Amgen

Amgen

Biotech company creating biologic medicines

Principal Scientist - Chemical Biology & Proximity-Based Therapeutics

Full-TimeUpdated on 9/27/2026
$140.1k - $189.6k/yr

+ Annual bonus + Stock-based long-term incentives

Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
In Person

About the job

Requirements
  • A doctorate degree in Chemical Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or a related field, with relevant postdoctoral experience where applicable, and 2 years of relevant industry experience; alternatively, a master's degree in one of these fields and 5 years of relevant industry experience; or a bachelor's degree in one of these fields and 7 years of relevant industry experience.
Responsibilities
  • Lead discovery efforts using phenotypic screening and chemical genetics approaches to identify novel proximity-driven mechanisms.
  • Develop and apply disease-relevant cellular models to uncover actionable biology and capture functional biology.
  • Integrate chemical biology and mechanistic studies to translate phenotypic findings into drug discovery programs.
  • Contribute to a growing portfolio of induced proximity-based therapeutic opportunities.
  • Design and implement phenotypic screening strategies to enable discovery of molecular glues and proximity-based modulators.
  • Build and optimize high-content and high-throughput assays, including imaging-based and multiparametric readouts.
  • Apply chemical genetics approaches to interrogate biological pathways and support target identification and validation.
  • Integrate chemical biology and mechanistic studies to elucidate compound mode of action, including induced proximity and protein interaction networks.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to advance discoveries from screening through early drug discovery.
  • Leverage omics and data-driven approaches to extract insights from complex phenotypic datasets.
  • Contribute to scientific strategy, present findings, and mentor team members as appropriate.
Desired Qualifications
  • Strong expertise in chemical biology and small-molecule discovery, with experience in proximity-based mechanisms, molecular glues, or related areas.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing phenotypic screening assays, including high-content or high-throughput platforms.
  • Experience working with disease-relevant cellular models.
  • Strong background in mechanism-of-action studies using cellular and molecular biology approaches.
  • Proven ability to integrate biology and chemistry to drive discovery efforts.
  • A track record of scientific contributions, including publications, patents, or presentations.
  • Experience with chemical genetics approaches in phenotypic discovery.
  • Familiarity with proteomics, transcriptomics, or systems biology approaches.
  • Experience supporting target identification or deconvolution from phenotypic screens.
  • Exposure to induced proximity or targeted protein degradation concepts.
  • Experience contributing to or leading cross-functional discovery teams.

About the company

Amgen develops medicines that treat serious illnesses by using biologic therapies made from living cells. These therapies are designed to target specific disease processes, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune conditions, and are produced through biotechnology methods that create proteins or antibodies. Amgen’s products are sold to patients and healthcare providers worldwide, with revenue funding ongoing research and development to discover new treatments. The company stands out by focusing on biologic medicines at a large scale and maintaining a steady pipeline of potential therapies across multiple disease areas, supported by global manufacturing and a commitment to bringing therapies to patients. Its goal is to improve patient outcomes by discovering and delivering new, effective treatments while reinvesting a significant portion of earnings into research and development.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Thousand Oaks, California

Founded

1980

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 9% to $10.1 billion, with six growth drugs up 26%.
  • Repatha sales jumped 37% in Q2 2026, and Medicare-access expansion broadens prescriptions.
  • MariTide entered nine Phase 3 studies in 2026, targeting obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease.

What critics are saying

  • Bristol Myers and Ono sued Amgen on Sept. 15, 2026, over Opdivo biosimilar patents.
  • Britain suspended Tavneos for new patients in September 2026 after calling supporting data unreliable.
  • Prolia and XGEVA biosimilar pressure already cut Q2 2026 sales 33%, and MariTide is unproven.

What makes Amgen unique

  • Amgen’s Aug. 2026 pipeline spans Repatha, IMDELLTRA, MariTide, and olpasiran simultaneously.
  • Repatha holds primary- and secondary-prevention outcomes data, uncommon among PCSK9 competitors.
  • IMDELLTRA became an August 2026 growth engine, reaching $288 million quarterly sales.

