VP, Biotherapeutics Discovery

Stipple Bio; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Stipple Bio, Inc. is a private biotechnology company pioneering epitope-level precision oncology.

The Vice President, Biotherapeutics Discovery will build and direct the platform technology for target discovery, biotherapeutics discovery, and protein engineering, leading a multidisciplinary team in Cambridge, MA to advance candidates toward IND with cross-functional collaborations across modalities like antibodies, ADCs, and TCEs.

Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology or related discipline required.
• 12+ years biotech/pharma drug discovery experience with substantial antibody therapeutics focus.
• Deep expertise across antibody discovery platforms and protein engineering including TCE and multispecific formats.
• Proven track record of advancing biologics candidates from discovery into development, ideally in oncology.
• Demonstrated leadership, building and mentoring high-performing discovery teams.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing platform technology, target discovery, antibody discovery, and protein engineering teams.
• Define and drive antibody discovery and engineering strategy from target validation through lead nomination.
• Lead design and engineering of therapeutic molecules across modalities (antibodies, ADCs, TCEs).
• Oversee target and antibody discovery campaigns using display technologies and in silico/ML-guided design.
• Oversee protein engineering including affinity maturation, format engineering, and developability optimization.
• Scale platform technologies, drive throughput and quality, evaluate external platform partnerships.
• Partner with translational biology, CMC, clinical and program leadership to advance candidates toward IND.
• Contribute to pipeline strategy and resource prioritization at executive level.

Skills

Leadership

Biotech

Antibody discovery

Protein engineering

ML design

Education

PhD in Immunology

Job description

Stipple Bio, Inc. is a private biotechnology company harnessing epitope-level precision to create targeted cancer therapies. We pioneered a Pointillist ‘epitomics’ discovery platform to unlock tumor-specific epitopes and develop a pipeline of next-generation precision oncology therapeutics with a high therapeutic index. Our lead candidate STP-100, designed to avoid on-target/off-tumor toxicity, is expected to enter clinical studies in early 2027. Stipple Bio is well capitalized and has announced a $100M Series A financing which supports the company into 2029.

Position Summary

The Vice President, Biotherapeutics Discovery is a senior leadership role within the Research organization, reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this individual will build and direct Stipple Bio’s platform technology, target discovery, biotherapeutics discovery and protein engineering functions, lead the design and optimization of therapeutic molecules from concept through development candidate nomination. The VP will set the biotherapeutics discovery strategy and partner with VP of Translational Biology to translate tumor-specific epitopes into a pipeline of high therapeutic index precision oncology therapeutics across modalities, including functional multi-specific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and T cell engagers (TCEs). As both a scientific leader and an exceptional people manager, the successful candidate will recruit, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary team, and bring a sense of urgency and commitment to help Stipple Bio deliver patient life changing medicines.

Job Duties

• Build, lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing platform technology, target discovery, antibody discovery and protein engineering team, fostering a collaborative, rigorous, and mission-driven culture
• Define and drive the antibody discovery and engineering strategy, from target and epitope validation through lead identification, optimization, and development candidate nomination
• Lead the design and engineering of therapeutic molecules across modalities, including antibodies, ADCs, TCEs, and other multi-specific biologics
• Direct target and antibody discovery campaigns leveraging display technologies (phage/yeast), immunization, and in silico/ML-guided design
• Oversee protein engineering including affinity humanization, maturation, format engineering (bispecifics/multispecifics), and developability optimization (stability, solubility, aggregation, immunogenicity risk, manufacturability)
• Establish and scale platform technologies, drive throughput and quality improvements, and work closely with Business Development to evaluate/onboard new technologies and external platform partnerships to sustain competitive advantage
• Partner cross-functionally with translational biology, CMC, clinical and program leadership to advance candidates toward IND
• Critically contribute to pipeline strategy, from selection of targets, evaluation of modalities and enabling technologies to product concept development
• Partner with the CSO and executive team to prioritize programs and allocate resources,
• Represent platform technology and biotherapeutics discovery to the executive team, Board, and external partners

Qualifications

Required

• PhD in Immunology, Protein Science, Biochemistry, Molecular/Cell Biology, or a related discipline
• 12+ years of biotech/pharma industry drug discovery experience, with substantial focus on antibody therapeutics (prior industry experience is essential)
• Deep expertise across antibody discovery platforms and protein engineering including TCE and/or other multi-specific formats
• Demonstrated track record of advancing biologics candidates from discovery into development, ideally in oncology
• Proven people leadership—building, mentoring, and leading high-performing discovery teams and functions
• Strong understanding of structure-based or computational design approaches
• Track record of cross-functional leadership and advancing programs toward clinical candidate nomination and IND

Preferred

• Experience with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), T cell engagers TCEs and/or other targeted oncology modalities
• Track record of productive external partnerships or collaborations
• Experience building and scaling discovery platform and functions in a fast-paced, early-stage biotech environment
• Publication and/or patent record in antibody engineering or therapeutic discovery
• Experience with ML/computational antibody design and integration of in silico methods into discovery is a plus

Personal attributes

visionary yet hands-on, an inspiring people leader, team oriented, goal-driven, highly collaborative, open-minded, data-driven, creative, persistent in the face of obstacles and uncertainty, decisive, nimble, self-aware of strengths and weaknesses, objective in the evaluation of data, and strongly optimistic about overcoming challenges.