The English-language job board for Spain

Principal Scientist, Biophysics/Biochemical DMTL Automation

On-site in Toledo·Full-time·Added today (last checked 6 Nov)

Johnson & Johnson

18 open roles

Apply

Our summary

Salary: €63,700 a year
About €3,650 a month after tax, or €3,720 under the Beckham regime.
Work mode: On-site, Toledo
Contract: Full-time
Experience: 8+ years
Education: Doctorate

Visa options

The ad doesn’t mention sponsorship
Not a refusal, but not a yes. Worth asking in your first message.
Pay clears the EU Blue Card threshold
The advertised pay is over the €41,356 bar, so the route exists if Johnson & Johnson uses it.

More jobs over the Blue Card threshold

Skills

Requirements

What we're looking for

Required Experience & Skills

8+ years of experience developing and executing biophysical and biochemical assays in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or academic research environment
Demonstrated hands-on expertise with SPR, complementary biophysical platforms, and biochemical techniques
Demonstrated ability to determine robust binding affinities and kinetic parameters, supported by appropriate experimental controls, replicates, error analysis, and scientific interpretation
Experience with assay automation, high-throughput experimentation, or laboratory robotics
Strong understanding of protein-ligand interactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and molecular mechanisms
Demonstrated expertise in assay development, optimization, troubleshooting, data analysis, and curve fitting, beyond execution of established protocols
Ability to interpret complex biophysical and biochemical datasets and translate results into actionable drug discovery decisions
Strong scientific communication and collaborative problem-solving skills, including the ability to present and defend data to multidisciplinary project teams

Nice to have

Preferred Experience

Experience supporting Design-Make-Test-Learn (DMTL) workflows
Familiarity with computational chemistry, structural biology, or AI-enabled drug discovery approaches
Experience working in multidisciplinary teams spanning chemistry, biology, automation, and data sciences

Non-Technical Skills

Scientific curiosity, innovation mindset, and strong experimental judgment
Critical thinking with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable scientific insights
Collaborative, self-directed, and effective in fast-paced, highly matrixed environments

Big Data Management, Critical Thinking, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Drug Discovery Development, Molecular Diagnostics, Organizing, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Problem Solving, Product Knowledge, Project Reporting, Project Schedule, Research Proposals, Scientific Research, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Standard Scientific Processes and Procedures, Strategic Thinking, Sustainability

Education & certifications

Education

Ph.D. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Structural Biology, or a related scientific discipline

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

€63 700,00 - €109 480,00

In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees' and companies' performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location's eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.

The role

Job Function: Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function: Biological Research

Job Category: Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations: Toledo, Spain

Function: Discovery Technologies & Molecular Pharmacology

Location: Toledo, Spain

Level: Principal Scientist (ST7)

We are seeking an innovative, highly collaborative, and self-directed Principal Scientist to advance next-generation biophysical and biochemical capabilities supporting Design-Make-Test-Learn (DMTL) workflows across Discovery within Discovery Technologies and Molecular Pharmacology (DTMP). Based in Toledo, Spain, this role will generate and interpret high-quality Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and biochemical data to guide decisions from hit identification through lead optimization. The successful candidate will develop innovative assays, implement automated workflows, and partner across chemistry, biology, computational sciences, automation, and platform teams to accelerate DMTA cycles and strengthen the speed, quality, and predictability of discovery.

What you'll do

Biophysical and Biochemical Assay Development & Discovery Support

Design, develop, and execute SPR and biochemical assays to support hit validation and lead optimization across discovery programs
Generate and interpret kinetic, affinity, thermodynamic, and biochemistry data to guide SAR and critical project decisions

DMTA Acceleration & Data Generation

Deliver high-quality biophysical and biochemistry data that accelerates DMTL cycles and enables rapid, data-driven discovery decisions
Develop robust and scalable experimental workflows that expand throughput and reproducibility across the portfolio

Technology Innovation & Automation

Drive the development and implementation of automated biophysical and biochemical lab design and workflows that increase experimental scale, consistency, and scientific impact
Partner with automation, informatics, engineering, and platform teams across teams to integrate biophysical and biochemical capabilities into scalable DMTA workflows and next-generation discovery platforms

Scientific Collaboration & Technical Leadership

Act as an independent scientist, identifying opportunities, solving complex technical challenges, and leading cross-functional Discovery project teams to shape biophysical and biochemical strategies that advance project objectives
Collaborate across chemistry, biology, computational sciences, structural biology, automation, and data science within Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) and DTMP to translate biophysical and biochemical insights into portfolio decisions

Hiring process

2 steps3 interviews

Apply
Digital interview
Video call · 30–60 min
Either pre-recorded answers to sent questions (about 10 minutes, you can re-record twice) or a live video interview of 30 minutes to an hour.
Interviews with the team
With hiring manager, sometimes other team members · 1–2 sessions
Questions about your academic and work experience, with time for your own questions.
Offer

Reviewing applications for popular roles can take several weeks.
Interviewers are trained in fair hiring and ask behavioural, competency-based questions.

About Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer health conglomerate headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. With over 130,000 employees worldwide, it operates through three main segments: Innovative Medicine (pharmaceuticals), MedTech (medical devices), and previously Consumer Health (now separated as Kenvue). The company is a global leader in healthcare, developing treatments and technologies across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

In Spain, Johnson & Johnson has a significant presence with offices in Madrid and Barcelona, employing thousands of professionals in commercial, clinical, and research roles. The company is known for its strong corporate culture, commitment to employee development, and focus on innovation. For international professionals, J&J offers a diverse and inclusive work environment, competitive benefits, and opportunities to work on globally impactful healthcare projects, making it an attractive employer for those looking to build a career in Spain.

Industry: Pharma
Founded: 1886
Employees: 100,000+
Headquarters: New Brunswick, USA
In Spain: Madrid, Barcelona

Good to know if you are moving

Johnson & Johnson is a global leader in healthcare, offering a wide range of career opportunities in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research.
The company has a strong presence in Spain with offices in Madrid and Barcelona, providing a solid base for international professionals.
J&J is known for its strong corporate culture, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, which supports international hires.
Employees often have access to global career mobility programs, allowing for potential transfers across countries.
The company offers competitive compensation and benefits packages, including health insurance and professional development programs.

All open roles at Johnson & Johnson