Principal Scientist (Bioconjugation)

The Principal Scientist for Bioconjugation in Discovery Biotherapeutics is a knowledgeable, highly-skilled and self-motivated scientist who provides Antibody Drug Conjugate support for the advancement of the ADC portfolio at Exelixis. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional scientist who operates independently in the lab, and successfully prepares, purifies, and characterizes antibody-drug conjugates that drive projects forward while building strong working relationships with colleagues throughout the organization. This individual will also provide scientific leadership, contribute to strategic direction, and mentor junior team members. Experience in early process development and technology transfer is highly desirable.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Independently plans, executes, and optimizes ADC conjugation processes in alignment with project goals

Designs and performs ADC conjugation at mg- to multi-gram scale, supporting both discovery and early development needs

Applies bioconjugation techniques using appropriate linkers, payloads, and conjugation chemistries

Purifies ADCs using techniques such as FPLC and tangential flow filtration (TFF), and characterizes them via HPLC, LC-MS, and other analytical methods

Leads early process development efforts, including scale-up strategies, equipment setup, and workflow optimization for downstream processing

Supports technology transfer of conjugation processes to development and manufacturing teams

Maintains electronic lab notebook in accordance with company policy and practice

As part of the ADC team, is responsible for one or more group roles related to equipment, ADC registration, ADC inventory, lab safety, and / or lab supplies

Presents progress in team meetings

Demonstrates and fosters teamwork within Discovery Biotherapeutics and with other cross-functional colleagues

Complies with safe laboratory practices and EH&S guidelines

Maintains familiarity with current scientific literature relevant to the research experiments or program

Contributes to the writing of technical documents, patents, scientific manuscripts, etc.

Leads scientific discussions and contributes to project strategy and planning

Mentors and provides technical guidance to junior scientists and associates

Collaborates cross-functionally to influence project direction and decision-making.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :

May directly supervise one or two junior employees.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE / SKILLS :

Education :

Ph.D. in Chemistry or a closely related field and a minimum of five (5) years of related experience; or,

MS / MA in Chemistry or a closely related field and a minimum of nine (9) years of related experience; or,

BS / BA in Chemistry or a closely related field and a minimum of eleven (11) years of related experience; or,

Equivalent combination of education and industry experience in bioconjugation chemistry.

Experience :

Proven expertise in bioconjugation chemistry, including linker / payload selection and conjugation strategies

Hands-on experience with ADC preparation at mg- to multi-gram scale

Proficiency in purification and analytical characterization of ADCs using FPLC, TFF, HPLC, and LC-MS

Demonstrated success in early process development and scale-up of ADCs

Experience supporting technology transfer to development or manufacturing teams

Experience troubleshooting and optimizing conjugation workflows

Strong track record of scientific leadership and innovation in ADC development

Experience contributing to technical reports, patents, and / or regulatory filings.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities :

Knowledge in state of the art in different aspects of ADC research including conjugation technologies, linkers, and payloads.

Extensive knowledge of bioconjugation platforms, applications, and development. Comprehensive understanding of current approaches and emerging technologies in ADCs.

Knowledge of intellectual property matters, and issues related to ADCs

The knowledge to apply advanced scientific and technical principles, theories, and concepts, and contribute to the development of new principles and concepts.

Ability to work independently, excellent time management and organization skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

A strong team player.

Advanced knowledge in ChemDraw, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, PDF, Graphpad prism.

Strong track record in experimental documentation and report writing.

Hands-on experience or strong working knowledge of ADC chemistry, including linker-payload synthesis, is highly desirable

Experience with deep mass spectrometry analysis for ADC characterization, including intact ADC analysis and peptide mapping, is a plus

JOB COMPLEXITY :

Works on extremely complex problems where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangible variables.

Exercises independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

Uses professional concepts in accordance with company objectives to solve complex problems in creative and effective ways.

Expected to lead scientific initiatives and contribute to long-term ADC platform development and process readiness

#LI-HG1

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across severalU.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this positionis $140,000 - $198,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate's geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.

In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.