Scientist II

About the role

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company with over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology. We are advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. This role focuses primarily on cardiac and cardiovascular indications, but our mission spans muscle biology broadly, and the successful candidate may also contribute to programs targeting skeletal or other muscle-related disease areas.

The ideal candidate is a creative, scientifically rigorous investigator who takes primary ownership of research projects, designs and executes complex lines of investigation, and drives compound progression through preclinical development. This individual will serve as a technical leader and mentor within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary scientific lead on one or more pharmacology projects—primarily in cardiac and cardiovascular indications, and potentially in other muscle biology areas—independently conceiving, designing, and executing complex series of in vivo experiments to evaluate compound efficacy.
• Analyze complex scientific problems, develop and execute new lines of investigation, and propose novel experimental approaches and potential therapeutic programs based on expert knowledge of scientific principles and disease biology.
• Direct the design and oversight of in vivo pharmacology studies and downstream biochemical and molecular assays, including cohort planning, dosing strategy, and endpoint selection, ensuring full compliance with IACUC and institutional guidelines.
• Quantify and interpret biomarkers of disease progression and target engagement, integrating functional and molecular endpoints to assess compound performance and inform go/no-go decisions.
• Collaborate across functions with discovery, DMPK, translational, and G&A teams to advance compounds through preclinical development and contribute to project goals, timelines, and budgets.
• Present original work formally at internal project reviews and external scientific meetings; author scientific papers and contribute to patent applications.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to associates and scientists; may supervise direct reports and administer performance reviews; may serve as a team leader on a project or project phase.
• Proactively seek out new data and technologies to incorporate into projects, maintaining rigorous documentation of experimental methods, datasets, and results.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biology, Physiology, Pharmacology, or a related scientific discipline (or equivalent experience), generally with 5+ years of relevant experience, including postdoctoral training. Prior experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and interpret complex research programs and to propose new scientific and therapeutic directions.
• Expert proficiency in rodent handling and dosing (mouse and rat), including multiple routes of administration and survival surgery.
• Experience with cardiac functional assessments (e.g., echocardiography, ECG, tail-cuff blood pressure measurements, telemetry or related techniques) is required.
• Extensive hands-on expertise in biochemical and molecular biology assays, such as Western blotting, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-based assays.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture or primary cardiomyocytes is a plus.
• Track record of scientific achievement, including authorship of peer-reviewed publications and/or patents, and the ability to present original work formally at internal and external meetings.
• Excellent ability to analyze, interpret, and clearly communicate complex datasets in written reports and oral presentations, and to build effective cross-disciplinary working relationships.

Pay

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $148,500–$173,250. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Benefits

• Equity in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock units.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance coverage.
• 401k retirement benefits with employer match.
• Learning and wellness stipends.
• Paid time off.

Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.