Associate Director/Director, Translational Biology
Scorpion Therapeutics, San Carlos, CA, United States
Overview
Mavericks Wanted When was the last time you achieved the impossible? If that thought feels overwhelming, you might want to pause here, but if it sparks excitement...read on In 2015, we pioneered a “moneyball for biotech” approach, pooling projects and promising early-stage research from academia together under one financial umbrella to reduce risk and unleash innovation. This model allows science and small teams of experts to lead the way. We build bridges to groundbreaking advancements in rare disease, and develop life-changing medicines for patients with unmet needs as fast as humanly possible. Together we define white space, push boundaries, and empower people to solve problems. If you\'re someone who defies convention, join us and work alongside some of the most respected minds in the industry. Together, we\'ll ask "why not?" and help reengineer the future of biopharma. At BridgeBio, we value curiosity and experimentation—including the ethical & thoughtful use of AI to improve clarity, speed, and quality of work.
What You\'ll Do
The Associate Director of Biomarker Science will lead assay development, validation, and translational biomarker strategies across BridgeBio affiliate programs. This role requires a hands-on scientific leader who can design and validate assays, integrate biomarkers into clinical development, manage vendor partnerships, and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of discovery, preclinical development and clinical operations—providing scientific leadership and operational rigor to accelerate program decision-making. This position includes supervisory responsibilities: you will both lead scientific work and manage a team of scientists and technical staff, providing coaching, career development, resource planning and performance management.
Responsibilities
Discovery & Biology Strategy
Define the biology strategy to support target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and medicinal chemistry optimization
Design and execute in vitro and in vivo experiments that demonstrate target engagement, functional pharmacology and disease-relevant biology to inform med chem SAR and lead optimization
Coordinate with medicinal chemistry, structural biology and pharmacology teams to prioritize compounds, define target product profiles, and support lead selection
Translate discovery findings into criteria and experimental plans that feed into IND-enabling studies and inform go
o-go decision points
Assay Development and Validation
Lead design, development and validation of biomarker and pharmacodynamic assays (cell-based, biochemical, ELISA/multiplex immunoassays, Western blotting, biophysical protein characterization, etc.) to support translational and clinical programs
Set assay performance criteria and qualification/validation plans; author SOPs and validation reports; implement QA/QC practices to ensure reproducible assay performance
Clinical Trial Support
Translate preclinical biomarker findings into clinical biomarker strategies and practical assay deployment plans
Collaborate with clinical operations, sample management and biostatistics to design sample collection, processing, storage and chain-of-custody procedures
Oversee incorporation of biomarker testing into Phase 1–3 protocols, including sample handling, endpoint definitions and analysis plans
Vendor Management
Identify, qualify and manage relationships with external vendors, CROs and CLIA laboratories for assay development, transfer and routine execution
Lead vendor qualification, technology transfer, assay bridging and vendor audits to ensure regulatory readiness and data quality
Regulatory Compliance and Filings
Ensure biomarker assays and data collection comply with applicable regulatory standards (GCP/GLP where applicable)
Contribute clinical assay sections and assay validation summaries for regulatory submissions (INDs, briefing packages, NDAs) and support responses to regulatory questions
Data Management and Analysis
Partner with biostatistics to develop statistical analysis plans, define analytical endpoints and produce tables, listings and figures for decision-making and regulatory documents
Oversee rigorous data capture, QC and reporting for clinical biomarker datasets and preclinical/clinical study reports
Contribute to statistical analysis plans and the design of tables, listings, and figures
Scientific Communication & Leadership
Prepare and present scientific reports, publications and conference abstracts; engage with key opinion leaders to inform biomarker strategy
Present translational data to program teams and senior leadership; mentor and develop early-career scientists
Support internal initiatives to capture lessons learned, propagate best practices and continuously improve biomarker workflows
Collaborate with drug discovery, clinical development, and regulatory affairs teams to integrate biomarker strategies
Present data to the broader MLBio team, including scientific, clinical, and business leaders
Where You\'ll Work This role involves primarily hands-on laboratory responsibilities in our San Carlos, CA location.
Who You Are
Minimum Education requirement:
MS or PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or a related discipline.
Relevant Experience
Minimum 10 years of industry experience in translational science, biomarker development, or related roles supporting clinical development.
