Senior Scientist – Membrane Protein Biology

Amgen • Thousand Oaks, CA

5d • $127,122 - $171,988

About The Position

Amgen’s Surfaceome Platform advances the discovery and validation of cell type-specific surface targets across disease areas to support development of targeted therapeutics. The Surface Biology early validation group triages proteomics- and transcriptomics-derived hits, defines actionable target properties, and guides early therapeutic modality selection. The Senior Scientist will bring mechanistic expertise in membrane protein topology, extracellular accessibility, endocytosis, receptor recycling, and intracellular trafficking.

The role develops hypothesis-driven experiments to validate candidate target presentation on the cell surface and determine how surface density, localization, intracellular trafficking, and fate are regulated. The resulting quantitative decision packages inform target prioritization and modality selection. The scientist also develops and executes cell-based functional assays and collaborates across teams to address project needs, document workflows, and present validated data.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) and relevant postdoctoral experience where applicable, or a master’s degree and 3 years of relevant scientific experience, or a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant scientific experience.
• Strong data analysis skills, problem-solving capability, and clear scientific communication in multidisciplinary discovery teams.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Bioengineering, or a related biological discipline, with 2 or more years of relevant postdoctoral and/or industry research experience.
• A strong record of independent, hypothesis-driven research into membrane protein topology, cell-surface accessibility, endocytic trafficking, or receptor recycling, supported by rigorous experimental evidence and scientific publications.
• Experience measuring surface target density, endocytosis, trafficking, and turnover using cell-based quantitative readouts.
• Hands-on expertise in real-time live-cell kinetic imaging systems and/or kinetic flow cytometry assays.
• Experience with microplate screening formats and scalable assay workflows, including designing, troubleshooting, and executing cell-based functional assays to evaluate membrane-protein effects on cellular functions.
• Experience designing and executing high-throughput cell-based screening assays.

Responsibilities

• Validate cell-surface localization of novel target proteins across diverse cell models.
• Design, optimize, and execute quantitative approaches to measure surface target expression and investigate internalization, endocytosis, receptor recycling, surface clearance, and lysosomal degradation.
• Develop, optimize, and routinely execute fit-for-purpose cell-based functional assays to assess downstream biological consequences of genetic perturbation or treatment with tool compounds.
• Develop and experimentally test hypotheses about target protein localization and trafficking mechanisms and their relationship to cellular function.
• Generate rigorous Go/No-Go decision packages to prioritize targets for modality selection and screening.
• Collaborate with the early validation team and cross-functional colleagues to address evolving project needs.
• Rigorously document experimental workflows and present high-quality, validated data in cross-functional team discussions.

Benefits

• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
• Discretionary annual bonus program, or a sales-based incentive plan for field sales representatives.
• Stock-based long-term incentives.
• Award-winning time-off plans.
• Flexible work models where possible.
• Career development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior