Director, Protein Sciences

Johnson & Johnson

. Lead evaluation of therapeutic targets through structural, sequence, and domain architecture analysis.

Posted 9/23/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $164,000 - $282,900 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Expertise in protein engineering and antibody discovery, with a strong foundation in structural biology and antigen design. Proven leadership in biologics discovery workflows and integration of AI/ML-based protein design tools.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Ph.D. In BiochemistryProtein EngineeringAntigen DesignStructural BiologyBiologics Discovery Workflows

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Protein Sequence AnalysisHomology ModelingStructural AnalysisRational MutagenesisProtein Stability EngineeringFunctional Relevance EngineeringNanodisc TechnologyNucleic Acid Immunogen DesignDiscovery AssaysTarget Assessment

Soft Skills

Leadership ExperienceExcellent Communication SkillsStrategic MindsetScientific ThinkingAbility To Operate In Fast-Paced Environments

Tools & Technologies

AI/ML-Based Protein Design Tools

Industry Keywords

Biologics DiscoveryPharmaceutical IndustryBiotech IndustryOncologyImmunologyNeuroscience

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead evaluation of therapeutic targets through structural, sequence, and domain architecture analysis.
Integrate internal and external data from literature, databases, and structural repositories.
Define antigen and engineered-cell design strategies to support antibody discovery.
Develop construct designs and select domains.
Optimize epitope exposure and conformational states.
Apply strategies for difficult targets, including multi-pass membrane proteins, Nanodisc technology, and nucleic acid immunogen design.
Apply computational and structural biology approaches to protein design.
Integrate emerging AI/ML-based protein design tools.
Engineer proteins to improve stability, expression, functional relevance for discovery assays, and immunization.
Contribute to antibody discovery from early target assessment through reagent generation and discovery enablement.
Work across discovery teams in a globally integrated research environment.
Provide strategic and hands-on leadership across a diverse portfolio of innovative drug concepts.

Requirements

What you’ll need

A minimum of a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Protein Engineering, or a related discipline is required.
A minimum of 10 years of experience in biologics discovery or protein sciences is required.
Demonstrated leadership experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry is required.
Strong knowledge of antigen design and generation for antibody discovery is required.
Strong knowledge of structural biology and protein sequence analysis is required.
Strong knowledge of biologics discovery workflows from target to lead identification is required.
Experience or domain knowledge in Oncology, Immunology, and/or Neuroscience is preferred.
People management experience is preferred.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strategic mindset with strong scientific thinking.
Ability to operate effectively within a highly coordinated, fast-paced matrix environment.
Homology modeling, structural analysis, and rational mutagenesis.
Integration of emerging AI/ML-based protein design tools.
Protein stability and expression engineering.
Functional relevance for discovery assays and immunization.
Antigen and engineered-cell design, including Nanodisc technology and nucleic acid immunogen design.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Consolidated retirement plan (pension)
Savings plan (401(k))
Long-term incentive program
Vacation – 120 hours per calendar year
Sick time – 40 hours per calendar year; 48 hours for employees residing in Colorado; 56 hours for employees residing in Washington
Holiday pay, including floating holidays – 13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time – up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member; 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year