Demonstrated track record developing and validating cell-based and biochemical assays for clinical use; experience with ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, Western blotting and protein characterization methods.
Hands-on experience with assay transfer to CRO labs, vendor qualification, and supporting regulatory filings.
Strong understanding of clinical study design, GCP, and regulatory expectations for biomarker data.
Experience writing scientific and regulatory documents and collaborating with cross-functional teams including biostatistics.
Skills & Attributes
Strong scientific judgment and experimental design skills; ability to interpret complex datasets and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
Excellent written and oral communication; experience presenting to scientific and business audiences.
Proven leadership and mentorship skills; collaborative, proactive and team-oriented approach.
Detail-oriented with strong project management abilities and a commitment to high quality data and documentation.
Travel
Travel for vendor management/audits and scientific meetings as required.
At BridgeBio, we strive to provide a market-competitive total rewards package, including base pay, an annual performance bonus, company equity, and generous health benefits. Salary range for California roles: $214,400 — $258,700 USD. Final salary depends on experience, education, location, and interview performance. BridgeBio is a multi-state employer. As a global company, our comprehensive benefits may vary based on location. We have high expectations for our team members. We make sure those working hard for patients are rewarded and cared for in return.
For USA based roles:
Financial & Rewards
Market-leading compensation
401(k) with employer match
Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
Pre-tax commuter benefits (transit and parking)
Referral bonus for hired candidates
Subsidized lunch and parking on in-office days
Health & Well-Being
100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your dependents
Health Savings Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions, plus Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Fertility & family-forming benefits
Expanded mental health support (therapy and coaching resources)
Hybrid work model with flexibility
Flexible, take-what-you-need paid time off and company-paid holidays
Comprehensive paid medical and parental leave
Skill Development & Career Paths:
People are part of our growth and success story — from discovery to active drug trials and FDA pipelines, there are endless opportunities for skill development and internal mobility
We provide career pathing through regular feedback, continuous education and professional development programs via LinkedIn Learning, LifeLabs, & BetterUp Coaching
We celebrate strong performance with financial rewards, peer-to-peer recognition, and growth opportunities
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Mavericks Wanted When was the last time you achieved the impossible? If that thought feels overwhelming, you might want to pause here, but if it sparks excitement...read on In 2015, we pioneered a “moneyball for biotech” approach, pooling projects and promising early-stage research from academia together under one financial umbrella to reduce risk and unleash innovation. This model allows science and small teams of experts to lead the way. We build bridges to groundbreaking advancements in rare disease, and develop life-changing medicines for patients with unmet needs as fast as humanly possible. Together we define white space, push boundaries, and empower people to solve problems. If you\'re someone who defies convention, join us and work alongside some of the most respected minds in the industry. Together, we\'ll ask "why not?" and help reengineer the future of biopharma. At BridgeBio, we value curiosity and experimentation—including the ethical & thoughtful use of AI to improve clarity, speed, and quality of work.
What You\'ll Do
The Associate Director of Biomarker Science will lead assay development, validation, and translational biomarker strategies across BridgeBio affiliate programs. This role requires a hands-on scientific leader who can design and validate assays, integrate biomarkers into clinical development, manage vendor partnerships, and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of discovery, preclinical development and clinical operations—providing scientific leadership and operational rigor to accelerate program decision-making. This position includes supervisory responsibilities: you will both lead scientific work and manage a team of scientists and technical staff, providing coaching, career development, resource planning and performance management.
