Senior RNA Chemist RNA Therapeutics

About the role

Join Amgens Mission of Serving Patients At Amgen, if you feel like you're part of something bigger, it's because you are. Our shared mission to serve patients living with serious illnesses drives all that we do. Since 1980, we've helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world's toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease, we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you'll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller, happier lives. Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science-based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lie within them, you'll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-throughput strategies for modular assembly of mRNA elements to achieve maximal payload expression and programable cellular performance for therapeutic applications.
• Develop and advance mRNA platform technologies, including chemical modification strategies, capping approaches, and sequence/structure optimization.
• Lead experimental efforts to improve RNA quality, purity, stability, and biological activity.
• Develop and apply purification strategies for mRNA, including experience with FPLC-based purification methods where applicable.
• Utilize and interpret analytical methods for mRNA characterization, including HPLC, FPLC, LC-MS, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, UV/Vis, and related biochemical and biophysical techniques.
• Evaluate the impact of sequence, structure, chemical modifications, and purification approaches on mRNA performance and developability through functional in vitro assays.
• Clearly document experimental work and communicate findings through internal reports, presentations, patent disclosures, and scientific publications.
• Contribute to the development of scalable and reproducible workflows that support RNA therapeutic platform advancement.

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree PhD OR PharmD OR MD [and relevant post-doc where applicable] OR Masters degree and 3 years of relevant scientific experience OR Bachelors degree and 5 years of relevant scientific experience
• PhD+ 2 years relevant experience in RNA chemistry, oligonucleotide chemistry, nucleic acid therapeutics, or related discipline.
• Strong background in the design, synthesis, and optimization of RNA molecules, including experience with mRNA and/or circRNA.
• Hands-on experience with in vitro transcription, RNA purification, and analytical characterization.
• Experience in cell culture and functional in vitro assays for quantification of RNA expression.
• Experience with FPLC purification and familiarity with chromatography-based workflows for biomolecule purification.
• Knowledge of modified nucleotides, capping technologies, circularization methods, and structure-function relationships in RNA systems.
• Understanding how RNA chemistry and purification impact stability, translation efficiency, immunogenicity, and manufacturability.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and drive scientific progress.
• Strong record of collaboration in multidisciplinary drug discovery or platform development environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting scientific data to cross-functional teams.
• Track record of innovation as evidenced by publications, patents, or advancement of enabling technologies.