BristolMyers Squibb

Senior Scientist, High-Throughput Biologics Production and Discovery Platforms

BristolMyers Squibb$141K — $171K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or Master's in bioengineering, structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or related discipline with extensive relevant experience; Ph.D. with lesser experience is also considered.
  • Proven track record in leading large-scale, plate-based protein production with multiple concurrent programs.
  • Hands-on experience in high-throughput protein expression and production workflows, particularly in mammalian systems.
  • Expertise in transient mammalian expression platforms like HEK293 and CHO systems.
  • Strong understanding of protein purification techniques, including affinity chromatography and high-throughput quality assessment methods.
  • Experience in molecular biology, particularly in scalable cloning strategies and DNA fragment generation workflows.
  • Demonstrated ability in laboratory automation and evaluating workflows to improve productivity and reliability.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage daily operations of high-throughput protein production workflows for biologics discovery programs.
  • Develop integrated workflows for protein expression, purification, and quality control supporting multiple projects.
  • Oversee transient mammalian and cell-free expression platforms from DNA prep to purified protein delivery.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory automation systems and contribute to their strategic enhancement.
  • Establish production planning, capacity management, and performance metrics to ensure timely delivery of quality products.
  • Drive technology evaluations and automation to enhance workflows and operational efficiency.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align production with project timelines and priorities.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package, including wellbeing support and financial protections.
  • Flexible Time Off (FTO) policy allowing unlimited paid time off pending manager approval.
  • 11 paid company holidays annually, plus additional optional holidays for non-exempt employees.
  • Paid volunteer days each year and summer hours flexibility, enhancing work-life balance.
  • Annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for all employees.
Full Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Scientist to lead and expand high-throughput biologics production capabilities within Discovery Biotherapeutics. This hands-on, laboratory-facing leadership role will oversee the design, execution, optimization, and continuous advancement of integrated protein expression, purification, and quality-control workflows supporting antibody, multispecific, and other biologics discovery programs.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in transient mammalian protein production, laboratory automation, workflow development, and operational management. The candidate will have a demonstrated record of delivering large, plate-based production campaigns across multiple programs in a fast-paced discovery environment while maintaining high standards for quality, data integrity, safety, and on-time delivery.

This individual will serve as both a technical authority and an operational leader, building and sustaining a scalable protein production platform that generates decision-ready data and reliably delivers critical reagents and therapeutic molecules. The role requires close partnership with Protein Sciences, Molecular Biology, Automation, Data Science, Computational Biology, Discovery Biology, and project teams to connect experimental execution with portfolio priorities and integrated discovery workflows.

