Scientist II, Antibody Engineering

Purpose & Scope

This Scientist II role in the Antibody Engineering department will drive the discovery and development of next-generation biologics and immuno-oncology therapeutics in Oncology Research by integrating antibody engineering, structural biology, and AI-enabled protein design. The role will contribute to innovative therapeutic modalities including T-cell engagers (TCEs), ADCs, multispecific antibodies, and cytokine-based therapeutics to improve safety and efficacy for patients. Working closely with Cancer Biology, Translational Science, AI/ML and global Biologics Engineering organization in South San Francisco and Japan, this scientist role will lead / support research programs, advance platform technologies, and translate novel concepts into differentiated therapeutic candidates. The position is expected to contribute scientific innovation, intellectual property generation, and technology development that enables future biologics discovery and development.

Role and Responsibilities

• Design, engineer, and characterize bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers (TCEs), engineered cytokines, and other multifunctional biologics.
• Apply iterative design-make-test-learn cycles to biologics discovery, lead optimization, and candidate selection.
• Generate and interpret experimental data to guide project decisions.
• Partner with teams across Cancer Biology, Translational Science, AI/ML and global Biologics Engineering organization in South San Francisco and Japan to advance therapeutic candidates from discovery through preclinical development.
• Coordinate activities with CROs and external technology partners, including outsourced protein production, analytical characterization, and collaborative research efforts.
• Apply emerging antibody engineering, structural biology, and AI/ML technologies, including AI-enabled SaaS platforms and autonomous AI agents, to enhance biologics discovery and optimization.
• Analyze experimental and computational data, maintain accurate records in LIMS, ELN, and communicate findings to project teams, senior leadership, and external scientific audiences.
• Document workflows, contribute to technical reports, publications, invention disclosures, and patent applications, and present research at scientific conferences when appropriate.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• PhD with 2+ years of industry experience in antibody/protein engineering, structural biology, biophysics, and biochemistry, preferably within oncology and/or immuno-oncology drug discovery.
• Demonstrated expertise in antibody and protein design, including the application of AI/ML-enabled protein engineering approaches. Experience may include generative protein design, structure prediction, and optimization of antibodies/formats, TCEs, ADCs, cytokine-based therapeutics, using protein language models and structural modeling tools.
• Experience in antibody purification including chromatography methods such as protein A, Ni-NTA, HIC, IEX, SEC.
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including DNA construct design, PCR, DNA purification, cloning, and plasmid engineering.
• Hands-on experience in antibody engineering platform development and implementation of biochemical and biophysical characterization assays, such as Octet/BLI, ELISA, FRET-based assays, CE-SDS.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments, including development and optimization of novel protocols and assays.
• Strong work ethic and collaborative mindset, with demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to support critical team priorities beyond primary project responsibilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate computational and experimental strategies, present complex data, and communicate recommendations to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project leading and managing cross-functional teams to drive data-driven decisions and progress milestones for programs
• Experience coordinating work with CROs, external technology providers, or global research teams, including cross-site collaboration, is a plus.
• Experience with antibody generation or screening technologies, such as phage display, yeast or mammalian display, B-cell discovery, immunization-based discovery, or related experimental platforms, is a plus.

Location and Working Environment

This position is based in SSF and will require on-site work. At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.