Small Molecule Drug Development Jobs in California

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.

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will lead early discovery inflammation research for small molecule programs at Amgen from target identification through preclinical assessment to IND and FIH.

The Senior Director, Small Molecule Drug Discovery in Inflammation will provide strategic, and scientific leadership across Amgen’s Inflammation Small Molecule Research portfolio, with accountability for advancing high-impact programs from early discovery through clinical and regulatory support. The Senior Director will define target- and portfolio-level strategies for small molecule modalities, including traditional small molecules, degraders, molecular glues, ADCs, and emerging chemistry-enabled approaches.

The Senior Director will serve as a senior scientific leader within Inflammation Research, representing the function across governance forums, portfolio reviews, and strategic initiatives. The role requires deep expertise in the molecular mechanisms of immunological diseases paired with experience leading matrixed teams in areas related to small molecule drug discovery including screening, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, PKDM and translational safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Through cross-functional collaboration, this Senior Director will develop integrated discovery strategies that connect target biology, molecular mechanism, and modality selection to maximize therapeutic impact for small molecule programs.
• Provide scientific and organizational leadership for inflammation programs and strategies.
• Oversee the advancement of pipeline programs through key decision points, ensuring robust biology and mechanistic insight, clear development hypotheses, and fit-for-purpose data packages.
• Represent Inflammation Research in cross-functional and governance forums and portfolio strategy discussions.
• Identify and evaluate new therapeutic opportunities including external innovation and internal pipeline expansion.
• Lead highly matrixed teams across sites and functions, fostering collaboration, accountability, scientific rigor, and delivery through organizational change.
• Mentor TA scientists in small molecule drug discovery and program leadership roles.
• Provide expert guidance to senior management on high-impact science, portfolio, and organization.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to scientific talent while strengthening team capabilities.
• Create a cohesive, inclusive, creative and high-performing scientific culture.
• Contribute to broader site and functional leadership initiatives, including culture, sustainability, operational excellence, and cross-functional engagement.
• Maintain strong internal and external scientific presence through publications, presentations, collaborations, and thought leadership in immunology and inflammation
• Partner with Research and Development colleagues as needed to support clinical strategy, regulatory submissions, protocol development, and responses to preclinical or scientific questions.

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

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree and 5 years of immunology discovery research experience

OR

Master’s degree and 9 years of immunology discovery research experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree and 11 years of immunology discovery research experience

In addition to meeting at least one of the above requirements, you must have at least 5 years of experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, or directing the allocation or resources. Your managerial experience may run concurrently with the required technical experience referenced above.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD and/or MD with specialization in a relevant discipline
• Extensive experience leading project teams (e.g., PTL or similar)
• Immunology research credentials with expertise in leading programs and people and publications; this could come from various relevant areas including Chemistry, PKDM, Immunology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Dermatology, or Neuroscience.
• A scientist with a passion for biological discovery and pursuit of novel small molecule therapeutics with an exemplary track record of success emanating from current leadership experience in academia or the biopharmaceutical industry
• Experience as a target and drug hunter combined with scientific excellence
• A deep curiosity to understand tissue and disease pathobiology as it relates to clinical unmet need and drug discovery
• Ability to make scientific connections across functions and therapeutic areas
• Ability to recruit, retain and develop top talent
• Experience with mentorship and career development of colleagues and reports

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.

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.

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 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.