Vertex · 1 month ago
Director, Protein Therapeutics
Vertex is a global biotechnology company seeking an accomplished scientific leader to join their Protein Therapeutics team in Seattle. The role focuses on advancing innovative biologics from early development to clinical readiness, leveraging scientific expertise and leadership skills to deliver transformational therapeutics for unmet medical needs.
Computer Software
Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership and scientific direction for a team specializing in protein engineering and production while fostering a culture of scientific rigor, professional growth, and a collaborative work environment
Direct purification and analytical characterization of diverse biologics modalities including Fc fusions, monoclonal or bispecific antibodies, and novel protein formats
Identify and implement emerging technologies (e.g., computational design, high-throughput screening) to accelerate development timelines
Identify, evaluate, and manage CRO/CMOs for antibody discovery campaigns, protein engineering, and production
Contribute to cross-functional and cross-site project teams, ensuring alignment with internal and external stakeholders to execute on research programs, deliver results, and influence decision making
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline with a minimum of 10 years of research experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting is required
Ability to lead a diverse team of high-performing scientists focused on protein engineering and protein purification
Proven track record in therapeutic antibody discovery and optimization, including antibody screening, engineering, and developability assessment
Deep expertise with diverse biophysical and bioanalytical techniques such as SPR/BLI, DLS, thermal stability, and aggregation assays
Demonstrated ability to design, analyze, and interpret complex data sets with exceptional attention to detail and scientific rigor
Strong record of scientific innovation and impact, supported by patents and/or peer-reviewed publications
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly present experimental results and recommendations to cross-functional teams, leadership, and external collaborators
Highly motivated, collaborative, and adaptable, with a passion for advancing breakthrough protein therapeutics in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
Preferred
Experience with computational protein modeling or developing AI/ML pipelines is highly desired
Experience managing antibody discovery campaigns with CROs is highly desirable
Benefits
Inclusive market-leading benefits
Medical, dental and vision benefits
Generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter)
Educational assistance programs including student loan repayment
A generous commuting subsidy
Matching charitable donations
401(k)
Company
Vertex
Vendor intelligence that combs through your supplier, manufacturer, logistics data to detect where you're leaving money on the table.
H1B Sponsorship
Vertex has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (27)
2024 (18)
2023 (7)
2022 (13)
2021 (5)
2020 (7)
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase