Amgen Inc. Posted June 5, 2026

Organic and Conjugation Chemist

Thousand Oaks, United States Full time
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About this opportunity

Career Category

Scientific

Job Description

Associate Scientist  – Organic and Conjugation Chemist

Live

This could be your everyday

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world.

The Hybrid Modality Group in the Complex Biologics & Strategic Tech Alliance Department of LMD & RDS at Amgen is seeking a highly motivated scientist in the field of chemical conjugation to join us in the state-of-the-art research facility at the Amgen headquarters campus located in Thousand Oaks, CA . The qualified candidate will work at the interface of synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical biology, and apply their chemical synthesis skills in developing new hybrid therapeutics and to support the advancement of drug discovery programs

Responsibilities including (but not limited to) synthesis, purification and characterization of antibody, protein, peptide conjugates for potential clinical drug development.

Synthesis, purification and characterization of small molecule payloads and linkers for development of novel antibody-drug conjugates.

Operate and maintain standard lab equipment.

Document experimental plans and procedures with attention to detail in a timely manner.

Review, analyze, and interpret scientific data and results; and provide regular updates, documentation, and/or communication on project results.

Win

Here’s what it takes to Win

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dedicated individual we seek is a scientist with these qualifications.

Basic qualifications

Master's Degree

Or

Bachelor's Degree and 2+ years of relevant experience

OR

Associate’s degree and 4 years of relevant experience

OR

High school diploma / GED and 6 years of relevant experience

Preferred qualifications

Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field

Demonstrated proficiency in organic synthesis including designing, executing, and optimizing chemical reactions

Experience in peptide synthesis is preferred

Experience with protein conjugation is preferred

Experienced in various purification and analytical techniques including chromatography methods (e.g. HPLC, RP HPLC chromatography) and structural determination methods (e.g. NMR, MS)

Demonstration of good lab practices, with particular attention to safety

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work comfortably within a dynamic team of scientists and engineers with diverse technical and cultural backgrounds

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts

A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan

Stock-based long-term incentives

Award-winning time-off plans

Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

Apply now and make a lasting impact with the Amgen team.

careers.amgen.com

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Application deadline

External/Internal postings:

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Internal only posting (or Pre-ID candidate):

Amgen anticipates accepting applications until 1-2 weeks before the posting; however, we may continue accepting applications beyond this date if we do not receive a sufficient number of candidates.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

. Salary Range

84,454.30USD -114,261.70 USD

Job details

Seniority
Not listed
Function
Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Thousand Oaks, United States
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 450 comparable Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 59 biopharma companies.

450Comparable roles tracked
428Currently active
59Companies hiring similar roles
20Countries represented

Salary context

172 of 450 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.

This roleSubject Not listed on this posting
Highest disclosed · Executive Director, Biotherapeutics DMPK · Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US) $268,000/yr – $402,000/yr
Peer group range $0 – $335,000 (median $172,050)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 450 comparable roles

United States349
Germany16
India13
Switzerland11
United Kingdom11
Canada11

+ 14 more countries

Seniority mix

361 of 450 peers have a known seniority level

Senior113
Principal79
Intern/Fellow/Postdoc46
Director39
Associate Director26
Associate20
Senior Director19
Executive/VP12
Manager7

Therapeutic area mix

68 of 450 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology37
Cardiovascular / CVRM10
Neuroscience8
Immunology6
Respiratory3
Vaccines & Infectious Disease2
Ophthalmology1
Gastroenterology1

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How we calculate "similar"

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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

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