Senior Scientist – Therapeutic Modality Assessment for Surface Targets

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

Job summary

Amgen’s Surface Biology group seeks a Senior Scientist to evaluate cell-surface targets and propose modality-specific therapeutic approaches. You will design and execute experiments to prioritize targets, measure surface density, and assess internalization and trafficking, shaping early drug discovery strategies.

This role requires hands-on validation experience and collaboration across teams. The candidate will contribute to scalable workflows and data-driven Go/No-Go decisions, advancing

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Biomedical Science, Immunology, Oncology, Pharmacology, or related field.
• 2+ years biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry research experience (preferred with Ph.D.).
• Experience across discovery programs with multiple therapeutic modalities.
• Hands-on experience with HTS cell-based assays and target validation.

Responsibilities

• Propose therapeutic modalities for surface targets based on target properties and modality-specific characteristics.
• Define experimental strategies to assess the suitability of proposed modalities.
• Develop, standardize, and execute scalable, high-throughput quantitative workflows to evaluate surface protein degradation, internalization, trafficking, and downstream cellular function after target engagement.
• Integrate experimental findings into Go/No-Go decision packages to guide modality selection.
• Collaborate with the early validation team and document workflows for cross-functional discussions.

Skills

Flow cytometry

Quantitative imaging

High-throughput screening

Cell biology

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Cell Biology or related field

M.S. in a relevant scientific discipline

B.S. in a related field

Tools

Echo acoustic dispensers

Tecan automation

Hamilton robotics

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 – 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

• 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

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

• 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

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.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

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

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