Principal Scientist - Induced Proximity Medicinal Chemistry

Amgen Inc.; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards Plan

Stock-based long-term incentives

Flexible work models

Award-winning time-off plans

Job summary

Amgen Inc. is seeking a Principal Scientist in Thousand Oaks to lead medicinal chemistry programs focused on induced‑proximity modalities, including PROTACs and molecular glues. The role combines hands‑on synthesis with design strategy and cross‑functional collaboration to drive discovery and development.

You will guide SAR/SPR, interpret complex datasets, and address challenges in tissue distribution and DMPK while mentoring teams and contributing to publications and patents.

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree and 2 years of scientific experience, or Master's degree and 5 years of scientific experience, or Bachelor's degree and 7 years of scientific experience

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize high-quality small molecules across proximity modalities
• Lead SAR and structure‑property‑activity relationships integrating potency and PK
• Collaborate with biology, biophysics, proteomics, and translational science teams
• Develop strategies addressing molecular weight, permeability, and E3‑ligase engagement
• Mentor scientists and external partners; ensure rigorous experimental design and data integrity
• Publish results and contribute to patents and external collaborations

Skills

Medicinal chemistry

PROTACs

Molecular glue

SAR

Leadership

Education

Doctorate in organic/medicinal chemistry

Job description

Career Category Scientific Job Description

Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do. Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas –Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease– we reach millions of patients each year. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives. Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Principal Scientist - Induced Proximity Medicinal Chemistry

What you will do.

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role, you will be part of an innovative Medicinal Chemistry group, designing and advancing small‑molecule induced‑proximity medicines for potential clinical development. You will apply strong hands‑on synthetic and medicinal chemistry expertise to PROTACs, molecular glue degraders, and other proximity‑based modalities, integrating molecular design with an understanding of ternary‑complex biology, target engagement, protein degradation or functional modulation, and drug‑like properties. This is an onsite laboratory position at our Thousand Oaks site.

• Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize high-quality small molecules across relevant proximity modalities, including heterobifunctional degraders, molecular glues, and emerging targeted‑chimera approaches
• Apply sound strategy to target ligands, E3 ligase or recruiter ligands, linker architecture, attachment vectors, and property-modulating elements
• Devise and implement state‑of‑the‑art medicinal chemistry research for induced‑proximity programs, including detailed experimental plans, decision criteria, and expected results, from hit finding through development‑candidate nomination
• Lead hypothesis-driven SAR and structure‑property‑activity relationships that integrate potency, degradation or functional response, selectivity, cooperativity, ternary‑complex behavior, target engagement, permeability, solubility, metabolic stability, pharmacokinetics, and developability
• Collaborate closely with chemical biology, structural biology, biophysics, proteomics, cell biology, DMPK, safety, translational sciences, and computational chemistry colleagues to interpret complex datasets, resolve mechanism and selectivity questions, and guide molecular design
• Develop practical strategies to address modality‑specific medicinal chemistry challenges, including molecular weight and polarity, linker conformational control, permeability and efflux, oral exposure, tissue distribution, E3‑ligase expression and engagement, neosubstrate risk, hook effect, and durable pharmacology
• Maintain awareness of the induced-proximity landscape, including emerging proximity mechanisms, E3 ligases and other recruiters, chemical biology tools, assays, relevant publications, and patent activity; identify opportunities that strengthen the portfolio and platform
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to scientists, research associates, and external chemistry partners; ensure rigorous experimental design, data integrity, documentation, safe laboratory practice, and timely execution
• Generate scientific results that support high-impact publications, patents, conference presentations, and productive external collaborations

The qualified professional we seek is a Principal Scientist with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree and 2 years of scientific experience, or Master's degree and 5 years of scientific experience, or Bachelor's degree and 7 years of scientific experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, or a closely related discipline, with 6+ years of experience in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry
• Demonstrated experience designing, synthesizing, and optimizing induced‑proximity medicines, particularly PROTACs and/or molecular glue degraders; experience with additional targeted‑chimera modalities, is highly desirable
• Strong command of modern medicinal and synthetic chemistry approaches, including the efficient preparation of complex, highly functionalized small molecules and the use of parallel synthesis, route design, purification, and analytical characterization to accelerate SAR
• Ability to translate integrated biology, biophysical, biochemical, proteomics, cellular, DMPK, and in vivo data into actionable compound‑design hypotheses; familiarity with degradation metrics such as DC50, Dmax, kinetics, selectivity, and exposure‑response relationships
• Deep understanding of discovery disciplines relevant to induced proximity, including chemical biology, structural biology, biophysics, cellular pharmacology, DMPK, safety, and translational science
• Extensive record of impactful drug‑discovery accomplishments, demonstrated through patent inventorship, peer‑reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and successful cross‑functional collaboration
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, sound scientific judgment, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to mentor colleagues and influence decisions across a matrixed organization

What you can expect from us

From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
• A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales‑based incentive plan
• Stock‑based long‑term incentives
• Award‑winning time‑off plans
• Flexible work models, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, where possible

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age‑identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Application deadline Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Salary Range 144,755.00USD -195,845.00 USD

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen