Senior Scientist, Antibody Engineering at Astellas Pharma in San Francisco, CA

Job description

Senior Scientist, Antibody Engineering About Astellas Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. Learn more at Astellas.com. Are you driven to make a real difference in the lives of patients? We're seeking passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace new ideas, and aren't afraid to take intelligent risks. People who act with unwavering integrity and are deeply committed to making a tangible impact. Purpose & Scope The primary focus of this Senior Scientist position is to lead de novo protein / antibody design capability in SSF Antibody Engineering team. The role is responsible for applying AI/ML approaches to optimize the Design-Make-Test-Analysis (DMTA) cycle for discovery-candidates (DC) / candidate nomination (CN), and to support cross-functional collaboration projects in Astellas. Successful candidate will be the interface between computational and experimental sciences with the goal to drive programs faster to the clinic. Role and Responsibilities Develop and expand SSF Antibody Engineering Team capability in AI/ML-based de novo protein/antibody design and engineering Participate in relevant Program Teams, understand the biology behind programs for the designs of antibodies, bispecific antibodies, T-cell engagers (TCEs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), engineered cytokines, and other biologic therapeutics etc. Apply computational and data-driven approaches, including Python programming, AI/ML tools, bioinformatics, and in silico protein engineering, to support therapeutic design, sequence analysis, data interpretation, and workflow automation Design constructs and assays including BLI, ELISA, cell-based binding/cytotoxicity assays and developability assessment to support molecule selection and optimization Integrate experimental data to improve AI/ML models and develop modality-specific AI/ML protein engineering platforms Support coordination with CROs and external partners for protein production, analytical characterization, assay execution, and data review Contribute to biologics data management system, ELN, technical reports, documentation, invention disclosures, patent applications, and external presentations when appropriate Proactively maintain Astellas network/communication of experts in biologics, small molecules, cell and gene therapy and digital / IT / AI drug discovery teams Required Qualifications PhD with 5+ years related industry and/or post-doctoral experience in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Computational Biology and Structural Biology Proficiency in Python programming or related scripting tools for biological data analysis, data visualization, workflow automation, and/or integration of computational and experimental datasets. Experience with generative AI for protein design, machine learning model development, structural biology tools (PyMOL, Boltz, AlphaFold, Rosetta, etc.) Familiarity with cloud computing, database management, and data engineering pipelines. Familiarity with different antibody formats, antibody-drug assessment and validation process Good practice in data management / recording 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 Hands-on experience in antibody/protein engineering and characterization Knowledge of antibody discovery, affinity maturation, and developability assessment for bio