Principal Scientist, Bioinformatics

Role Overview

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.

Key Responsibilities

• AI-driven target discovery & agentic architecture.

Additional information

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.

Requirements

• 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 (G), evaluate electrostatic surface potentials.
• Familiarity with foundational multi-omics platform datasets and target evaluation databases (e.g., TCGA, Open Targets, Human Protein Atlas, DepMap).

• #Li-JR1
• #Li-Onsite

Pay and benefits

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.

Benefits and Paid Time Off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one. We offer eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment, and a paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and eleven (11) company holidays.

Additional voluntary benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, legal assistance, and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance.

We also provide voluntary commuter benefits, family planning and care resources, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs; demonstrating our ongoing commitment to building a culture where our people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to do their best work.

Pay Range (Base Pay)

$146,410—$192,164 USD

Please note: These benefits are offered exclusively to permanent full-time employees. Contractors are not eligible for benefits through Legend Biotech.