Key facts

Location: Cambridge, MA USA

Engagement: Full-time

Team: Antibody Discovery

What you'll do

- Provide expert guidance on the assessment of antibody targets, evaluating their potential for therapeutic development, and identifying high-value drug candidates that align with company goals.
- Present detailed antibody discovery plans, progress updates, and strategic recommendations to internal R&D; committees and executive leadership to secure necessary funding and resources for ongoing and new projects.
- Lead construct design efforts, making critical decisions on antibody formats, developability assessments, and other key parameters to ensure the success of candidate molecules.
- Develop and implement strategies for optimizing lead sequences and formats using rational design, structure-based approaches, and AI/ML-driven methodologies to improve efficacy, stability, and manufacturability.
- Accelerate the development of novel antibody and protein therapeutics by leading iterative design-build-test-learn cycles, ensuring rapid progression from initial discovery to candidate nomination.
- Oversee project planning and management for multiple biologic drug discovery programs, creating detailed project timelines, milestones, and deliverables, and guiding cross-functional teams from lead identification through to IND submission.
- Promote best practices in matrix leadership, fostering collaboration across various departments and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Manage external relationships with CROs, vendors, academic partners, and consultants to establish and maintain a virtual, high-throughput antibody discovery platform capable of rapidly identifying high-quality monoclonal antibody candidates.
- Build and maintain networks with external experts, academic institutions, and industry partners to validate hypotheses, incorporate new insights, and refine discovery strategies.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in antibody discovery, providing technical leadership within the drug discovery team and across the broader organization.




- Contribute to the company's overall corporate strategy by participating in business development evaluations, exploratory platform initiatives, and long-term planning for biologics discovery.
- Stay current with emerging technologies and scientific advances in antibody engineering, genomics, and related fields, integrating relevant innovations into the discovery platform.
- Support the development of internal capabilities and mentor junior scientists to foster a culture of scientific excellence and continuous improvement.

Requirements

- Extensive experience in advancing protein therapeutics from early discovery through to clinical development, with a proven track record of progressing candidates to IND.
- Deep expertise in structure-based protein engineering, antibody design, multispecific antibody development, and Fc engineering.
- Proficiency in in silico modeling, structure-based design, and AI/ML techniques for antibody sequence optimization, CDR design, and developability assessments.
- Hands-on experience with display technologies, humanization methods, and other antibody engineering techniques.
- Demonstrated success leading projects within a pharmaceutical R&D; environment across multiple therapeutic areas, with a strong understanding of lead identification, optimization, and preclinical development processes.
- Ability to advocate for and implement new technologies and approaches to improve antibody expression, characterization, and overall quality.
- Strong leadership skills, including experience managing cross-disciplinary teams, external partners, and vendors.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including senior management and external stakeholders.




- Familiarity with regulatory considerations related to biologics development and IND submissions.
- Ability to work in a quick-paced, innovative environment, balancing strategic vision with operational execution.

Nice to have

- Experience working in early-stage or startup biotech environments, with an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in these settings.
- Knowledge of genetic and genomics-based drug target discovery methods and how they integrate with antibody development.
- Broader knowledge of protein sciences, including expression systems, analytical purification, and characterization techniques.
- Experience designing and validating cellular assays for functional characterization of engineered biologics, including binding, activity, and safety assessments.
- Familiarity with the latest advances in AI/ML applications in biologics discovery and optimization.

Skills & tools

- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously.
- Expertise in structure-based design, computational modeling, and optimization methodologies.
- Familiarity with AI/ML tools and their application in antibody engineering and discovery.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration across teams and external partners.
- Ability to synthesize complex scientific data into clear strategic recommendations and presentations.

Practical notes

The salary for this position ranges from $179,000 to $236,500.

Compensation will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and fit for the role.

Flagship Pioneering, Inc. offers a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare benefits, an annual incentive program, retirement plans, and other perks.

The company emphasizes a collaborative and innovative work environment, supporting professional growth and scientific excellence.

This salary range and benefits information reflect the company's current estimates and are subject to change.

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📌 Director, Antibody Discovery (Cambridge)
🏢 Flagship Pioneering
📍 Cambridge