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Associate Director Protein Production Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Systimmune

Director, Protein Engineering

Redmond, WA · On-site

$180K - $240K/yr

SystImmune is seeking a Director of Protein Engineering to lead the FUSE team. This is a hands-on ... Track record leading and developing a team of scientists and research associates, with clear ...

Alloy Therapeutics

Director, Protein Science

Waltham, MA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Alloy has evolved from a startup into a global product development organization operating 11 divisions across 5 research sites in 4 countries on 3 continents. Our model - Integrated Independence ...

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Associate Director Protein Production information

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How much do associate director protein production jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate director protein production in the United States is $16.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate director protein production do?

An Associate Director of Protein Production oversees the planning, execution, and optimization of protein production processes within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical organization. They manage teams responsible for producing recombinant proteins, ensuring quality control, and meeting project deadlines. Their role often includes collaborating with research and development, troubleshooting production issues, and implementing process improvements to increase efficiency and yield. This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise in protein expression and purification, and experience with regulatory compliance. The Associate Director also plays a key role in strategic planning and resource allocation for production operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director protein production, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Director Protein Production, you need advanced expertise in protein expression, purification, and characterization, typically supported by a PhD or MSc in biochemistry or a related field and several years of industry experience. Familiarity with bioreactor systems, chromatography platforms, analytical instrumentation, and quality standards such as GMP is essential. Strong leadership, project management, and effective communication skills help drive team performance and cross-functional collaboration. These competencies ensure high-yield, high-quality protein production while meeting regulatory requirements and project timelines.

What are some common challenges faced by an associate director protein production, and how can they be addressed?

As an Associate Director of Protein Production, one of the primary challenges is ensuring the consistent yield and quality of proteins while scaling up production processes. This often involves troubleshooting complex technical issues, managing cross-functional teams, and adapting to rapidly changing project timelines. Proactively implementing robust quality control measures, fostering open communication between research, production, and quality departments, and staying current with advancements in protein expression technologies are effective strategies for overcoming these challenges. Additionally, strong project management skills and the ability to mentor team members are essential for maintaining efficient operations and supporting professional growth within the team.

What is the difference between Associate Director Protein Production vs Senior Protein Scientist?

AspectAssociate Director Protein ProductionSenior Protein Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degree (PhD or MS), leadership experiencePhD or MS, specialized technical expertise
Work EnvironmentLeadership in manufacturing or production teams, cross-department collaborationResearch labs, experimental design, data analysis
Employer & Industry UsageBiotech, pharmaceutical manufacturing, large-scale productionResearch institutions, biotech companies, early-stage development

The Associate Director Protein Production typically oversees large-scale protein manufacturing, requiring leadership and management skills, while the Senior Protein Scientist focuses on experimental research and technical expertise. Both roles require advanced degrees, but the Associate Director has more managerial responsibilities within production environments.

What are popular job titles related to Associate Director Protein Production jobs?

For Associate Director Protein Production jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Associate Director Protein Production job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,996 per year, or $16.8 per hour.

Associate Director/Director, Protein Sciences

Bothell, WA • On-site

SystImmune, Inc
Biotechnology Research and Development • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about SystImmune, Incexternal

