Senior Assay and Automation Scientist Full-time

Senior Assay & Automation Scientist

Location: Gaithersburg, MD, USA

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being results-oriented, thinking big, and working together to make the impossible a reality.

About the Team

The Assays, Profiling and Pharmacology (APP) team within Biologics Engineering is responsible for developing high-throughput, robust, and innovative assay platforms to characterize novel biologics in collaboration with AstraZeneca's therapeutic area teams. The group supports drug discovery across a broad range of therapy areas, including oncology, respiratory and inflammation, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disease.

A major component of the team's work is the design, development, and implementation of industry-leading automated workflows to enable high-throughput biochemical and cellular assays. The team combines assay biology, pharmacology, automation, and data analysis to deliver cutting-edge discovery capabilities and support AstraZeneca's expanding biologics portfolio and novel drug modalities.

Role Summary

In this lab-based role, you will serve as a hybrid assay and automation scientist, responsible for the development, optimization, standardization, and automation of biochemical and cell-based assays for biologics discovery and technology development. You will work closely with scientists, automation specialists, and IT partners to build end-to-end workflows that can be deployed across projects and implemented on integrated robotic platforms to support drug discovery pipeline projects.

You will independently design, execute, analyze, and interpret experiments, while contributing scientific and technical expertise to multidisciplinary project teams. The role also includes identifying and developing new screening technologies, solving complex assay and platform challenges, and helping to establish scalable approaches for discovery of complex biologic modalities such as T-cell engagers, ADCs, cytokine fusions, and other next-generation therapeutics.

What You'll Do

• Develop assays: Design and optimize 96- and 384-well biochemical and cell-based assays for screening, hit identification, and pharmacological characterization of biologics.
• Automate workflows: Build and implement automation-ready assay workflows using platforms such as Hamilton, Integra ViaFlo, Tecan, or similar systems.
• Standardize platforms: Partner with cross-functional teams to create robust, scalable high-throughput screening assays for broad project use.
• Identify and implement large data analysis packages (Eg: GeneData Screening) to automate HT data analysis.
• Support complex modalities: Develop assays to evaluate T-cell engagers, ADCs, cytokine fusions, and other advanced biologic formats.
• Apply diverse methods: Use primary immune cells, imaging, ELISA, and flow cytometry to profile biologic activity and mechanism.
• Collaborate broadly: Work closely with automation, data science, and IT teams to improve assay throughput, reproducibility, and integration.
• Drive innovation: Contribute to new assay, screening, and automation technologies that strengthen biologics discovery.
• Communicate science: Present findings, recommendations, and risks clearly to multidisciplinary teams and support project decisions.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field, with at least 2-3 years of relevant experience in industry or academia, or
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline with at least 5 years of relevant experience in industry or academia
• Strong experience and technical depth in assay development, screening, and automation, with a clear commitment to quality, reproducibility, and scientific rigor
• Experience developing 96- and 384-well biochemical and cell-based assays for screening and characterization
• Hands-on experience with liquid handling systems such as Hamilton, Tecan, Integra ViaFlo, or comparable automation platforms
• Experience developing or transferring assays onto automated or integrated high-throughput workflows
• Experience using software tools for automated data analysis, visualization, and handling of larger datasets
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working effectively in cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems creatively and improve assay or screening technologies and processes

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with integrated automation and scheduling software from HighRes Bio would be a plus
• Industry experience in biologics drug discovery and in vitro pharmacology
• Experience with imaging platforms, multicolor flow cytometry, and immune-cell based assays
• Experience with primary cell assays, especially in immune or functional screening contexts
• Experience managing and interpreting large, complex screening datasets
• Experience leading scientific initiatives or contributing within matrix project teams

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our team at AstraZeneca!