Senior Scientist - Surface Targets & Therapeutic Modalities

Amgen; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA is seeking a Senior Scientist to advance the Surface Biology platform by evaluating cell-surface targets across multiple therapeutic modalities. You will design and execute high-throughput assays, interpret complex data, and collaborate across functions to define early therapeutic strategies and Go/No-Go decisions for target prioritization.

The role requires a Ph.D. or equivalent with biotech industry experience, a track record in discovery programs, and strong

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Biomedical Science, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or related discipline, with 2+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry research experience.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to discovery programs across multiple therapeutic modalities, with experience in early target validation, antibody/binder or small-molecule characterization, and experimental assessment of therapeutic approaches for cell-surface targets.
• Understanding of modality-specific characteristics, with the ability to propose therapeutic modalities and design experiments to evaluate their effects on target biology and cellular function.
• Demonstrated scientific independence, broad knowledge of cell-surface biology, and a strong record of scientific contributions to therapeutic discovery programs.
• Experience developing and executing high-throughput cell-based screening assays.
• Hands-on experience measuring cell-surface target density, internalization, trafficking kinetics, or receptor clearance using flow cytometry or quantitative imaging approaches.
• Strong data analysis skills, problem-solving ability, and clear scientific communication in collaborative research environments.
• Familiarity with automated liquid handling workstations (e.g., Echo acoustic dispensers, Tecan, Hamilton) or assay miniaturization strategies.
• A record of scientific achievement demonstrated through publications, patents or contributions to the advancement of discover

Responsibilities

• Propose therapeutic modalities for surface targets based on target properties and modality-specific characteristics. Define experimental strategies to assess the suitability of the proposed modalities for these novel targets.
• Develop, standardize, and execute scalable, high-throughput quantitative workflows to evaluate how proposed therapeutic modalities affect surface protein degradation, internalization, trafficking, and downstream cellular function following target engagement.
• Integrate experimental findings into rigorous Go/No-Go decision packages, identifying opportunities and limitations to guide therapeutic modality selection.
• 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.

Skills

Collaborative

Critical thinking

Data analysis

Scientific independence

Communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Biomedical Science, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or related discipline

Masters + 2 years relevant experience

Bachelor's + 4 years relevant experience

Tools

Flow cytometry

Quantitative imaging

High-throughput screening

Automated liquid handling (Echo, Tecan, Hamilton)

Job description

Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA is seeking a Senior Scientist to advance the Surface Biology platform by evaluating cell-surface targets across multiple therapeutic modalities. You will design and execute high-throughput assays, interpret complex data, and collaborate across functions to define early therapeutic strategies and Go/No-Go decisions for target prioritization.

The role requires a Ph.D. or equivalent with biotech industry experience, a track record in discovery programs, and strong