Principal Scientist, Peptide Discovery & Engineering

Kodiak Sciences Inc. is a fast-growing, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming ophthalmology through innovative therapeutics. Our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (ABCD) platform combines protein engineering, polymer chemistry, small molecule drug discovery, bioconjugation, and drug delivery to address high-prevalence ophthalmic diseases. We are seeking a motivated and independent Scientist to join our Discovery Medicine group as part of the Protein Engineering team. The team is responsible for designing, engineering, and characterizing antibodies, peptides and novel drug formats for retinal disease treatment. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving research efforts for our drug pipeline extension. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge therapeutics development in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment. Responsibilities

• Design, build, and characterize peptide- and protein-based therapeutic candidates.
• Lead and execute peptide discovery and optimization campaigns using diverse display technologies, including DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) and mRNA display.
• Develop and apply biophysical and biochemical assays to evaluate binding affinity, conformational stability, aggregation propensity, and structural integrity of therapeutic molecules.
• Design, implement, and analyze experiments involving site-specific bioconjugation, chemical modifications, and incorporation of unnatural amino acids, supporting the creation of novel therapeutic formats such as multivalent constructs and targeted delivery platforms.
• Contribute scientific insight to guide pipeline advancement, project direction, in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications/Education

• PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology or related disciplines.
• Industry experience in peptide therapeutics is required, with 5+ years preferred.

Required Skills

• Deep understanding of linear, cyclic, and conformationally constrained peptides; skilled in structure-guided peptide design and optimization.
• Demonstrated expertise in the incorporation and functional application of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) through chemical or biosynthetic methods.
• Hands-on experience with peptide synthesis and high-throughput peptide screening platforms, including mRNA display, and/or DNA-encoded libraries (DEL).
• Proficient in peptide and protein characterization techniques: HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, CD spectroscopy, SEC-MALS, DLS, SPR; experience with proteolytic stability and metabolic profiling is a plus.
• Familiarity with peptide-drug conjugate or ADC design and characterization, including linker-payload strategies, conjugation methods, and functional assays for cytotoxicity and target engagement (preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to diverse audiences and contribute to cross-functional project strategy.

Kodiak Sciences offers a collaborative, fast-paced environment where you can grow your career while contributing to transformative therapies in ophthalmology. We look forward to welcoming you to our team.