Director, Protein Therapeutics

Vertex Inc. • Seattle, WA

63d • Onsite

About The Position

Vertex is seeking an accomplished and highly skilled scientific leader to join our Protein Therapeutics team in Seattle. This role will be critical in advancing our pipeline of innovative biologics from early development to clinical readiness in a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will leverage deep scientific expertise, strong leadership and mentorship skills, and strategic vision to deliver transformational protein-based therapeutics for diseases with serious unmet medical need.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline with a minimum of 10 years of research experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting is required.
• Ability to lead a diverse team of high-performing scientists focused on protein engineering and protein purification.
• Proven track record in therapeutic antibody discovery and optimization, including antibody screening, engineering, and developability assessment.
• Deep expertise with diverse biophysical and bioanalytical techniques such as SPR/BLI, DLS, thermal stability, and aggregation assays.
• Demonstrated ability to design, analyze, and interpret complex data sets with exceptional attention to detail and scientific rigor.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly present experimental results and recommendations to cross-functional teams, leadership, and external collaborators.
• Highly motivated, collaborative, and adaptable, with a passion for advancing breakthrough protein therapeutics in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with computational protein modeling or developing AI/ML pipelines is highly desired.
• Experience managing antibody discovery campaigns with CROs is highly desirable.
• Strong record of scientific innovation and impact, supported by patents and/or peer-reviewed publications.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and scientific direction for a team specializing in protein engineering and production while fostering a culture of scientific rigor, professional growth, and a collaborative work environment.
• Direct purification and analytical characterization of diverse biologics modalities including Fc fusions, monoclonal or bispecific antibodies, and novel protein formats.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies (e.g., computational design, high-throughput screening) to accelerate development timelines.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage CRO/CMOs for antibody discovery campaigns, protein engineering, and production.
• Contribute to cross-functional and cross-site project teams, ensuring alignment with internal and external stakeholders to execute on research programs, deliver results, and influence decision making.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees