Advisor - Protein & CAR Construct Engineering

Eli Lilly and Company•San Diego, CA

64d•$138,000 - $224,400

About The Position

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world. The Biotechnology Discovery Research group at Lilly’s Biotechnology Center in San Diego discovers medicines that address significant unmet needs by integrating biology with innovative scientific capabilities in protein engineering and computational sciences. We collaborate with colleagues in both the discovery and development organizations, including scientists in therapeutic area biology, biomolecule formulation and developability, ADME, Toxicology, PK/PD, Statistics, Computational Sciences, clinical development, and more. We are seeking a talented scientist with a recent Ph.D. to join our research team, focusing on protein engineering and CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) construct design and optimization. This role offers an exciting opportunity to apply advanced expertise in protein sciences and immunotherapy development while transitioning into an independent research career in a dynamic biotechnology environment. If you are a highly motivated teammate, with a passion for goal-oriented scientific research, with a background in protein engineering and/or protein biochemistry and possess a sound practical knowledge of molecular biology and understanding of structure/function relationships we urge you to join the Lilly Team today!

Requirements

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Immunology, or related discipline
Proven expertise in protein expression and purification across multiple systems (bacterial, yeast, mammalian, cell-free)

Nice To Haves

Expertise in CAR-T
Postdoctoral or industry experience in cell and gene therapy, immunotherapy, or protein therapeutics
Deep understanding of protein structure-function relationships and engineering principles
Strong publication record demonstrating scientific productivity and impact
Expertise in CAR-T, TCR engineering, or synthetic immunology
Advanced knowledge of T cell biology, immune signaling pathways, and cancer immunology
Experience with structural biology techniques (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR) or computational protein design
Proficiency with bioinformatics tools, sequence analysis, and protein modeling software
Extensive hands-on experience with molecular cloning, gene synthesis, and advanced DNA assembly methods
Experience with mammalian cell culture and transfection techniques
Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and solve complex problems
Excellent scientific writing and oral communication skills
Strong analytical skills and proficiency with data analysis software
Hands-on experience with flow cytometry, functional immunoassays, and cell-based screening platforms
Familiarity with high-throughput methods, library construction, and next-generation sequencing
Experience using established ML-based tools for sequence analysis, developability assessment, and protein design
Basic Python or R skills for data processing and plotting (no algorithm development required)

Responsibilities

Protein Engineering Design, engineer, and optimize proteins for therapeutic applications using rational design, computational modeling, and directed evolution approaches
Conduct structure-function analyses to enhance protein stability, binding affinity, specificity, and therapeutic properties
Contribute to cross-functional project teams as protein engineering lead.
Develop novel protein engineering strategies to address challenging therapeutic targets
Analyze and interpret complex datasets using bioinformatics and computational tools
CAR Construct Engineering Design and construct sophisticated CAR architectures incorporating various antigen-binding domains, costimulatory modules, and signaling elements
Engineer next-generation CAR platforms including multi-specific, switchable, and logic-gated constructs
Optimize CAR expression, cell surface presentation, and functional properties through iterative molecular engineering
Design and execute validation studies for CAR constructs in relevant cell-based functional assays
Contribute to intellectual property generation and patent applications
Independently design and execute experimental plans to address key research objectives
Troubleshoot complex technical challenges and develop innovative solutions
Mentor research associates and provide technical guidance
Author scientific manuscripts, technical reports, and regulatory documents
Present research findings at internal meetings and external scientific conferences
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including immunology, cell biology, analytics, and process development
Participate in project planning and contribute to research strategy development

Benefits

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).
In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).

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