What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Protein Engineering position at Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom?
Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking an Associate Director/Director of Protein Engineering for a direct hire opportunity with a generative AI biotechnology company in Vancouver, WA. If you’re passionate about bringing the latest scientific discoveries to life and are ready to take the next step in your career, trust The Experts at Hiring Experts.
Workplace: Onsite in Vancouver, WA
Salary: $165,000-230,000
Overview
We are partnering with a leading biotechnology firm seeking an accomplished leader to drive innovation at the intersection of antibody engineering, structural biology, and AI-powered biologics discovery. You’ll head a world-class team advancing both internal and partnered drug creation programs, fueling our mission through scientific excellence, strategic vision, and collaborative cross-functional leadership.
We are hiring at both the Director and Associate Director levels, based on your experience:
Associate Director: Hands-on leader with a proven ability to drive protein engineering or structural biology initiatives, contribute to pipeline milestones, and lead project teams.
Director: Strategic leader with broad, impactful experience shaping scientific direction across multiple platforms and projects, inspiring high-performing teams, and influencing organizational strategy.
What You’ll Do
What Happens Next
Once you apply, you’ll proceed to the next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert Science & Clinical recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.
#P1
As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.
Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?
Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.
About Kelly
Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.
Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Workplace: Onsite in Vancouver, WA
Salary: $165,000-230,000
Overview
We are partnering with a leading biotechnology firm seeking an accomplished leader to drive innovation at the intersection of antibody engineering, structural biology, and AI-powered biologics discovery. You’ll head a world-class team advancing both internal and partnered drug creation programs, fueling our mission through scientific excellence, strategic vision, and collaborative cross-functional leadership.
We are hiring at both the Director and Associate Director levels, based on your experience:
Associate Director: Hands-on leader with a proven ability to drive protein engineering or structural biology initiatives, contribute to pipeline milestones, and lead project teams.
Director: Strategic leader with broad, impactful experience shaping scientific direction across multiple platforms and projects, inspiring high-performing teams, and influencing organizational strategy.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and mentor multidisciplinary scientists in antibody engineering, structure-guided design, and biophysical characterization to accelerate drug development.
- Collaborate closely with computational and AI teams to integrate experimental and in silico approaches—evaluating models, establishing performance metrics, and advancing generative AI drug-creation platforms.
- Serve as a protein engineering expert on cross-functional teams, collaborating across computational biology, analytics, and translational sciences.
- Drive platform development for monoclonal and multispecific antibody therapeutics, from rational design through optimization and characterization.
- Spearhead binding and biophysical assay development, leveraging deep expertise in protein structure–function analysis to optimize biologic candidates.
- Stay at the cutting edge of technologies and competitive trends, informing innovation and pipeline strategy.
- Communicate program progress and scientific insights clearly to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate across disciplines on mechanistic studies, supporting target assessment and antibody mode-of-action elucidation.
- PhD in life sciences (8 years relevant experience; 5 in biotech/biopharma) or MS with equivalent accomplishments.
- Recognized expertise in antibody engineering, protein structural analysis (e.g., Schrödinger, MOE, Rosetta), and hands-on design/optimization of complex biologics.
- Deep knowledge of protein engineering workflows—expression, purification, binding, and biophysical analyses (BLI, SPR, SEC, DSF, DLS).
- Familiarity with Fc engineering, developability, half-life extension, and immunogenicity assessment.
- Experience deploying or integrating AI/ML for protein design is a plus.
- Proven track record of advancing biologics candidates, managing scientific teams, publishing peer-reviewed work, and/or filing patents.
- Outstanding communication, mentorship, and collaborative skills.
What Happens Next
Once you apply, you’ll proceed to the next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. But don’t worry – even if this position doesn’t work out, you’re still in our network. That means our team of expert Science & Clinical recruiters will have access to your profile, making your opportunities limitless.
#P1
As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.
Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?
Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it’s the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.
About Kelly
Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.
Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Salary : $165,000 - $230,000