Senior Scientist - Protein Biochemist

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Amgen, a leader in biopharmaceuticals in Thousand Oaks, seeks a Senior Scientist in Protein Biochemistry to design and optimize protein production for structural biology studies, enabling cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography work. You will collaborate with structural biologists, develop purification workflows, ensure protein quality, and contribute to advancing drug discovery efforts in a fast-paced team.

The role emphasizes hands-on protein science, problem solving, and clear communication within

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree PhD, OR PharmD, OR MD.
• Masters with 3 years of Molecular, Structural Biology experience.
• Bachelors degree and 5 years of Molecular, Structural Biology experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in expression, purification, and quality assessment of challenging recombinant proteins.
• Strong hands-on experience with membrane proteins (GPCRs) and other challenging protein classes.
• Expertise in chromatography-based purification (affinity, ion exchange, HIC, SEC).
• Proficiency with biochemical and biophysical methods (SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, SEC-MALS, DLS, SPR, MS).
• Excellent communication, prioritization, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute construct design, molecular cloning, and protein expression strategies.
• Collaborate with structural biologists to generate high-quality protein samples for structural biology techniques.
• Develop and optimize purification protocols and reagents for structural studies.
• Assess protein quality and stability using SDS-PAGE, Western blot, SEC-MALS, SPR, MS.
• Manage multiple projects with timelines and high-quality standards.
• Present research findings in written and oral formats for internal teams and collaborators.
• Troubleshoot and optimize experimental workflows to overcome challenges in protein production.

Skills

Protein expression

Protein purification

Protein quality assessment

Cryo-EM

X-ray crystallography

Membrane proteins

Analytical SEC-MALS

Mass spectrometry

SDS-PAGE

Communication skills

Education

PhD

PharmD

MD

MS in Molecular Biology

BS in Molecular Biology

Tools

Cytiva KTA

Agilent HPLC

Affinity chromatography

Ion exchange chromatography

Size-exclusion chromatography

SDS-PAGE

SEC-MALS

DLS

Mass spectrometry

Job description

Join Amgens Mission of Serving Patients

At Amgen, if you feel like youre part of something bigger, its because you are. Our shared missionto serve patients living with serious illnessesdrives all that we do.

Since 1980, weve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the worlds 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, youll 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, youll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Senior Scientist Protein Biochemist

What you will do

Lets do this. Lets change the world. In this vital role you will be responsible for designing, planning, and executing the generation of key enabling reagents that support the structure determination of target molecules via X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

You will collaborate closely with structural biologists within the group and contribute to advancing our drug discovery efforts. The ideal candidate must possess flexibility in applying their knowledge to new areas of study and have strong interpersonal and communication skills to thrive in a collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Protein Biochemistry: Be actively involved in the design and execution of construct design, molecular cloning and protein expression strategies with the Amgen Discovery Protein Sciences team and/or CROs; design and execute purification strategies to support the structure determination of drug targets in complex with therapeutic molecules.
• Collaborative Support: Work closely with structural biologists to generate high-quality protein samples for structural biology techniques, particularly X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM.
• Method Development: Develop and optimize purification protocols and reagents, ensuring high protein purity, homogeneity, and stability for structural studies.
• Characterization and Quality Control: Use biochemical and biophysical techniques (e.g., SDS-PAGE, Western blot, spectrophotometry, SEC-MALS, SPR, mass spectrometry) to assess protein quality and stability. Collaborate with team members to provide structural biology insights into the mechanism of action (MOA) of target proteins.
• Project Management: Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they are completed within timelines while meeting high-quality standards.
• Team Communication: Present research finds effectively in both written and oral formats for internal teams and external collaborators in a timely and transparent manner.
• Innovative Thinking: Continuously troubleshoot and optimize experimental workflows, applying creative solutions to overcome challenges in protein production and purification.

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 professional researcher with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree PhD

OR

PharmD

OR

MD [and relevant post-doc where applicable]

OR

Masters degree and 3 years of Molecular, Structural Biology experience.

OR

Bachelors degree and 5 years of Molecular, Structural Biology experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in expression, purification, and quality assessment of challenging recombinant proteins, with a track record of producing material suitable for cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, or other structural biology applications.
• Strong hands-on experience with membrane proteins, including GPCRs; experience with other challenging protein classes is also highly valued.
• Deep understanding of protein stability, folding, homogeneity, and aggregation, with a hypothesis-driven approach to troubleshooting low expression, instability, heterogeneity, aggregation, or poor complex formation.
• Experience with mammalian, insect, and/or microbial expression systems.
• Expertise in chromatography-based purification, including affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography, using systems such as Cytiva KTA or Agilent HPLC.
• Proficiency with biochemical and biophysical methods relevant to protein quality and complex formation, such as SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, analytical SEC, SEC-MALS, DLS, SPR, and mass spectrometry.
• Excellent communication, prioritization, and collaboration skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple deliverables in a fast-paced research environment.
• Strong dedication and commitment to protein purification in support of structural biology projects.

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, well 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.

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, protected veteran status, or disability status.