Principal Scientist, Bioinformatics

Somerset, NJfull timeOn Site

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senior

$146k–$192k

H1B: no

Legendcareers Principal Scientist, Bioinformatics at Legend Biotech leads AI-driven target discovery and generative AI model development for novel disease targets and CAR-T cell therapies. The role focuses on applying geometric deep learning and structural biology to design and refine high-affinity binders.

Responsibilities

Legend Biotech is at the forefront of developing innovative cell-based therapies. We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Principal Scientist of Bioinformatics with focus on AI for Drug Discovery & Protein Engineering to join our multidisciplinary R&D team. In this role, you will be a key driver in development of generative AI models and agentic AI systems to discover novel disease targets.
Concurrently, you will apply geometric deep learning and structural biology principles to design and refine high-affinity binders (such as scFvs, VHHs, or novel scaffolds) specifically tailored for CAR-T cell therapies.
AI-driven target discovery & agentic architecture.
Architect and deploy agentic AI systems to mine multi-omic datasets, clinical literature, and biological pathways for novel, tumor-specific drug targets; Build predictive frameworks using transcriptomics and other datasets to evaluate target draggability and potential off-tumor toxicity.
Generative AI & model development
Develop/adapt generative models (e.g., protein language models, diffusion models, and inverse folding algorithms) to design novel, highly specific binders for target tumor antigens; Model immune interfaces using advanced geometric deep learning to predict paratope-epitope interactions, ensuring high specificity and minimizing off-tumor toxicity.
Rational design, refinement & developability engineering
Inspect AI-designed binders to fix physical anomalies, optimize hydrophobic packing and hydrogen bonding networks, and resolve steric clashes or backbone strain; Tune binder biophysical properties to achieve optimal CAR-T signaling and prevent T-cell exhaustion.

Qualification

PhExperience building generative AI modelOther Types of Pay

Required

Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Computer Science, Structural Biology, or Biophysics.
3+ years of post-PhD experience (or 6+ years for MS/BS) in biotech/pharmaceutical industry or advanced research setting focusing on computational drug discovery, target identification, and antibody/binder design.
Expert programming proficiency and deep learning frameworks in Python and primarily PyTorch.
Experience building generative AI model, agentic AI systems utilizing LLM orchestration frameworks to query biomedical databases and literature.
Deep familiarity with structural biology software including AlphaFold, ESMFold, RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, BindCraft, and FoldFlow.
Proficiency in physics-based simulation and structural optimization/visualization tools (e.g., GROMACS, AMBER, OpenMM, PyMOL).
Solid understanding of structural immunology; Expertise in interface biophysics, including the ability to calculate interface binding energies (ΔΔG), evaluate electrostatic surface potentials.
Familiarity with foundational multi-omics platform datasets and target evaluation databases (e.g., TCGA, Open Targets, Human Protein Atlas, DepMap).
The base pay range below is what Legend Biotech USA Inc. reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify this range as needed and in accordance with applicable laws.
Other Types of Pay: Performance-based bonus and/or equity is available to employees in eligible roles.