Principal Scientist, Biologics Drug Discovery

About Relation

Relation is a sector defining TechBio company developing transformational medicines with technology at our core. Our ambition is to understand human biology in unprecedented ways, discovering therapies to treat some of life’s most devastating diseases. We leverage single-cell multi-omics from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding, from cause to cure. Founded and scaling rapidly, we are building a team of exceptional individuals to push the boundaries of drug discovery. You will work in highly interdisciplinary teams where biology, computation, and engineering come together to solve complex problems that have not been solved before. Our state‑of‑the‑art wet and dry labs in the heart of London accelerate this integration and translate insight into impact. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. By joining Relation, you will help define how medicines are discovered and deliver meaningful impact for patients.

The opportunity

We are offering an outstanding opportunity for a Principal Scientist, Biologics Drug Discovery to bring deep biologics drug discovery knowledge to our growing pipeline. You will help shape how we choose targets, select modalities, design discovery cascades, and progress biologics candidates from early concept through to IND‑enabling studies. As Relation grows its scientific and machine learning capabilities, you will act as a senior individual contributor and technical authority on biologics drug discovery, working alongside our computational, ML, and translational teams to translate biological insight into well‑designed molecules with a credible path to the clinic. You will be a key technical voice in pipeline decisions and a trusted partner to colleagues across Drug Discovery and beyond.

Day to day, you will:

• Apply deep biologics drug discovery knowledge to shape program plans, modality choice, and discovery cascades, contributing to the wider strategy set by Drug Discovery leadership.
• Drive biologics programs end‑to‑end — from target validation and hit identification through lead characterization, optimization, and developability triage — against agreed Target Product Profiles (TPPs).
• Make informed modality decisions across the biologics landscape (antibodies, bispecifics, ADCs, fusion proteins, fragments) and ensure the right molecule is selected for the right target and indication.
• Design and oversee fit‑for‑purpose discovery packages, combining cell‑based functional assays, biophysical characterization (SPR/Biacore, BLI/Octet), and developability assessment to drive sound candidate selection.
• Operate effectively in a matrixed pharma/biotech environment, partnering with Computational Biology, Machine Learning, CMC, DMPK, Toxicology, and Translational colleagues to de‑risk candidates and progress them toward IND‑enabling studies.
• Manage externalised workstreams day‑to‑day: support CRO selection and oversee outsourced biologics production, in vitro pharmacology, and in vivo studies, ensuring data quality and timelines.
• Represent biologics drug discovery in project teams and pipeline reviews; communicate scientific progress, data, and risks clearly to project leadership and broader cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Partner with our ML and computational biology teams to bring biologics drug discovery insight into how predictive and generative approaches are applied to target selection, molecule design, and lead optimisation.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of biologics discovery workflows and standard operating procedures, ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and readiness for regulatory milestones.
• Contribute to Relation’s scientific culture by mentoring junior scientists in biologics drug discovery, supporting publications and conference visibility, and helping to shape the broader scientific identity of the biologics group.

Professionally, you will have:

• A PhD. in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Protein Engineering, or a related life‑science discipline.
• Hands‑on drug discovery experience gained in a pharma or biotech setting, with a clear track record of contributing to biologics programmes progressing through key discovery milestones (target validation, hit‑to‑lead, lead optimisation, candidate selection).
• Proven experience working in a matrixed pharma/biotech environment, partnering effectively across functions (e.g. CMC, DMPK, Toxicology, Computational/ML, Translational) and balancing multiple stakeholders.
• Deep working knowledge of biologics drug discovery: how biology is translated into a molecule, how modalities are chosen, how discovery cascades are designed, and what data are needed at each stage to make sound progression decisions.
• Familiarity with the biologics modality landscape (antibodies, bispecifics, ADCs, fusion proteins, fragments) and an informed view of when each modality is the right tool for the biology.
• Hands‑on experience with the data types that drive biologics drug discovery decisions, including cell‑based functional and screening assays and biophysical characterization (SPR/Biacore, BLI/Octet).
• Working experience of CRO management across biologics drug discovery activities (e.g. molecule production, in vitro pharmacology, in vivo studies).
• A good understanding of biologics drug discovery end‑to‑end, including TPP‑driven decision‑making, developability considerations, and awareness of what is required to support IND‑enabling activities.
• Curiosity about how ML and computational approaches can complement traditional biologics discovery workflows, and an interest in shaping how those tools are deployed.

Bonus experience:

• Familiarity with bone biology and bone‑microenvironment models (osteoblast, osteoclast, osteocyte; mineral‑binding or resorption assays).
• Peer‑reviewed publications in the biologics drug discovery space, prior experience mentoring junior scientists, and exposure to a TechBio or computationally‑driven discovery environment are also welcome.

Personally, you:

• Are comfortable working in a matrixed environment, balancing multiple stakeholders and contributing effectively across teams.
• Take ownership of your work, proactively seek opportunities to contribute, and enable others to do their best work.
• Communicate openly and directly, give and receive feedback constructively, and handle challenging conversations with respect.
• Actively seek out diverse perspectives, build strong working relationships, and contribute to shared goals across teams.
• Embrace challenges with openness and resilience, set high standards for yourself, and strive to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Relation is a committed equal‑opportunity employer.