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Principal Scientist Assay Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Principal Scientist Assay Development information

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$68.5K

$144K

$190.5K

How much do principal scientist assay development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal scientist assay development in the United States is $144,009.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,500.00 and $169,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Scientist Assay Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Scientist Assay Development, you need advanced expertise in biochemistry or molecular biology, a PhD or equivalent experience, and a strong background in assay design and validation. Familiarity with laboratory automation, data analysis software, and regulatory compliance systems such as GLP/GMP is typically required. Leadership, project management, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating across departments. These skills ensure robust assay performance, regulatory adherence, and efficient innovation in complex scientific environments.

What is the difference between Principal Scientist Assay Development vs Senior Scientist Assay Development?

AspectPrincipal Scientist Assay DevelopmentSenior Scientist Assay Development
CredentialsAdvanced degree (PhD or equivalent), extensive experienceMaster's or PhD, significant industry experience
Work EnvironmentLeads assay development projects, strategic planningExecutes assay development tasks, supports project teams
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical, biotech, CROs, biotech companiesPharmaceutical, biotech, research labs

The main difference between Principal Scientist Assay Development and Senior Scientist Assay Development lies in their level of responsibility and leadership. Principal Scientists typically lead projects, set strategies, and have more extensive experience, while Senior Scientists focus on executing assays and supporting project goals. Both roles require strong technical expertise, but the Principal Scientist position involves higher-level decision-making and oversight.

What are some common challenges faced by Principal Scientists in Assay Development, and how can they be addressed?

Principal Scientists in Assay Development often encounter challenges such as optimizing assay sensitivity and specificity, troubleshooting inconsistent results, and scaling up assays for high-throughput screening. Addressing these issues requires strong analytical thinking, effective cross-functional collaboration with research, engineering, and quality assurance teams, and staying updated with the latest technological advances. Regularly reviewing validation protocols and actively participating in peer discussions can also help in overcoming technical hurdles and ensuring robust assay performance.

What does a Principal Scientist in Assay Development do?

A Principal Scientist in Assay Development leads the design, optimization, and validation of assays used for research, diagnostics, or drug development. They oversee laboratory teams, develop protocols, and ensure that assays meet regulatory and quality standards. Their role also involves troubleshooting complex scientific problems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and staying current with technological advances in assay technologies. Principal Scientists play a key role in translating scientific concepts into reliable, reproducible assays that support broader organizational goals.
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What cities are hiring for Principal Scientist Assay Development jobs? Cities with the most Principal Scientist Assay Development job openings:
What states have the most Principal Scientist Assay Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Scientist Assay Development jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Principal Scientist Assay Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Scientist Assay Development jobs are:
Infographic showing various Principal Scientist Assay Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $144,009 per year, or $69.2 per hour.

Principal Scientist - Immunogenicity Bioanalytical Sciences

Amgen

Thousand Oaks, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Career CategoryScientificJob DescriptionJoin Amgen's Mission of Serving Patients

At Amgen, if you feel like you're part of something bigger, it's because you are. Our shared mission-to serve patients living with serious illnesses-drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we've helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world's toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas -Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease- we reach millions of patients each year. As a member of the Amgen team, you'll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you'll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Principal Scientist - Immunogenicity Bioanalytical SciencesWhat you will do

Let's do this. Let's change the world. The Pharmacokinetics & Drug Metabolism and Bioanalytical Sciences (PKDM-BA) organization is seeking to fill a Principal Scientist position in our Immunogenicity Bioanalytical Sciences (IGBA) group. In this vital role you will support the design, development, validation, and implementation of assays for the detection of binding and neutralizing anti-drug antibodies (ADAs & NAbs) for Amgen's large molecule/protein therapeutics to support GLP preclinical and regulated clinical studies. Such molecules will inherently be diverse in nature and will require technical expertise in the implementation of suitable and innovative immunogenicity methods in accordance with global regulatory guidelines.

This role will involve close collaboration with representatives from the drug development team, research groups, and compliance to ensure suitability of the assay format for the therapeutic program. You will work closely with an outsourcing team for the transfer of assays to global bioanalytical CROs. You will also be responsible for contributing to regulatory filing documents and for providing responses to questions received upon regulatory review. Given the breadth of projects, this role will involve highly multidisciplinary interactions with scientists across research and development at Amgen and will provide an opportunity to supervise or mentor laboratory staff.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a scientist with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology, or a related field [and relevant post-doc where applicable] and 2 years of scientific/technical industry experience

OR

Master's degree and 5 years of scientific/technical industry experience

OR

Bachelor's degree and 7 years of scientific/technical industry experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated expertise in the development, validation, and oversight of immunogenicity assays for detection of anti-drug binding and neutralizing antibodies according to current global regulatory guidelines
  • Experience of working under the Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) and knowledge of Good Clinical Practices (GCP) guidelines
  • Experience in the transfer of immunogenicity assays to bioanalytical CROs
  • Knowledge of statistical approaches applied to immunogenicity assays
  • Knowledge of drug-tolerant assay formats for ADA and NAb detection
  • Knowledge of cell-based assay formats for NAb detection
  • Knowledge of predictive immunogenicity methods using cell based or ligand binding methods
  • Supervisory and mentoring experience in a lab setting.
  • Ability to analyze and interpret data to assist in assay development, validation, and troubleshooting.
  • Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects, strong verbal and written communication skills with a high degree of motivation, creativity and collaborative qualities.
  • Previous experience working in a matrixed environment to implement immunogenicity assay development, validation, and sample analysis
  • Project management skills to meet critical timelines associated with various activities necessary to support nonclinical and clinical studies.
  • Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams while also working independently
What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we'll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

  • A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
  • A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
  • Stock-based long-term incentives
  • Award-winning time-off plans
  • Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.
Apply now and make a lasting impact with the Amgen team.careers.amgen.com

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Application deadline

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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Salary Range

138,075.70USD -186,808.30USD