February 11, 2026 Job ID: 23323

Each of us cares about someone who will need medicines. That’s why our vision is to repeatedly beat the odds to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients that need them. We pursue truth and scientific rigour and have the courage to work at the edge of the unknown.

We are looking for a highly motivated Principal Scientist with a strong background in the preclinical development of biologics in an industry setting to join our team. You will contribute to the development and assessment of antibody-based drug candidates so that we can move programs faster and with less risk to the clinic. Your role will involve internal R&D as well as external collaborative research. If you are someone who has a passion for understanding how models can predict therapeutic action in human disease, we want to hear from you! 

How you might spend your days

  • Leading internal preclinical in vivo pharmacology studies to support programs around different disease indications
  • Designing, supporting execution, and interpreting in vivo pharmacology studies to generate proof-of-concept data and build confidence in selection of molecules for clinical development
  • Evaluating available data sets to identify animal models, build testable biological hypotheses for new targets, and then preclinically assessing those hypotheses
  • Work closely with the internal teams and/or external CROs, to effectively and efficiently execute in vivo preclinical studies 
  • Collaborating with cross-functional project teams within protein engineering, in vitro biology, pharmacokinetics, modeling, and biomarkers to identify lead molecules and advance programs to human clinical trials 
  • Supporting and mentoring in vivo pharmacology teammates by providing scientific expertise and practical support during preclinical study design, execution, and data analysis 
  • Collaborating with the project team and teammates on regulatory documents to support regulatory filing
  • Reporting findings to program teams and senior leadership to support data-driven decisions 

We'd love to hear from you if

  • You have a strong background in preclinical drug development of biologics in an industry setting, including discovery, identification and establishment of animal models, in vivo pharmacology, and efficacy in disease models
  • You have experience in oncology, immunology, or pain (desirable); scientific expertise in other disease areas will also be considered
  • You have a PhD in pharmacology, immunology, or a related field, plus at least 8 years of experience in a biopharmaceutical industry setting; candidates with a MSc and 12+ years of relevant industry experience will also be considered
  • You have proven interpersonal skills and create value on cross-functional teams
  • You are genuinely curious, with an interest in discussing innovative ideas in a highly collaborative and fast paced environment
  • You are good at communicating scientific and/or technical concepts with an emphasis on application
  • You are able to independently identify project needs and follow that up with constructing and implementing solutions
  • You enjoy the teamwork that comes with working on complicated biological questions and building data sets that help to predict the success of therapies

What we offer

AbCellera’s hiring range for this role is CAD $135,000 - $168,600 annually, commensurate with your education and job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, annual bonus dependent on team and company performance, and a 6% (non-match) RRSP contribution. 

You will have a CAD $1,500 annual Active Lifestyle Allowance, annual vacation, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health benefits. Scientific and technical mentorship is a priority. And you’ll find a strong sense of community and connections across AbCellera through our work, clubs, and socials.

About AbCellera

Creating medicines is the most important work we can do. 

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody-based medicines in the areas of endocrinology, women’s health, immunology, and oncology. We have built a platform for advancing antibody drug programs from target to clinic, and we are using it to build our internal pipeline.

Today, our pipeline includes two drug candidates in clinical development, two preclinical development candidates (DCs) in Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities, and more than 20 active discovery programs across multiple modalities and indications.

We believe that when tenacious people share a vision and work together, they can truly have a positive impact. That’s why we hire for character and intelligence, not just for CVs or experience. 

We look for people with drive and energy. People we trust. People who need to know their days are being well spent. That their work really matters. In the end, our success will be measured by the impact of our medicines.

To apply

Please submit your application through our website and refer to Job ID 23323 in your cover letter. We receive a large volume of applications and are only able to contact those who are selected for an interview. All communication from our Talent Discovery team will come from an @abcellera.com email address.