Responsibilities
Discovery & Biology Strategy
Define the biology strategy to support target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and medicinal chemistry optimization
Design and execute in vitro and in vivo experiments that demonstrate target engagement, functional pharmacology and disease-relevant biology to inform med chem SAR and lead optimization
Coordinate with medicinal chemistry, structural biology and pharmacology teams to prioritize compounds, define target product profiles, and support lead selection
Translate discovery findings into criteria and experimental plans that feed into IND-enabling studies and inform go
o-go decision points
Assay Development and Validation
Lead design, development and validation of biomarker and pharmacodynamic assays (cell-based, biochemical, ELISA/multiplex immunoassays, Western blotting, biophysical protein characterization, etc.) to support translational and clinical programs
Set assay performance criteria and qualification/validation plans; author SOPs and validation reports; implement QA/QC practices to ensure reproducible assay performance
Clinical Trial Support
Translate preclinical biomarker findings into clinical biomarker strategies and practical assay deployment plans
Collaborate with clinical operations, sample management and biostatistics to design sample collection, processing, storage and chain-of-custody procedures
Oversee incorporation of biomarker testing into Phase 1–3 protocols, including sample handling, endpoint definitions and analysis plans
Vendor Management
Identify, qualify and manage relationships with external vendors, CROs and CLIA laboratories for assay development, transfer and routine execution
Lead vendor qualification, technology transfer, assay bridging and vendor audits to ensure regulatory readiness and data quality
Regulatory Compliance and Filings
Ensure biomarker assays and data collection comply with applicable regulatory standards (GCP/GLP where applicable)
Contribute clinical assay sections and assay validation summaries for regulatory submissions (INDs, briefing packages, NDAs) and support responses to regulatory questions
Data Management and Analysis
Partner with biostatistics to develop statistical analysis plans, define analytical endpoints and produce tables, listings and figures for decision-making and regulatory documents
Oversee rigorous data capture, QC and reporting for clinical biomarker datasets and preclinical/clinical study reports
Contribute to statistical analysis plans and the design of tables, listings, and figures
Scientific Communication & Leadership
Prepare and present scientific reports, publications and conference abstracts; engage with key opinion leaders to inform biomarker strategy
Present translational data to program teams and senior leadership; mentor and develop early-career scientists
Support internal initiatives to capture lessons learned, propagate best practices and continuously improve biomarker workflows
Collaborate with drug discovery, clinical development, and regulatory affairs teams to integrate biomarker strategies
Present data to the broader MLBio team, including scientific, clinical, and business leaders
Where You\'ll Work This role involves primarily hands-on laboratory responsibilities in our San Carlos, CA location.
Who You Are
Minimum Education requirement:
MS or PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or a related discipline.
Relevant Experience
Minimum 10 years of industry experience in translational science, biomarker development, or related roles supporting clinical development.
Demonstrated track record developing and validating cell-based and biochemical assays for clinical use; experience with ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, Western blotting and protein characterization methods.
Hands-on experience with assay transfer to CRO labs, vendor qualification, and supporting regulatory filings.
Strong understanding of clinical study design, GCP, and regulatory expectations for biomarker data.
Experience writing scientific and regulatory documents and collaborating with cross-functional teams including biostatistics.
Skills & Attributes
Strong scientific judgment and experimental design skills; ability to interpret complex datasets and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
Excellent written and oral communication; experience presenting to scientific and business audiences.
Proven leadership and mentorship skills; collaborative, proactive and team-oriented approach.
Detail-oriented with strong project management abilities and a commitment to high quality data and documentation.
Travel
Travel for vendor management/audits and scientific meetings as required.
At BridgeBio, we strive to provide a market-competitive total rewards package, including base pay, an annual performance bonus, company equity, and generous health benefits. Salary range for California roles: $214,400 — $258,700 USD. Final salary depends on experience, education, location, and interview performance. BridgeBio is a multi-state employer. As a global company, our comprehensive benefits may vary based on location. We have high expectations for our team members. We make sure those working hard for patients are rewarded and cared for in return.
For USA based roles:
Financial & Rewards
Market-leading compensation
401(k) with employer match
Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
Pre-tax commuter benefits (transit and parking)
Referral bonus for hired candidates
Subsidized lunch and parking on in-office days
Health & Well-Being
100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your dependents
Health Savings Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions, plus Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Fertility & family-forming benefits
Expanded mental health support (therapy and coaching resources)
Hybrid work model with flexibility
Flexible, take-what-you-need paid time off and company-paid holidays
Comprehensive paid medical and parental leave
Skill Development & Career Paths:
People are part of our growth and success story — from discovery to active drug trials and FDA pipelines, there are endless opportunities for skill development and internal mobility
We provide career pathing through regular feedback, continuous education and professional development programs via LinkedIn Learning, LifeLabs, & BetterUp Coaching
We celebrate strong performance with financial rewards, peer-to-peer recognition, and growth opportunities
#J-18808-Ljbffr