Senior Scientist - Antibody Discovery in City of London

Senior Scientist - Antibody Discovery in City of London

City of London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 Β£ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Hlx Life Sciences

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead antibody discovery programs and design next-gen therapeutics.
  • Company: Join a pioneering biotech firm in London focused on innovative biologics.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities for mentorship.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with cross-functional teams and exciting projects.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in drug discovery and advance your scientific career.
  • Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and significant industry experience required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 Β£ per year.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced biologics scientist to play a key role in designing and advancing next-generation antibody therapeutics. You will bring extensive hands-on expertise in antibody engineering, affinity maturation, and developability assessment while partnering closely with computational biology and machine learning teams to translate biological insights into clinic-ready molecules.

The ideal candidate will have personally designed and optimized therapeutic antibodies and contributed to biologics programs from target validation through candidate selection and IND-enabling activities.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead biologics discovery programs from target validation through lead optimization and candidate selection.
  • Design, engineer, and optimize antibody molecules using experimental data to guide progression decisions.
  • Drive modality selection across antibodies, bispecifics, ADCs, fusion proteins, and fragments.
  • Design and execute discovery strategies aligned to Target Product Profiles (TPPs).
  • Apply expertise in:
    • Antibody discovery and engineering
    • Affinity maturation and CDR engineering
    • Developability assessment
    • Mechanistic characterization and potency optimization
  • Design and interpret cell-based functional assays and biophysical characterization studies, including:
    • SPR/Biacore
    • BLI/Octet
    • Binding, potency, and selectivity assays
  • Collaborate closely with Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Translational Science, DMPK, Toxicology, and CMC teams.
  • Partner with CROs and external collaborators, overseeing study design, data interpretation, and program progression.
  • Contribute to scientific strategy and act as a key technical leader within the biologics group.
  • Mentor junior scientists and contribute to publications and scientific visibility.
Required Experience
  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Protein Engineering, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline.
  • Significant industry experience in biotech or pharmaceutical biologics drug discovery.
  • Proven track record progressing antibody programs through:
    • Target validation
    • Hit identification
    • Lead optimization
    • Candidate selection
    • IND-enabling studies
  • Deep expertise in:
    • Therapeutic antibody design and engineering
    • Affinity maturation and CDR optimization
    • Developability assessment
    • Biologics discovery cascades
    • Molecule progression decision-making
  • Hands-on experience with:
    • Cell-based functional assays
    • SPR/Biacore
    • BLI/Octet
    • In vitro pharmacology
    • CRO management
  • Strong understanding of biologics modalities, including antibodies, bispecifics, ADCs, fusion proteins, and fragments.
  • Experience working in highly cross-functional, matrixed environments.

Interested in learning more? Please contact HLX Life Sciences for a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity.

Senior Scientist - Antibody Discovery in City of London employer: Hlx Life Sciences

At HLX Life Sciences, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation thrives. Our collaborative culture fosters professional growth, providing opportunities for mentorship and involvement in cutting-edge biologics research that directly impacts patient care. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on advancing next-generation antibody therapeutics, we ensure that our team members are not only valued but also empowered to make meaningful contributions to the field.

Hlx Life Sciences

Contact Details:

Hlx Life Sciences Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Scientist - Antibody Discovery in City of London

Antibody Engineering
Affinity Maturation
Developability Assessment
Mechanistic Characterization
Potency Optimization
Cell-Based Functional Assays
Biophysical Characterization