, computational biology, machine learning, and data-driven approaches to drug discovery.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate computational and experimental sciences to accelerate decision making and program success.
• Track record of leading effectively across scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, and business functions.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and inspire high-performing scientific organizations.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is a visionary Drug Hunter and platform builder who combines deep scientific expertise with strategic leadership. They are equally energized by creating breakthrough technologies and delivering medicines that matter to patients. They thrive in ambiguity, build high-performing teams, challenge conventional thinking, and transform emerging science into sustainable competitive advantage and pipeline impact.

Measures of Success

• A differentiated next-generation biologics strategy adopted across the organization.
• A highly engaged, high-performing multidisciplinary scientific team.
• Multiple biologics programs advancing toward candidate selection and IND-enabling development.
• A validated multispecific biologics platform generating differentiated pipeline opportunities.
• Seamless integration of AI, computational design, patient insights, and automated experimentation into discovery workflows.
• Measurable improvements in discovery productivity, decision quality, program differentiation, and probability of success.
• A sustainable innovation engine generating transformative biologics beyond conventional monoclonal antibodies.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$212,000.00 - $333,190.00

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

For information about our benefits, please click here.

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in 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, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Boston, MA

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt YesIt is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.