Scientist – Protein Engineering – Organic Chemist: ADC Research & Development

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive employee benefits package

Retirement and Savings Plan with generous contributions

Discretionary annual bonus program

Stock-based long-term incentives

Award-winning time-off plans

Flexible work models where possible

Job summary

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. is looking for a Scientist in Protein Engineering based in Thousand Oaks, California. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in organic chemistry to design and develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and novel therapeutic modalities.

The ideal candidate will have a Doctorate or a combination of a Master's with 2 years or a Bachelor's with 4 years of relevant experience. Strong skills in organic synthesis, protein conjugation, and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• PhD, or Master's/Bachelor's with relevant experience in organic chemistry.
• Experience in laboratory settings and organic synthesis is essential.
• Strong lab practices and safety awareness required.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize linker-payloads for ADCs.
• Characterize and purify ADCs to support discovery.
• Interpret and document results clearly.

Skills

Organic synthesis proficiency

Protein conjugation knowledge

Strong communication skills

Education

Doctorate degree

Master’s degree with 2 years of experience

Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of experience

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Chromatographic techniques

Job description

Scientist Protein Engineering Organic Chemist: ADC Research & Development

What you will do

Lets do this. Lets change the world. In this vital role you will work at the interface of synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical biology to apply their synthetic skills in developing ADC therapeutics and cutting‑edge novel modalities.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize linker‑payloads for antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs).
• Design and generate ADCs, including conjugation, purification, and characterization to support therapeutic discovery.
• Analyze and interpret data, and communicate results through clear documentation, reports, and project updates.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The Scientist we seek is a researcher with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree
• Master’s degree and 2 years of organic chemistry and laboratory experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of organic chemistry and laboratory experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in organic synthesis and chemical methodology development
• Knowledge of, or experience with, protein conjugation and protein chemistry techniques
• A robust understanding of structural determination using NMR and MS, with proficiency in chromatographic techniques (e.g., HPLC, RP‑HPLC, ion exchange, and size‑exclusion chromatography)
• Demonstration of good lab practices, with particular attention to safety
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work comfortably within a team of scientists and engineers with diverse technical and cultural backgrounds

Benefits

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 health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save toward 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.

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