Principal Scientist - Cardiometabolic Disorders
Amgen
August 13, 2026
Remote friendly (Thousand Oaks, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Principal Scientist β Cardiometabolic Diseases/Obesity Research
What You Will Do
- Provide scientific leadership for discovery and preclinical development of next-generation therapeutics for obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases.
- Lead translational pharmacology strategy to advance candidates from target validation through candidate selection.
- Integrate human biology, in vitro pharmacology, and in vivo efficacy to establish robust pharmacological understanding and support data-driven decisions.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across biology, protein engineering, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, biomarkers, computational biology, and clinical development.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead obesity drug discovery programs from target identification/validation through candidate selection.
- Develop and implement translational pharmacology strategies to evaluate mechanisms and optimize molecules.
- Design, oversee, and interpret in vitro/in vivo pharmacology studies (efficacy, MoA, PK/PD, biomarkers).
- Lead cross-functional scientific discussions and guide program direction via rigorous data interpretation.
- Identify and implement innovative pharmacology approaches and emerging technologies for GPCR-targeted drug discovery.
- Mentor scientists; present findings to project teams, leadership, and external audiences.
- Contribute to publications/presentations and scientific strategy supporting the obesity research portfolio.
Basic Qualifications
- PhD (Doctorate) OR PharmD OR MD (+ relevant post-doc where applicable) with 2 years; OR Masterβs with 5 years; OR Bachelorβs with 7 years in pharma/biotech/related drug discovery research.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in relevant discipline with 5+ years drug discovery experience.
- Deep GPCR biology/pharmacology/signaling expertise and mechanism-of-action understanding.
- Experience with GPCR-based in vitro assays (functional signaling, ligand binding, receptor internalization, Ξ²-arrestin, cAMP, calcium mobilization, biased signaling).
- Experience characterizing peptide/antibody/multispecific/other biologic therapeutics.
- Experience designing/interpreting in vivo pharmacology studies; integrating in vitro, in vivo, PK/PD, biomarkers, and human biology data.
- Proven leadership, mentoring, and communication with track record of publications/presentations.
Benefits (Total Rewards Plan)
- Health and welfare plans, retirement/savings with company contributions, discretionary bonus, stock-based long-term incentives, time off, and flexible work models where possible.
Application Instructions
- Apply now at careers.amgen.com.
What You Will Do
- Provide scientific leadership for discovery and preclinical development of next-generation therapeutics for obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases.
- Lead translational pharmacology strategy to advance candidates from target validation through candidate selection.
- Integrate human biology, in vitro pharmacology, and in vivo efficacy to establish robust pharmacological understanding and support data-driven decisions.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across biology, protein engineering, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, biomarkers, computational biology, and clinical development.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead obesity drug discovery programs from target identification/validation through candidate selection.
- Develop and implement translational pharmacology strategies to evaluate mechanisms and optimize molecules.
- Design, oversee, and interpret in vitro/in vivo pharmacology studies (efficacy, MoA, PK/PD, biomarkers).
- Lead cross-functional scientific discussions and guide program direction via rigorous data interpretation.
- Identify and implement innovative pharmacology approaches and emerging technologies for GPCR-targeted drug discovery.
- Mentor scientists; present findings to project teams, leadership, and external audiences.
- Contribute to publications/presentations and scientific strategy supporting the obesity research portfolio.
Basic Qualifications
- PhD (Doctorate) OR PharmD OR MD (+ relevant post-doc where applicable) with 2 years; OR Masterβs with 5 years; OR Bachelorβs with 7 years in pharma/biotech/related drug discovery research.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in relevant discipline with 5+ years drug discovery experience.
- Deep GPCR biology/pharmacology/signaling expertise and mechanism-of-action understanding.
- Experience with GPCR-based in vitro assays (functional signaling, ligand binding, receptor internalization, Ξ²-arrestin, cAMP, calcium mobilization, biased signaling).
- Experience characterizing peptide/antibody/multispecific/other biologic therapeutics.
- Experience designing/interpreting in vivo pharmacology studies; integrating in vitro, in vivo, PK/PD, biomarkers, and human biology data.
- Proven leadership, mentoring, and communication with track record of publications/presentations.
Benefits (Total Rewards Plan)
- Health and welfare plans, retirement/savings with company contributions, discretionary bonus, stock-based long-term incentives, time off, and flexible work models where possible.
Application Instructions
- Apply now at careers.amgen.com.