Process Development Sr Principal Scientist

Amgen Inc. (IR); Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Amgen Inc. in Thousand Oaks seeks a Process Development Senior Principal Scientist to lead analytical scientists in developing, transferring, validating, and implementing analytical methods for late‑phase oligonucleotide programs through commercialization.

You will provide scientific and strategic leadership, shaping control strategies and enabling process understanding to support PPQ, regulatory submissions, and commercial launch.

Qualifications

• PhD, PharmD, or MD plus 2+ years scientific experience.
• MS with 5+ years scientific experience.
• BS with 7+ years scientific experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytical method development for late-phase oligonucleotide programs.
• Provide scientific and strategic leadership as ASTL.
• Oversee method transfer/validation for development, release, and stability testing.
• Collaborate with PD, Manufacturing, QA, Regulatory, and external partners.
• Define analytical control strategies for late-phase programs.
• Prepare concise summaries for cross-functional leadership and regulatory filings.
• Oversee activities at contract manufacturing/testing sites.
• Author CMC sections in regulatory documents and respond to health authority inquiries.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Mass spectrometry

Team leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical writing

Education

PhD/MD/PharmD

MS +5 years

BS +7 years

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.

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.

Process Development Sr Principal Scientist

What you will do

In this vital role, you will lead a team of analytical scientists responsible for developing, transferring, validating, and implementing analytical methods to support late-phase oligonucleotide programs through commercialization.

As the Attribute Sciences Team Lead (ASTL), you will provide scientific, technical, and strategic leadership, driving the development and application of analytical tools to characterize critical quality attributes and advance product and process understanding.

You will leverage platform expertise and deep product attribute knowledge to shape analytical control strategies and enable successful process performance qualification (PPQ), regulatory submissions, marketing authorization, and commercial launch.

In close collaboration with Process Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and external partners, you will influence cross-functional decisions, resolve complex technical challenges, and ensure successful execution of commercialization strategies.

• Lead and mentor a group of analysts in supporting process development.
• Provide career development guidance to the team members.
• Lead analytical method development for synthetic small molecules, synthetic peptide, and/or SiRNA manufacturing, release testing and characterization.
• Collaborate closely with drug substance and drug product process development colleagues to achieve project objectives.
• Define analytical control strategies and implement methodologies for development of late phase clinical programs.
• Provide concise summary to cross-functional leadership for endorsement of key decisions.
• Oversee activities at contract manufacturing and testing sites.
• Author technical reports and analytical Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) sections in regulatory documents.
• Address analytical and product quality inquiries from health authorities.

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.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree PhD OR PharmD OR MD and 2 years of Scientific experience
• Master's degree and 5 years of Scientific experience
• Bachelor's degree and 7 years of Scientific experience

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Material Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, focusing on process and product development, and analytical method development for small molecule, peptide, and/or oligonucleotide drug substances and products.
• Strong understanding of small molecule analysis, structure elucidation and solid-state characterization informed by knowledge of organic chemistry.
• Strong understanding of peptide and/or oligonucleotide structural elucidation and characteristics that relate to quality of peptide and/or oligonucleotide.
• Hands on experience in method development, validation, and transfer for in-process, release, and stability testing
• Strong experience in oligonucleotide method development, characterization, and analytical control strategy especially having mass spectroscopy (MS) experience.
• Proficiency in a broad spectrum of structure elucidation and physicochemical techniques including MS, UV, NMR, FTIR, etc.
• Familiarity with USP monographs and chapters, and ICH/FDA guidance documents related to analytical method transfer and validation, impurities, mutagenic impurities, etc.
• Solid understanding of GLP and GMP requirements and their application in a phase appropriate manner
• Experience in technical transfer for non-GMP and GMP production and testing to external contract organizations, able to manage deliverables against timelines.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to provide concise summary to cross-functional leadership and guidance to CMC and non-clinical teams, e.g. informing and defending the Quality Target Product Profile
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, and across various geographic locations in different time zones.
• Excellent technical writing skills with attention to detail in authoring methods, specifications, technical reports, and regulatory filing documents

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Salary Range

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.

Salary Range 157,737.05USD -213,408.95 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