Principal Scientist, Inflammation

Amgen; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Discretionary annual bonus

Stock-based long-term incentives

Flexible work models

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Amgen in South San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Principal Scientist in Inflammation to lead discovery and translational biology efforts for a novel immune-targeting platform focused on autoimmune diseases. The role emphasizes in vitro and ex vivo immune assays, in vivo pharmacology, and integration of datasets to shape candidate selection and progression.

Collaborate across discovery biology, protein engineering, delivery sciences, and translational safety to advance therapeutic candidates toward

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree (PhD) as a basic qualification.
• PharmD is an alternative basic qualification.
• MD with relevant post-doc and 2+ years of drug discovery or academic experience.
• Master’s degree with 5+ years in drug discovery or academic settings.
• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years in drug discovery or academic settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead in vitro and ex vivo strategy for a next-gen immune-targeting platform, establishing experimental approaches to evaluate immune activity and target cell modulation.
• Design and execute in vivo studies to assess lymphocyte-mediated depletion, immune pharmacology, and durability of responses in inflammatory models.
• Develop and optimize in vitro and ex vivo immune-cell assays, including co-culture systems and readouts of activation, expansion, persistence, and PD.
• Build translational biology capabilities including immune profiling, biodistribution studies, and pharmacodynamic biomarker development.
• Integrate in vitro and in vivo datasets to derive mechanistic insights for platform optimization and candidate selection.
• Advance lead therapeutic candidates with preclinical efficacy and mechanistic data for program progression.
• Collaborate with discovery biology, protein engineering, delivery sciences, and translational safety to design and analyze laboratory experiments across modalities.
• Serve as a key scientific contributor on cross-functional teams, synthesizing data and communicating results clearly.

Education

PhD

PharmD

MD

Masters

Bachelor's

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. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. 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, Inflammation

What You Will Do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will lead discovery and translational biology efforts for a novel immune-targeting therapeutic platform focused on selective modulation of pathogenic immune-cell populations in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

This role will emphasize in vitro and ex vivo immune cell-assay development, mechanistic characterization and in vivo translational pharmacology to support candidate advancement. You will play a central role in defining the experimental and translational framework required to translate early platform concepts into therapeutic candidates capable of delivering robust and durable immune pharmacology.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead in vitro and ex vivo biological strategy for a next-generation immune-targeting therapeutic platform, establishing experimental approaches to evaluate immune effector activity and target cell elimination in relevant in vitro and preclinical models.
• Design and execute in vivo studies evaluating lymphocyte-mediated target cell depletion, immune pharmacology, and durability of therapeutic responses in mouse models of inflammatory disease.
• Develop and optimize in vitro and ex vivo functional immune-cell assays, including co-culture systems, cytotoxicity or target-cell modulation assays and readouts of immune-cell activation, expansion, persistence, target engagement and pharmacodynamic response.
• Build translational biology capabilities including immune cell profiling, biodistribution studies, and pharmacodynamic biomarker development to support candidate optimization.
• Integrate in vitro and in vivo datasets to generate mechanistic insights that inform platform optimization and candidate selection.
• Advance lead therapeutic candidates toward development by delivering preclinical efficacy and mechanistic datasets supporting program progression.
• Collaborate with discovery biology, protein engineering, delivery sciences, in vivo pharmacology and translational safety to design, perform, and analyze laboratory experiments encompassing in vitro, ex vivo, in silico, and in vivo methodologies.
• Serve as key scientific contributor on cross-functional project teams by synthesizing data, presenting conclusions, documenting results and communicating recommendations to internal and external scientific audiences.
• Exhibit excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, produce reliable and reproducible results, multitask efficiently, and coordinate multiple projects confidently.

What We Expect Of You

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a research leader with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree PhD
• OR
• PharmD
• OR MD [and relevant post-doc where applicable] and 2 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings
• OR
• Master’s degree and 5 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings
• OR
• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research Experience: PhD with deep expertise in lymphocyte biology and immune effector mechanisms and over 5 years of experience in immunology-related research in industry or academic settings.
• Scientific Contributions: Demonstrated track record of independent scientific contributions in immunology, as evidenced by publications in high-impact journals.
• Technical Skills: Strong expertise in in vitro and ex vivo immunology, including primary immune- cell assays, co-culture systems, immune mediated cytotoxicity or target cell depletion assays, and high parameter flow cytometry. Experience characterizing lymphocyte activation states, effector function, persistence, target engagement and pharmacodynamic responses is highly desirable. Experience with preclinical mouse models of immune-mediated target-cell modulation. Familiarity with small and large molecule drug discovery, mechanism of action studies, ELISA, MSD, and flow cytometry-based immune cell profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), CRISPR/Cas9, and omics data analysis experience a plus.
• Collaborative Skills: Proven ability to work effectively in team environments with strong documentation and laboratory management skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills to clearly articulate scientific proposals and results, lead discussions, and make presentations in multidisciplinary meetings.
• Innovative Thinking: A creative and innovative approach to identify and validate novel targets and therapeutic approaches. This includes staying abreast of current trends, literature, and new developments in pre-clinical and clinical development.

What You Can Expect Of Us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. 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 where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

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.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

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.