Protein Scientist, Assistant Director or Associate Director

Protein Scientist, Assistant Director or Associate Director

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We're pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.

We're building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you're passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

Protein Scientist, Assistant Director or Associate Director

Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated protein scientist for an Assistant Director or Associate Director role to lead and advance protein discovery and production efforts supporting protein-oligonucleotide conjugate programs. This role will focus on adapting ligands emerging from primary screens into robust, scalable protein fusion formats suitable for downstream characterization, development, and larger-scale production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead design, engineering, expression, purification, and characterization of protein ligands and protein fusion constructs intended for protein-oligonucleotide conjugates
• Translate hits from primary screening campaigns into optimized lead molecules with improved expression, stability, manufacturability, and functional performance
• Develop and execute protein production strategies, selecting fit-for-purpose platforms based on construct requirements and downstream use
• Design fusion proteins and other engineered constructs suitable for scale-up and conjugation workflows
• Oversee purification and analytical characterization of recombinant proteins, including assessment of integrity, aggregation, binding, and stability
• Work closely with oligonucleotide chemistry and conjugation teams to ensure protein constructs are compatible with conjugation requirements and downstream process needs
• Drive experimental strategy, data interpretation, and decision-making across multiple programs
• Mentor scientists and research associates as appropriate and contribute to building scientific capability in protein engineering and production
• Present results and recommendations clearly to cross-functional teams and senior leadership
• Hands-on laboratory based effort will be expected

Requirements:

• PhD in protein science, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical biology, bioengineering, or related discipline, with relevant industry experience
• For the Assistant Director position, at least 5 years of relevant industry experience
• For the Associate Director position, at least 8 years of relevant experience
• Significant hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression and purification in both microbial and mammalian systems
• Demonstrated expertise in protein engineering and design, including construct optimization for expression, stability, and function
• Strong track record of advancing protein molecules from early discovery or screening through lead…