Senior Scientist - Automation and HTS – Target Discovery & Biology (TD&B)

Amgen Inc. (IR); Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards plan

Discretionary annual bonus

Flexible work models

Job summary

Amgen Inc. (IR) in Thousand Oaks recruiting a Senior Scientist to lead automation for functional genomics screens and multi-omics integration. The role focuses on adapting complex in vitro models to automated platforms and driving discovery through high-throughput workflows.

You will collaborate across therapeutic areas, optimize imaging assays, and advance target discovery strategies in a fast-paced, science-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Doctorate or Master’s with screening experience; 3–5 years depending on degree.
• Experience with HTS platforms and automation in vitro models.
• Strong organizational and communication skills for cross-site collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop automation pipelines for functional genomic screens in high-throughput in vitro models.
• Translate manual protocol processes to automation platforms (96- or 384-well).
• Adapt iPSC differentiation to automated instruments for screen-ready cells.
• Optimize high-content imaging assays and parameters.
• Identify emerging automation technologies to enhance throughput.
• Foster collaborative and rigorous team culture.

Skills

High throughput screening

Automation instrumentation

Cross-site collaboration

Cell biology techniques

Education

Doctorate degree in relevant field

Master’s degree + 3 years screening experience

Tools

HighRes Cellario

Beckman Coulter Echo

CellTrio

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.

Senior Scientist, Automation and HTS – Target Discovery & Biology (TD&B)

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will leverage automation to integrate functional genomics screening, multi-omics profiling, human genetics, and complex in vitro systems to uncover new biological insights and therapeutic targets. TD&B partners closely across Amgen’s therapeutic areas to translate data into discovery, accelerating the path to target discovery and prosecution. We are seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and experienced Senior Scientist based in Thousand Oaks to join our team focused on the adaptation and implementation of complex in vitro models to power target discovery and functional genomics efforts. In this essential role for discovery at Amgen, you will lead our group’s automation efforts and be part of a dynamic, cross‑functional team to advance target and biological discovery across Amgen’s therapeutic areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop automation pipelines and strategies to execute functional arrayed genomic screens in high-throughput in advanced in vitro models in collaboration with therapeutic area partners.
• Transfer manual protocol processes in 96w or 384w format to automation platforms.
• Adapt established iPSC differentiation and long‑term cell cultlure protocols to automated instruments to create batches of screen‑ready cells.
• Optimize high content imaging assays and image acquisition parameters, such as those required in Cell Painting experiments, using automated microscopy and image analysis software.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies in robotics, automation, and high content imaging to enhance the sophistication and throughput of discovery platforms.
• Foster a collaborative, creative, and scientifically rigorous team culture committed to delivering impact across Amgen’s pipeline.

What we expect of you

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

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree or Master’s degree and 3 years of functional genomic screening experience or Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of functional genomic screening experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate degree in cell biology, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, or related discipline
• High throughput screening experience; arrayed CRISPR (KO/i/a) and perturbation screening experience preferred; experience with high content imaging screens preferred
• A high level of comfort working with automation instrumentation; proven track record optimizing performance of and troubleshooting such instruments
• Familiarity with automation scheduling software, e.g. HighRes Cellario
• Experience with any of the following specific platforms is highly preferred: HighRes Prime tip-based liquid handler, HighRes PreciseDrop II flying-reagent dispenser; GNF Washer-Dispenser II flying-reagent dispenser and plate washer; BlueCat BlueWasher plate washer; Beckman Coulter (Labcyte) Echo acoustic liquid handler
• Experience with CellTrio and/or CellXpress.ai platforms also highly preferred
• Familiarity with HTS metrics (e.g. Z’, S/B, MSMR) Cell culture experience; iPSC experience and work in complex in vitro cellular models preferred
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to drive cross-site collaboration in a matrixed research environment

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for our teammates’ professional and personal growth and well‑being. 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.

Benefits

• Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan comprising 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 including: 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 and bi‑annual company‑wide shutdowns Flexible work models, including remote 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.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Salary Range

127,121.75USD – 171,988.25 USD

About Amgen

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