At a Glance
- Tasks: Engineer innovative biologics and translate digital designs into experimental outcomes.
- Company: Join a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on impactful research.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with a focus on innovation and discovery.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of biologics engineering and make a difference in patient care.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field with experience in protein science and antibody engineering.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Location: Cambridge, UK
Overview: Are you ready to engineer the next generation of multi‑specific and inhaled biologics? Do you thrive at the intersection of in silico design and bench validation, turning digital concepts into molecules that move the pipeline forward? In this role, you will be a driving force in designing and characterising innovative biologics, with a particular focus on multivalent and multi‑specific formats and inhaled delivery. Your work will translate cutting‑edge computational insights into robust experimental evidence, creating assets that advance our discovery pipeline and ultimately help patients. You will join a collaborative, impact‑focused team that pairs deep protein engineering expertise with advanced computational approaches. From rapid prototyping to data‑driven iteration, you will help set technical direction, accelerate decision‑making, and ensure that bold ideas become well‑validated candidates for development.
Accountabilities:
- Multivalent Molecular Design: Bring expertise in multivalent and multi‑specific molecule design to create differentiated biologics with clear mechanistic rationales and developability in mind.
- Design and Modelling Leadership: Lead in silico design of therapeutic proteins, antibodies, or binders, leveraging structure, binding, epitope, and geometry prediction to generate testable hypotheses.
- Data Integration and Model Benchmarking: Curate and integrate high‑quality wet‑lab datasets to refine, benchmark, and improve computational models that guide design decisions.
- Cross‑Functional Technical Leadership: Serve as a bridge between pure ML scientists and experimentalists, translating digital designs into experimentally validated outcomes that de‑risk and accelerate programs.
- Strategy and Innovation: Evaluate emerging technologies and novel biotherapeutic modalities, including inhaled biologics, to sharpen strategy and compress discovery timelines.
- Experimental Execution and Communication: Execute, analyse, and interpret experiments efficiently; present data and design rationales clearly to influence direction across multidisciplinary teams.
- Impact and Scale: Deliver early wins by validating prioritized designs, then scale impact by systematising learnings, improving workflows, and shaping platform capabilities across programs.
Essential Skills/Experience: A Senior Scientist in Biologics Engineering at the interface of in silico and wet‑lab science acting as a “bridge” between in‑silico design and experimental data. You are using computational models to design molecules and then validate them at the bench.
Key Qualifications:
- PhD in Protein Science, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or a related field with 2+ years of industry experience.
- Experience in antibody engineering and/or multispecific antibody technologies.
Key Skills/Experience:
- In Silico Skills: Proficiency in coding and design for protein structure analysis tools / de‑novo design.
- Wet‑lab Skills: Deep expertise in protein engineering, molecular biology, production and characterisation of antibodies, or antibody‑like scaffolds and characterisation (e.g., NGS; protein purification; SPR; biochemical assays).
- Soft Skills: Strong “influencing skills” to shape project direction across multidisciplinary teams; ability to work independently, optimise protocols, troubleshoot, interpret experimental results/data and maintain accurate, high‑quality and up‑to‑date experimental records. Strong communication skills in a team environment and an ability to quickly learn and adopt new technologies.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
- Strong publication record, as evidenced by patents and/or publications.
- Hands‑on experience in bioconjugation methods.
- Hands‑on experience in inhaled biologics.
- Experience of using lab automation and/or High/Throughput protein expression and purification.
EEO Statement: Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
Senior Research Scientist - Biologics Engineering - Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities - [...] in Cambridge employer: AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for those in the Senior Research Scientist role in Biologics Engineering based in Cambridge. Our collaborative and impact-focused work culture fosters innovation and creativity, providing employees with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a commitment to advancing cutting-edge biologics and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion, we empower our team members to turn bold ideas into life-changing therapies for patients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Research Scientist - Biologics Engineering - Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities - [...] in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s projects and values. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for biologics engineering and how your skills align with their mission. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely excited about what we do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it relates to the role of Senior Research Scientist. We want to hear about your successes in protein engineering and how you’ve turned ideas into reality. Keep it concise but impactful!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We appreciate candidates who take the time to express their gratitude and reiterate their interest in the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Scientist - Biologics Engineering - Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities - [...] in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Expertise:Make sure to highlight your experience in protein engineering and biologics. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements and relevant projects!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you understand what we’re looking for and how you fit into our vision.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your ideas flow well and your qualifications shine through without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AstraZeneca
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on the latest advancements in protein engineering and biologics. Be ready to discuss your experience with multivalent and multi-specific molecule design, as well as any relevant computational models you've worked with. This will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but can also apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Highlight your ability to bridge the gap between in silico design and wet-lab validation. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with multidisciplinary teams in the past, and be ready to discuss how you can influence project direction through effective communication and teamwork.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions about your coding skills, protein structure analysis tools, and experimental techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of antibody engineering and be prepared to explain your approach to troubleshooting and optimising protocols in the lab.
✨Demonstrate Your Innovative Mindset
Be ready to talk about emerging technologies and novel biotherapeutic modalities, especially inhaled biologics. Share your thoughts on how these innovations could impact the discovery pipeline and be prepared to discuss any relevant projects or research you've been involved in that showcase your strategic thinking.