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Benefits

Professional Development Budget

Conference Attendance Budget

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Sep 26th, 2026
Vertex and Amgen deliver promising pipeline updates as both outperform market

Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported strong second-quarter results, with revenue rising 12% year-over-year to $3.33 billion and earnings per share climbing 8% to $4.31. The company posted positive Phase 2b results for inaxaplin, an experimental treatment for APOL1-mediated kidney disease, showing it reduced proteinuria in patients with modest protein levels and those with type 2 diabetes. Vertex expects approval for povetacicept, a treatment for IgA nephropathy, by November. The company continues diversifying beyond its core cystic fibrosis franchise, which provides predictable revenue as patients require lifelong treatment. Meanwhile, Amgen has also outperformed the broader market this year, though specific recent developments were not detailed in the source material.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 11th, 2026
Revolution Medicines' first pancreatic cancer therapy approval challenges Amgen's biotech dominance

Revolution Medicines received FDA approval for daraxonrasib, the first targeted therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer, after clinical data showed it reduced death risk by more than half. The company is clinical-stage with no current revenue and posted a $1.1 billion net loss in FY 2025. Amgen reported FY 2025 revenue of $36.7 billion, up 9.9% year-over-year, with net income of $7.7 billion and a 21% net margin. Free cash flow reached $8.1 billion. The company carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.3x. Revolution Medicines maintains a 0.1x debt-to-equity ratio and 9.5x current ratio but recorded negative free cash flow of $913.7 million. The company's pipeline targets RAS-driven tumours including lung cancer. A partnership with Royalty Pharma provides funding for development. Both companies face distinct risks: Amgen confronts pricing pressures and biosimilar competition, whilst Revolution Medicines carries clinical trial failure risks and competes against larger pharmaceutical firms.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 11th, 2026
Amgen vs CRISPR Therapeutics: Which healthcare stock offers better value in 2026?

Amgen reported revenue of $36.7 billion in FY 2025, up 9.9% year-over-year, with net income of $7.7 billion and a 21% net margin. The biotech giant maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.3x and generated $8.1 billion in free cash flow. CRISPR Therapeutics, meanwhile, saw revenue fall 90% to $3.5 million in FY 2025, posting a net loss of $581.6 million. The gene-editing firm burns $345.9 million in cash but holds a strong current ratio of 13.3x. Its CASGEVY therapy for sickle cell disease has gained approval in the US, UK, and EU, with Vertex handling commercialisation under a 60-40 revenue split. Amgen faces pricing pressure from the Inflation Reduction Act and biosimilar competition. CRISPR Therapeutics carries clinical execution risk and ongoing intellectual property disputes.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 11th, 2026
Amgen and AstraZeneca lung cancer drug combo meets survival goal in phase III study

Amgen and AstraZeneca announced positive results from the phase III DeLLphi-305 study evaluating Amgen's Imdelltra (tarlatamab) combined with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi (durvalumab) as first-line maintenance treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The study met its primary endpoint of overall survival and key secondary endpoint of progression-free survival, with no new safety concerns identified. ES-SCLC affects approximately 195,000 people globally. If approved, the combination would compete with Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Zepzelca plus Roche's Tecentriq, which received FDA approval in October 2025. Imdelltra, approved in 2024 for ES-SCLC progression after platinum-based chemotherapy, generated $546 million in global sales during the first half of 2026, up from $215 million in the prior-year period.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 10th, 2026
Amgen vs. Moderna: Which healthcare stock is a better buy in 2026?

Amgen reported FY 2025 revenue of $36.7 billion, up 9.9% year-over-year, with net income of $7.7 billion and a 21% net margin. The biotech serves 17 million patients globally with treatments for heart disease, obesity, and cancer. However, three distributors—McKesson, Cencora, and Cardinal Health—accounted for 77% of gross revenues, creating concentration risk. The company's debt-to-equity ratio stood at 6.3x. Moderna posted FY 2025 revenue of $1.9 billion, down 39.2% as pandemic-related vaccine demand declined. The mRNA specialist reported a net loss of $2.8 billion, resulting in a negative 145.2% net margin due to high research and development costs. The company is pivoting its mRNA platform toward infectious diseases, cancer, and rare conditions whilst expanding through partnerships like its collaboration with Merck.