The ideal candidate combines an exceptional wet-lab foundation with enthusiasm for working alongside automation, data science, and computational colleagues. Experience with workflow orchestration or machine-learning-guided discovery is valued but is not required; candidates who have built strong experimental platforms and want to connect them with computational design are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the build-out, scaling, and day-to-day operation of high-throughput protein production workflows supporting antibody, multispecific, and other biologics discovery programs.
  • Develop and sustain integrated expression, purification, sample-normalization, and quality-control workflows capable of reliably supporting 60 or more plates per week across multiple concurrent programs.
  • Provide technical leadership for transient mammalian and cell-free expression platforms, including HEK293 and CHO systems, from DNA preparation through purified protein delivery.
  • Lead the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, qualification, and strategic expansion of liquid handlers, robotic workstations, automated purification systems, and integrated analytical instrumentation.
  • Establish production planning, capacity management, prioritization, performance metrics, and risk-mitigation practices to ensure predictable and timely delivery of high-quality molecules.
  • Drive workflow development, technology evaluation, process miniaturization, and automation implementation to improve throughput, reproducibility, quality, and operational efficiency.
  • Partner with Protein Sciences, Molecular Biology, Automation, Data Science, Computational Biology, Discovery Biology, and project teams to align production plans with portfolio priorities and experimental timelines.
  • Collaborate with automation, data, and computational teams to advance closed-loop discovery workflows and enable structured, traceable data flow from design through experimentation and analysis.
  • Establish and maintain best practices, standard operating procedures, quality standards, data-integrity expectations, and fit-for-purpose operational documentation.
  • Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of complex production, workflow, and instrumentation issues, and implement corrective, preventive, and continuous-improvement measures.
  • Analyze scientific and operational data to identify bottlenecks, reduce cycle time, improve success rates, and expand platform capacity.
  • Mentor and train scientists and research associates, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and safe laboratory practices.
  • Represent the high-throughput production function on cross-functional teams and contribute to platform strategy, resource planning, and capability-development decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in bioengineering, structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related scientific discipline with 7 or more years of relevant academic and/or industry experience; or a master's degree with 5 or more years of relevant experience; or a Ph.D. with 2 or more years of relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated success leading large-scale, plate-based protein production operations with high sample volumes, multiple concurrent programs, and demanding delivery timelines.
  • Extensive hands-on experience designing, operating, managing, and supporting high-throughput protein expression and production workflows in mammalian systems.
  • Deep expertise in transient mammalian expression platforms, including HEK293 and CHO systems.
  • Strong knowledge of protein purification technologies, including affinity chromatography, automated purification, sample normalization, and high-throughput quality assessment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in molecular biology, including the design, optimization, and implementation of scalable cloning strategies and high-throughput DNA fragment generation workflows.
  • Significant experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing laboratory automation platforms, liquid handlers, robotic workstations, and integrated instrumentation.
  • Experience with analytical methods used for protein quality assessment, including SEC, HPLC, SDS-PAGE, Octet, or related technologies.
  • Demonstrated experience developing scalable workflows, implementing new technologies, and using operational metrics to improve throughput, reliability, quality, and cycle time.
  • Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives, independently resolve workflow challenges, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in a matrixed environment.
  • Strong scientific leadership, mentoring, project-management, organizational, collaboration, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with laboratory automation programming and workflow scripting using platforms such as Hamilton VENUS, Tecan FluentControl, Agilent VWorks/Bravo, or comparable systems.
  • Experience with instrument integration, device-driver configuration, interfaces, or automated data-transfer workflows.
  • Familiarity with laboratory orchestration or scheduling software such as Green Button Go, Cellario, Momentum, Overlord, or similar platforms, including integration of standalone instruments into scheduled workcells.
  • Working proficiency in Python or R for data handling, workflow scripting, and analysis of production and quality-control datasets.
  • Experience with ELN, LIMS, or registration systems (e.g., Benchling), including programmatic or API-enabled data capture and preparation of experimental data for downstream computational use.
  • Experience in closed-loop, lab-in-the-loop, or model-in-the-loop discovery environments integrating laboratory automation, data analytics, and AI-guided design or decision-making.
  • Familiarity with machine-learning applications in protein engineering and how experimental data are used by protein structure prediction and design tools, protein language models, active-learning approaches, or multi-parameter optimization. Depth in machine-learning methods is not expected; effective collaboration with data science and computational colleagues is essential.

#LI-Onsite


We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials – if this role excites you, but doesn’t perfectly match your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Compensation Overview:

Brisbane - CA - US: $141,310 - $171,238

The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full-time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.


Benefits:


Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).


U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.


Non-exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.


Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time-off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs. Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.


U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings athttps://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at


About BristolMyers Squibb

BristolMyers Squibb Careers

Join the vibrant team at BristolMyers Squibb, a leader in global biopharmaceutical innovation, where your career growth is as important as the life-changing solutions we develop. At BristolMyers Squibb, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that encourages professional growth and development. Work You’ll Do Embark on a career with BristolMyers Squibb and be part of a company that’s dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. With us, you’ll contribute to a culture that embraces scientific innovation, responsible leadership, and community outreach. Explore job opportunities in various fields from research to marketing, and join a team that values leadership and diversity. Our commitment to career growth means we support your journey with extensive training programs, leadership development opportunities, and a global, diverse network of professionals. Innovative Work At BristolMyers Squibb, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From pioneering research in oncology to breakthroughs in immunology, our professionals have the opportunity to make significant contributions to the field and impact lives globally. Our collaborative environment encourages team members to challenge the status quo and bring forward ideas that pave the way for groundbreaking solutions. Be Part of a Great Team Working at BristolMyers Squibb means being part of a team that supports your aspirations and shares your values. Our culture thrives on teamwork, respect, and diversity, creating a workplace where everyone can achieve their potential. Enjoy the benefits of being part of a company that values work-life balance, provides competitive benefits, and fosters an environment where skills and leadership are developed through hands-on experience and comprehensive mentorship programs. Future-Proof Your Career With a multitude of job opportunities ranging from internships to full-time positions, BristolMyers Squibb is not just hiring; we’re building futures. We equip our employees with the tools needed for success, including advanced training in diverse skill sets, leadership programs, and opportunities for professional networking and growth. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and innovative team players who are ready to make a difference. Explore our career portal for all current job listings and be sure to submit your resume. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights from BristolMyers Squibb. Our careers blog is a resource for potential and current employees looking to maximize their career potential. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider information tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at BristolMyers Squibb. At BristolMyers Squibb, your career is just the beginning – it’s a pathway to personal and professional fulfillment. Join us and make a global impact.
Learn more about BristolMyers Squibb
Size
32,200 employees
Market Cap
$156.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$9 billion
Founded
1887
5 Year Trend
+19%
Revenue
$42.5 billion
NASDAQ

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