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Protein Engineering Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Protein Engineering Scientist information

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$40.5K

$98.8K

$156.5K

How much do protein engineering scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for protein engineering scientist in the United States is $98,759.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $116,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Protein Engineering Scientist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Protein Engineering Scientist, you need a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, and protein design, typically demonstrated through an advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in a life science field. Experience with techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, protein expression and purification, and familiarity with analytical tools like HPLC, mass spectrometry, and relevant bioinformatics software is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills set top candidates apart. Mastery of these areas is crucial for efficiently designing, optimizing, and characterizing proteins that meet organizational and research goals.

What are some typical day-to-day responsibilities for a Protein Engineering Scientist?

As a Protein Engineering Scientist, your daily responsibilities often include designing and executing experiments to modify protein structures, analyzing biochemical data, and troubleshooting experimental results. You’ll regularly use both laboratory techniques and computational tools to optimize protein properties, document your findings, and present data to project teams. Collaboration is a key part of the role, so you’ll frequently interact with colleagues from molecular biology, bioinformatics, and downstream process development groups. This dynamic environment keeps the work intellectually stimulating and offers ongoing opportunities to learn from multidisciplinary teams.

What is a Protein Engineering Scientist job?

A Protein Engineering Scientist designs and optimizes proteins for specific applications using techniques like directed evolution and computational modeling. They work in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or academic research to develop enzymes, antibodies, or therapeutic proteins. Their role includes molecular biology, structural analysis, and laboratory experimentation to improve protein function, stability, or specificity.

More about Protein Engineering Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Protein Engineering Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Protein Engineering Scientist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Protein Engineering Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Protein Engineering Scientist jobs are:
What states have the most Protein Engineering Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Protein Engineering Scientist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Protein Engineering Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,759 per year, or $47.5 per hour.
Senior Scientist - Experimental Protein Design for Target Discovery

Senior Scientist - Experimental Protein Design for Target Discovery

Amgen

South San Francisco, CA

$110K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 3 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. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. 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.

Senior Scientist - Experimental Protein Design for Target Discovery

What you will do

Let's do this. Let's change the world. In this vital role you will build and lead high-throughput platforms for binder generation, translating computational protein designs into experimentally validated minibinders and antibodies across diverse pre-discovery targets. A key focus of this role is the production, experimental validation, and characterization of computationally designed de novo binders. You will play a central role in creating scalable binder libraries for multiplexed phenotypic screening, developing multispecific tool molecules to interrogate novel biology and providing tool reagents for early-stage target characterization.

By integrating computational design with rapid experimental validation, you will advance high-throughput binder discovery strategies and drive innovative approaches to probe emerging targets and accelerate early-stage therapeutic discovery.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Translate computational protein designs into experimentally testable minibinders and antibodies across multiple targets in parallel.
  • Lead high-throughput workflows for binder expression, purification, and characterization, including development of cellular assays for binder-target evaluation.
  • Partner with molecular biology teams to establish construct generation and binder library production workflows, enabling both individual binder characterization and scalable pooled library screening.
  • Develop strategies to format de novo binders into appropriate modalities (e.g., multispecifics) to enable testing of biological hypotheses.
  • Analyze and interpret experimental data to guide iterative design-build-test cycles.
What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The Senior Scientist we seek is a highly motivated researcher with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree PhD

OR PharmD

OR MD [and relevant post-doc experience on Protein Engineering]

OR

Master's degree and 3 years of Protein Engineering experience

OR

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of Protein Engineering experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, Bioengineering, Structural Biology, or a related field plus relevant postdoctoral experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in the expression, purification, and biochemical or biophysical characterization of engineered proteins, such as antibodies, minibinders, or other designed scaffolds in a high-throughput or library-based manner. Experience with different expression hosts (cell-free expression, E. coli, and mammalian) is a plus.
  • Experience in binder hit validation using flow cytometry and SPR, and in developing cellular-based assays for functional characterization.
  • Experience working with designed binders or protein-protein interaction engineering, with working knowledge of protein structure-function relationships.
  • Experience and interest in collaborating with computational protein design teams and translating in silico designs into experimentally testable reagents.
  • Experience with automation platforms and high-throughput experimentation is a plus.
  • Experience supporting phenotypic screening, receptor biology, or early target characterization is a plus.
  • Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional discovery teams.
What you can expect from 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. Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Amgen will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Salary Range

131,028.35USD -177,273.65USD