Senior Scientist – Membrane Protein Biology

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Bonus program

Stock-based incentives

Flexible work models

Job summary

Amgen is seeking a Senior Scientist in Thousand Oaks to advance surface biology targets. The role focuses on validating cell-surface localization, density, and trafficking of membrane proteins, using quantitative cell-based assays and imaging tools.

You will drive hypothesis-driven experiments and collaborate across teams to deliver robust data for early modality decisions. The position requires PhD with postdoctoral/industry experience or a Master’s with several years of relevant work, and

Qualifications

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, or related field.
• 2+ years postdoctoral/industry experience preferred.
• Experience measuring surface density, endocytosis, trafficking, and turnover with quantitative readouts.

Responsibilities

• Validate cell-surface localization of target proteins in diverse cell models.
• Quantify surface target expression and study internalization, endocytosis, recycling, surface clearance, and lysosomal degradation.
• Develop and run cell-based functional assays after genetic perturbation or tool compound treatment.
• Formulate hypotheses on localization/trafficking and generate Go/No-Go decision packages.
• Collaborate across teams, document workflows, and present data in cross-functional discussions.

Skills

Membrane protein biology

Endocytosis

Intracellular trafficking

Live-cell imaging

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Cell Biology/related

Master's degree with 3 years relevant experience

Bachelor's degree with 5 years relevant experience

Tools

Live-cell imaging systems

Flow cytometry

Kinetic readouts

High-throughput screening

Job description

Career Category Research 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. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline and portfolio of medicines to treat heart disease, obesity and obesity-related conditions, rare diseases, inflammatory conditions and cancer. 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 – Membrane Protein Biology

What you will do Let’s do this. Let’s change the world.

Amgen’s Surfaceome Platform is advancing the discovery and validation of cell type-specific surface targets across multiple disease areas, enabling the development of targeted therapeutics through a deeper understanding of cell-surface biology. To support this mission, the Surface Biology early validation group focuses on triaging proteomics- and transcriptomics-derived hits to define actionable target properties and guide early therapeutic modality selection. We are seeking a Senior Scientist with deep mechanistic expertise in membrane protein topology, extracellular accessibility, endocytosis, receptor recycling, and intracellular trafficking. In this role, you will develop hypothesis-driven experimental approaches to validate that candidate targets are presented on the cell surface and determine how their surface density, localization, intracellular trafficking, and fate are regulated. These studies will generate robust quantitative decision packages to inform

Key Responsibilities

• Validate cell-surface localization of novel target proteins across diverse cell models.
• Design, optimize, and execute quantitative approaches to measure surface target expression and investigate the mechanisms governing internalization, endocytosis, receptor recycling, surface clearance, and lysosomal degradation.
• Develop, optimize, and routinely execute fit-for-purpose cell-based functional assays to assess downstream biological consequences following genetic perturbation or treatment with tool compounds.
• Develop and experimentally test hypotheses about the mechanisms governing target protein localization and trafficking and their relationship to cellular function, generating rigorous Go/No-Go decision packages to prioritize targets for modality selection and screening.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues within the early validation team and across functions to address evolving project needs, rigorously document experimental workflows, and present high-quality, validated data in cross‑functional team discussions.

What we expect of you

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) [and relevant post‑doc experience where applicable]
• OR Master’s degree and 3 years of relevant scientific experience
• OR Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant scientific experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, or a related biological discipline, with 2+ years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry research experience.
• A strong record of independent, hypothesis‑driven research investigating the mechanisms governing membrane protein topology, cell‑surface accessibility, endocytic trafficking, or receptor recycling, supported by rigorous experimental evidence and scientific publications.
• Demonstrated experience measuring surface target density, endocytosis, trafficking, and turnover using cell‑based quantitative readouts
• Strong hands‑on expertise in real‑time live‑cell kinetic imaging systems and/or kinetic flow cytometry assays.
• Demonstrated experience working with microplate screening formats and scalable assay workflows, with hands‑on proficiency in designing, troubleshooting, and executing cell‑based functional assays to evaluate the effects of membrane proteins on cellular functions.
• Strong data analysis skills, problem‑solving capability, and clear scientific communication in multidisciplinary discovery teams.
• Experience designing and executing high‑throughput cell‑based screening assays.

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. 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.

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

External/Internal postings: 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. Internal only posting (or Pre‑ID candidate): Amgen anticipates accepting applications until 1 week after the posting; however, we may continue accepting applications beyond this date if we do not receive a sufficient number of candidates.

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 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

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer. We make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities, consistent with legal requirements. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Salary Range

Salary Range 127,121.75USD -171,988.25 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