Senior Scientist – Therapeutic Modality Assessment for Surface Targets

Amgen SA; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Amgen seeks a Senior Scientist for Surface Biology to triage hits and guide modality choice for surface targets across multiple disease areas. You will characterize targets, propose modalities, and design experiments to evaluate their effects on cell-surface biology.

The role requires a Ph.D. in Cell Biology or related field, with biotech/pharma experience, and strong data analysis, collaboration, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology or related field with 2+ years biotech/pharma experience.
• Demonstrated experience in discovery programs across multiple modalities.
• Strong data analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience with high-throughput, cell-based screening assays.

Responsibilities

• Propose therapeutic modalities for surface targets and design experiments to test them.
• Develop and execute scalable high-throughput workflows to assess surface proteins after target engagement.
• Integrate findings into Go/No-Go decision packages and guide modality selection.
• Collaborate across teams and document workflows for cross-functional review.

Skills

Data analysis

Scientific independence

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific communication

Critical thinking

Education

Ph.D. in Cell Biology or related field

Master’s degree + 2 years relevant experience

Bachelor’s degree + 4 years relevant experience

Tools

Echo acoustic dispensers

Tecan

Hamilton

Flow cytometry

Quantitative imaging

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 – Therapeutic Modality Assessment for Surface Targets

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 biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience and a demonstrated track record of evaluating cell-surface targets across multiple therapeutic modalities.

In this role, you will conduct quantitative surface target characterization and apply your understanding of modality-specific mechanisms and requirements to propose and experimentally evaluate therapeutic modalities for surface targets, guiding target prioritization and early therapeutic strategy.

Key Responsibilities: Scientist

• 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.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The professional we seek is a collaborative, critical-thinking scientist with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) [and relevant post-doc experience where applicable]

OR

Master’s degree and 2 years of relevant scientific experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of relevant scientific experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Biomedical Science, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or a related biological 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 discovery programs.

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. 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.

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.

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.