Scientist / Senior Scientist, Structural Biology

Amgen SA; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement and Savings Plan

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Discretionary annual bonus program

Stock-based long-term incentives

Award-winning time-off plans

Flexible work models

Job summary

Amgen in South San Francisco seeks a Scientist/Senior Scientist in Structural Biology to drive mechanistic insights and actionable data across therapeutic areas. You will lead cryo-EM workflows, collaborate with discovery and engineering teams, and contribute to method development and tech innovation.

The role combines hands-on structural biology with technology development, supporting biologics and small-molecule programs in a fast-paced environment with emphasis on data quality and

Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related field.
• PharmD
• MD (and relevant post-doc where applicable)
• Master’s degree and 3 years of Structural Biology experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of Structural Biology experience

Responsibilities

• Partner with discovery teams to define structural biology strategies.
• Perform cryo-sample preparation, grid optimization, screening, data collection.
• Deliver high-quality structural insights for mechanism and design decisions.
• Develop scalable CryoEM workflows to improve throughput and data quality.
• Collaborate across Structural Biology, Protein Sciences, and related teams.
• Coordinate activities with facilities, collaborators, and vendors.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to improve data collection and analysis.
• Apply X-ray crystallography, MicroED, electron tomography as needed.
• Support CryoEM platform activities at the SSF site, including instrument operations.
• Contribute to science through publications, presentations, and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor scientists and train CryoEM users as needed.

Skills

CryoEM

Structural Biology

Python

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Structural Biology

PharmD

MD

Master's degree in related field

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Glacios

Titan Krios

EPU

CryoEM instruments

Job description

Scientist / Senior Scientist, Structural Biology

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will help discovery teams tackle challenging mechanistic questions by developing practical structural biology strategies, enabling high-quality structural analysis, and delivering insights that support therapeutic program decisions. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine hands‑on structural biology with technology innovation in support of biologics and small-molecule drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with discovery teams to evaluate samples, define structural biology strategies, and develop fit‑for‑purpose experimental plans.
• Perform and guide cryo‑sample preparation, grid optimization, screening, data collection, image processing, model building, refinement, and structural interpretation.
• Deliver high‑quality structural insights that inform mechanism of action, molecular design, and therapeutic decision‑making.
• Develop scalable, reproducible CryoEM workflows that improve throughput, robustness, and data quality.
• Collaborate across Structural Biology, Protein Sciences, Therapeutic Discovery, Protein Engineering, Computational Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Automation, Molecular Characterization, and therapeutic area teams.
• Coordinate activities across internal facilities, external collaborators, and instrument vendors to maximize platform performance.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies—including automation and AI‑enabled tools—to improve data collection, analysis, and workflow efficiency.
• Apply complementary structural biology approaches, including X‑ray crystallography, MicroED, electron tomography, and integrative structural biology, where appropriate to address scientific questions.
• Support and/or lead CryoEM platform activities at the South San Francisco site, including operation of the 200 kV Glacios 2 and user support for the 300 kV Titan Krios.
• Contribute to scientific innovation through technology development, publications, presentations, and knowledge sharing.

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 PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• PharmD
• MD [and relevant post‑doc where applicable]
• Master’s degree and 3 years of Structural Biology experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of Structural Biology experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with X‑ray crystallography, MicroED, electron tomography, or integrative structural biology.
• Experience supporting structure‑based drug discovery in an industry setting.
• Experience studying membrane proteins, antibodies, multispecifics, GPCRs, or other challenging therapeutic targets.
• Experience developing new methodologies that improve throughput, reproducibility, or success rates.
• Familiarity with automated data collection software such as EPU.
• Experience mentoring scientists or training CryoEM users.
• Record of scientific publications, presentations, or technology innovation.
• Passion for collaborative science and continuous improvement.
• Experience scripting/coding with Python and/or other programming languages is a plus.
• Experience operating Glacios, Titan Krios, or equivalent high‑end CryoEM instrumentation is a plus.

What you can expect from 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.

• 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.

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.