$180K - $240K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

SystImmune is a leading and well-funded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company located in Redmond, WA and Princeton, NJ. It specializes in developing innovative cancer treatments using its established drug development platforms, focusing on bi-specific, multi-specific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). SystImmune has multiple assets in various stages of clinical trials for solid tumor and hematologic indications. Alongside ongoing clinical trials. SystImmune has a robust preclinical pipeline of potential cancer therapeutics in the discover and IND-enabling stages, representing cutting-edge biologics development. We offer an opportunity for you to learn and grow while making significant contributions to the company's success.
We are seeking an Associate Director or Director of Protein Sciences to lead antibody target protein expression, purification, and characterization in support of oncology biologics programs from early discovery through IND-enabling activities. This role will build and lead a team responsible for delivering high-quality protein material in functionalized formats suitable for evaluation of monoclonal, bispecific, and multi-specific antibodies and ADC-ready molecules, and will partner closely with Protein Engineering, Antibody Discovery, Analytical Sciences, and external partners to advance programs from concept to candidate selection and IND submission.
The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on expertise in mammalian protein expression, purification of protein complexes, and biophysical characterization, structural biology along with strong scientific judgment and people leadership skills. This individual will serve as a technical and operational hub for critical protein production across the discovery portfolio, ensuring that molecule quality, structural reagent relevance, and timelines meet the needs of fast-moving oncology programs. A key aspect of this role is enabling antibody structural and functional characterization through protein target engineering and rigorous characterization.
This role is full-time onsite at our Bothell, WA location.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and manage the Protein Sciences group, including hiring, mentoring, performance management, and career development of scientists and research associates
  • Serve as the target protein science subject-matter expert on cross-functional program teams; present strategy, results, and risk assessments to senior leadership
  • Lead the Protein Sciences function responsible for end-to-end protein production workflows, including construct design, transient and stable mammalian expression (HEK293, CHO), high-throughput and preparative purification, and quality control
  • Direct purification process development for complex membrane proteins, nano-disc, and multi-molecule complexes, resolve antibody bindings site, PPI site occlusions and functional site prediction.
  • Establish and oversee biochemical and biophysical characterization capabilities (SEC, HPLC/UPLC, CE-SDS, cIEF, DSF/DSC, SPR/BLI, mass spectrometry) to confirm identity, purity, stability, and binding
  • Design and implement automation, high-throughput screening workflows, and structured data capture to increase departmental capacity, quality, and reproducibility
  • Stay current with advances in protein engineering, expression technologies, and analytical methods, and champion adoption of new technologies where they add value

Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in biochemistry, protein chemistry, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a related field; M.S. or B.S. with commensurate additional experience will be considered
  • 8+ years (Director) or 6+ years (Associate Director) of relevant industry experience in biologics discovery and development
  • 3+ years of people-management experience leading scientists in a protein sciences, protein production, or biologics discovery setting
  • Deep hands-on expertise in mammalian expression systems and multi-modal antibody purification (Protein A/L, ion exchange, HIC, SEC, mixed-mode)
  • Demonstrated experience producing and characterizing complex biologics, including:
  • Membrane proteins
  • Dimer and heterodimer complexes
  • Engineered molecules for proving PPI and antibody binding sites
  • Strong working knowledge of biophysical characterization techniques and data interpretation (SPR/BLI, SEC-MALS, DSF/DSC, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis)
  • Proven track record of advancing molecules from discovery through candidate selection and supporting IND-enabling activities
  • Excellent scientific judgment, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, milestone-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications
  • Familiarity with high-throughput automation platforms (liquid handlers, parallel purification systems) and structured data capture (ELN/LIMS)
  • Experience in oncology biologics and understanding of tumor-targeting antibody design principles
  • Mandarin-English Bilingual Ability
  • Prior contribution to regulatory filings (IND/IMPD) and interactions with process development or quality organizations

Core Competencies
  • Scientific rigor with strong operational execution
  • Team leadership and talent development
  • Cross-functional collaboration and influence
  • Technical problem-solving and troubleshooting
  • Agility in a dynamic R&D environment
  • Strong sense of ownership and accountability

Success in this role will be defined by the ability to:
  • Deliver high-quality protein reagents and candidate molecules on program timelines
  • Build and develop a scalable, high-performing Protein Sciences team and infrastructure
  • De-risk candidate molecules through rigorous characterization and developability assessment
  • Build trust across functions as a strategic and operational partner

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
  • May need to work outside of standard working hours at times
  • This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for working hours, with flexibility to work start time. The work location for this role is in Bothell, WA

Compensation and Benefits
The expected base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $240,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to a candidate's level qualifications, experience, and skills.
While most offers typically fall within the low to mid-point of the range, we may extend an offer toward the higher end for exceptional candidates whose background and expertise exceeds the requirements of the role.
SystImmune is a leading and well-funded biotech company with a bright future. We offer an opportunity for you to learn and grow while making significant contributions to the company's success. SystImmune offers a comprehensive benefits package including: 100% paid employee premiums for medical/dental/vision, also STD, LTD, a 401(k) plan with a 50% company match of up to 3% and a vesting schedule of only 5 years, 15 PTO days per year, sick leave, plus 11 paid holidays and MORE.
We offer an opportunity for you to learn and grow while making significant contributions to the company's success.
SystImmune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome diverse talent and encourage all qualified applicants to apply.
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