Senior Research Scientist – Biologics Engineering – Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities – Novel Modalities R&I Full-time NEW

Senior Research Scientist – Biologics Engineering

Location: Cambridge, UK

Are you ready to engineer the next generation of multi-specific and inhaled biologics that can change the trajectory of cancer care? Do you thrive at the intersection of in silico design and bench validation, turning digital concepts into molecules that move the pipeline forward?

In this role, you will be a driving force in designing and characterising innovative biologics, with a particular focus on multivalent and multi-specific formats and inhaled delivery. Your work will translate cutting-edge computational insights into robust experimental evidence, creating assets that advance our discovery pipeline and ultimately help patients.

You will join a collaborative, impact-focused team that pairs deep protein engineering expertise with advanced computational approaches. From rapid prototyping to data-driven iteration, you will help set technical direction, accelerate decision-making, and ensure that bold ideas become well-validated candidates for development.

Accountabilities:

• Multivalent Molecular Design: Bring expertise in multivalent and multi-specific molecule design to create differentiated biologics with clear mechanistic rationales and developability in mind.
• Design and Modelling Leadership: Lead in silico design of therapeutic proteins, antibodies, or binders, leveraging structure, binding, epitope, and geometry prediction to generate testable hypotheses.
• Data Integration and Model Benchmarking: Curate and integrate high-quality wet-lab datasets to refine, benchmark, and improve computational models that guide design decisions.
• Cross-Functional Technical Leadership: Serve as a bridge between pure ML scientists and experimentalists, translating digital designs into experimentally validated outcomes that de-risk and accelerate programs.
• Strategy and Innovation: Evaluate emerging technologies and novel biotherapeutic modalities, including inhaled biologics, to sharpen strategy and compress discovery timelines.
• Experimental Execution and Communication: Execute, analyse, and interpret experiments efficiently; present data and design rationales clearly to influence direction across multidisciplinary teams.
• Impact and Scale: Deliver early wins by validating prioritized designs, then scale impact by systematising learnings, improving workflows, and shaping platform capabilities across programs.

Essential Skills/Experience: A Senior Scientist in Biologics Engineering at the interface of in silico and wetlab science acting as a “bridge” between In silico design and experimental data. You are using computational models to design molecules and then validate them at the bench.

Core Responsibilities

• Design & Modelling: Lead the design of therapeutic proteins, antibodies, or binders using in silico tools for structure, binding, epitope and geometry prediction
• Data Integration: Curate high-quality wetlab data to refine and benchmark computational models.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as a technical lead, collaborating with pure ML scientists and experimentalists to translate digital designs into “experimentally validated” results.
• Strategy & Innovation: Evaluate emerging technologies or novel biotherapeutic modalities to accelerate discovery pipelines.

Key Qualifications

• Education: PhD in Protein Science, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or a related field with 2+ years of industry experience.
• Experience in antibody engineering and/or multispecific antibody technologies.

Key skills/Experience:

• In Silico Skills: Proficiency in coding and design for protein structure analysis tools/ de novo design.
• Wetlab Skills: Deep expertise in protein engineering, molecular biology, production and characterisation of antibodies, or antibody-like scaffolds and characterization (e.g., NGS; protein purification; SPR; biochemical assays).
• Soft Skills: Strong “influencing skills” to shape project direction across multidisciplinary teams; ability to work independently, to optimize protocols, troubleshoot, interpret experimental results/data and maintain accurate, high quality and up-to-date experimental records. Strong communication skills in a team environment and an ability to quickly learn and adopt new technologies.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Strong publication record, as evidenced by patents and/or publications.
• Hands on experience in bioconjugation methods.
• Hands on experience in inhaled biologics.
• Experience of using lab automation and/or High/Throughput protein expression and purification.

That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your financial leadership fuels science with purpose. You will work side by side with diverse experts—scientists, technologists, and operators—using digital innovation and data-driven decision-making to accelerate progress that ultimately benefits patients. We value ethics, transparency, and doing the right thing as much as we value pace and performance, and we back ambition with support, kindness, and trust. Join a high-performing environment where your analysis shapes big bets, your voice influences strategy, and your impact is visible in the medicines we deliver.

If you're ready to convert insight into action and help direct investment where it makes the biggest difference, step into this role and shape what comes next—submit your application today.