Scientist II, Discovery Biology

Reports To:

SVP, Head of Discovery Science Department :
Research & Development

ABOUT THE JOB

This is a full-time role requiring onsite presence, Monday - Friday in our South San Francisco, CA office. The Scientist II, Discovery Biology is an experienced, hands-on discovery scientist who leads key experimental work streams supporting the evaluation and advancement of one or more therapeutic opportunities. The role independently frames key scientific questions, identifies scientific and technical risks, develops and executes integrated hypothesis-driven studies, builds fit-for-purpose assays, and synthesizes internal and external data to influence target-selection and program-initiation decisions.

The Scientist II provides scientific leadership across assigned research activities, coordinates contributions from other scientists, and provides day-to-day guidance and mentorship to junior scientists. The role participates, with appropriate senior Discovery Biology leadership involvement, in discussions with executive, clinical, and commercial stakeholders to understand how discovery evidence, unmet clinical need, indication opportunity, and product considerations inform program strategy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Critically evaluates scientific literature, frames key questions, and develops integrated, hypothesis-driven experimental strategies to evaluate novel therapeutic targets.
• Leads key target-identification and target-validation work streams and integrates scientific activities across functions to advance therapeutics opportunities toward target-selection and program-initiation decisions.
• Independently designs, develops, executes, and troubleshoots cellular, biochemical, and immunological assays and applies sound scientific judgment to complex experimental problems.
• Integrates, analyzes, interprets, and communicates complex data to influence technical direction and recommend project advancement, termination, or next steps.
• Influences technical direction across cross-functional discovery activities by integrating Discovery Biology findings with input from partner functions.
• Identifies scientific, technical, and execution risks within assigned work streams, develops practical mitigation plans, and escalates broader program-level risks when appropriate.
• Coordinates and aligns internal and external scientific resources to ensure delivery of assigned studies, including working with Protein Production, In Vitro Biology, Translational R&D, collaborators, vendors, and contract research organizations.
• Participates in clinical and commercial discussions, with appropriate senior leadership involvement, and incorporates relevant input into discovery hypotheses, experimental strategies, and data interpretation.
• Provides ongoing scientific guidance and mentorship to junior scientists, including review of experimental plans, controls, data quality, and conclusions.
• Contributes to invention disclosures, patents, research reports, publications, and other high-quality scientific documentation; presents findings internally and may present at company-level or external forums.
• Maintains high-quality scientific documentation and follows applicable research and data-integrity standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead scientific research work streams and collaborate across functions.
• Experience in accessing, compiling and analyzing publicly available datasets from multiple sources in support of the relevancy of targets within disease indications.
• Strong understanding of drug development, disease biology, immunology, cellular biology, biochemistry, and target validation.
• Technical expertise across cellular, biochemical, and immunological assays, including immunoassays, activity assays, biomarker assays, and cell-activation assays.
• Experience with several relevant methods such as siRNA, qPCR, flow cytometry, cell purification, cellular imaging, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence.
• Ability to critically evaluate scientific literature, select feasible experimental approaches, and design studies with appropriate controls and decision criteria.
• Deep and broad experience in assay development, experimental design, troubleshooting, data analysis, and efficient execution.
• Ability to influence technical direction across functions by integrating Discovery Biology findings, discovery objectives, and cross-functional scientific input.
• Ability to coordinate technical work, provide constructive…