Senior Scientist - Therapeutic Modality Assessment for Surface Targets

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

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: 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 discover