Eli Lilly and Company · 1 week ago
Advisor - Protein Engineering and CAR Design
San Diego, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$138K/yr - $224K/yr
3+ years expEli Lilly and Company is a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to making life better for people around the world. The role involves leading research in protein engineering and CAR design to discover and optimize protein therapeutics, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior scientists.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Design, engineer, and optimize novel Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR’s) using a combination of structure-guided and experimental/library approaches to improve biological function, potency, time-action, stability, and immunogenicity profiles
Apply knowledge of protein structure–function relationships and structure–activity relationships (SAR) to guide molecular engineering efforts
Lead independent research projects from concept to execution, including critically analyzing experimental results, drawing appropriate conclusions and identifying new strategies to design and optimize novel biotherapeutics
Troubleshoot complex challenges in protein engineering and develop innovative solutions
Advance core capabilities in antibody and protein engineering and contribute to the development of new platform technologies
Serve as a protein engineering lead on cross-functional project teams, working closely with experts in computational biology, development, manufacturing, and translational teams
Present research findings at internal meetings and contribute to scientific publications and regulatory documents, as appropriate
Mentor junior scientists and research associates to support their technical development and career growth
Stay current with emerging scientific trends and maintain awareness of the competitive landscape in biologics discovery
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. in protein engineering, protein biochemistry, structural biology, protein biophysics, molecular biology, or related field
Minimum 3 years of postdoctoral experience in CAR-T technologies
Strong foundation in protein structure and function, including demonstrated success in applying rational protein design and experimental approaches in affinity, function or stability engineering
Proficiency in computational tools for structure modeling and analysis (e.g., Rosetta, Schrödinger, Chimera, PyMOL, MOE, AlphaFold)
Hands-on experience in molecular cloning and protein engineering
Preferred
Postdoctoral or industry experience in protein engineering or structural biology
Basic proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis, automation of workflows, or integration with bioinformatics tools
Proven track record of scientific productivity (first-author publications, patents, or conference presentations)
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
Effective written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset
Comprehensive knowledge in protein sciences (cloning, expression, purification, characterization), structural biology, protein-protein interactions, and SAR
Hand-on experience in library design and screening (e.g., phage or yeast display)
Understanding of antibody generation and biologics drug discovery research
Exposure to AI or machine learning approaches in protein design is a plus
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
Desire and commitment to continue learning
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment with strong organizational and multitasking skills
Ability to partner with cross-functional colleagues across geographies
Proficiency with scientific software (e.g., Spotfire, JMP) and Microsoft Office applications
Benefits
Company bonus
401(k)
Pension
Vacation benefits
Medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits
Flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts)
Life insurance and death benefits
Certain time off and leave of absence benefits
Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)
Company
Eli Lilly and Company
We're a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Eli Lilly and Company has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (514)
2024 (236)
2023 (167)
2022 (133)
2021 (57)
2020 (52)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$6.5M2024-02-12Post Ipo Debt· $6.5M
1978-01-13IPO
Leadership Team
David Ricks
Chair, CEO
Lucas Montarce
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2026-01-13
GlobeNewswire
2026-01-13
Company data provided by crunchbase