Principal Jobs at Genentech with Visa Sponsorship
Principal jobs at Genentech sit at the intersection of scientific leadership and cross-functional strategy, covering areas like regulatory affairs, clinical development, and medical devices. Genentech has a established track record of sponsoring work visas for senior contributors in this function, making it a credible target if you're building a long-term U.S. career in biotech.
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The Position
The Department of Protein Sciences at Genentech seeks an exceptional structural biologist with a focus on protein dynamics to join its Structural Biology group. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in protein production and purification, structure determination of protein and protein-ligand complexes, and an expert in the use of computational and experimental techniques to characterize and understand protein dynamics and ligand binding. Our department offers a highly interdisciplinary environment for drug discovery and biomedical research, with state-of-the-art resources and unparalleled opportunities for scientific collaboration. We integrate macromolecular crystallography, cryoEM, and other methods to drive drug discovery and uncover fundamental biology. Our group designs constructs, purifies proteins, and analyzes their structures and molecular interactions. We collaborate with scientists throughout the Research and Drug Discovery organization to advance discovery of therapeutics.
The Opportunity
As a Principal Scientist in Structural Biology, you will help drive drug discovery initiatives by uncovering the structural and dynamic mechanisms of therapeutic target proteins. Working in a highly interdisciplinary environment, you will integrate structural data, advanced computational modeling, and biophysical insights to enable the discovery of life-changing medicines.
- Lead structural biology strategy and execution within multi-disciplinary drug discovery project teams, offering actionable structural insights.
- Oversee protein construct design, expression, purification, and high-resolution structure determination using cryoEM and/or X-ray crystallography.
- Solve and analyze structures of target protein complexes bound by small molecules, peptides, antibodies or other therapeutic formats.
- Utilize state-of-the-art computational tools alongside experimental data (cryoEM, HDX) to characterize the dynamics of biological macromolecules.
- Translate protein dynamics insights into actionable strategies for target assessment, protein construct and reagent design, hit finding, lead identification, lead optimization or other steps of drug discovery.
- Empower and mentor colleagues in applying computational tools and dynamics/ensemble methods to accelerate drug discovery projects. When appropriate, develop workflows, documentation or training materials.
Who You Are
You are a passionate, collaborative expert motivated by scientific excellence and a desire to deliver innovative solutions for patients worldwide. You thrive in cross-functional environments and lead through scientific influence, open dialogue, and mutual respect.
- You hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Biophysics, Computational Biology, or a related scientific discipline.
- You have a minimum of 3 years of relevant post-doctoral experience in industry, academia or a research organization.
- An expert in molecular modeling techniques such as molecular dynamics simulation, structural ensemble modeling, ensemble docking and/or related techniques.
- You have demonstrated expertise in biomolecular structure determination via cryoEM or X-ray crystallography.
- You have a proven track record leveraging insights into protein or protein-ligand molecular dynamics to enable, accelerate, and/or improve target identification, pocket discovery, binder discovery, ligand optimization and/or other steps of drug discovery.
- A collaborative leader who knows how to guide, inspire and motivate colleagues and teams based on scientific merit and mutual respect, rather than organizational hierarchy.
- Highly organized, with great attention to detail, strong communication and excellent interpersonal skills.
Preferred:
- You have experience executing or overseeing protein construct design and purification workflows for structural characterization and/or assay development.
- You bring hands-on experience in ligand discovery or lead optimization projects within a multidisciplinary drug discovery environment.
- You possess demonstrated expertise in virtual docking, free energy perturbation (FEP), or related computational chemistry workflows.
- You have a demonstrated interest or experience in protein language models, machine learning for protein design, computational or laboratory automation, or related topics.
Together, we’ll advance along the whole patient journey with the aspiration to prevent, stop and cure diseases.
This is an office- and lab-based position in South San Francisco, CA.
This position is eligible for relocation assistance.
Please include a cover letter with your application.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of San Francisco, CA is $150,700.00 - $279,900.00 USD Annual. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.
We are seeking a Principal Scientist to join our team. Depending on the candidate's depth of experience, technical expertise, and leadership background, this role may be leveled at the Senior Principal Scientist level.
This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Principal Jobs at Genentech
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires Principal roles to qualify as specialty occupations, meaning your degree must directly relate to the job. For Genentech's medical devices function, a graduate degree in biomedical engineering, regulatory science, or a closely related field strengthens your petition significantly.
Target Genentech's regulatory and clinical Principal tracks
Genentech staffs Principal roles most heavily in regulatory affairs and clinical operations for medical devices. Framing your resume around FDA submission experience, cross-functional trial management, or device commercialization puts you in the strongest candidate pool for sponsored positions.
Browse open Principal roles through Migrate Mate
Genentech lists Principal openings across multiple functions at different times of year. Use Migrate Mate to filter specifically for Principal roles at Genentech that include visa sponsorship, so you're not manually sorting through listings that don't apply to your situation.
Confirm your LCA wage tier before accepting an offer
Before signing, ask your recruiter which DOL prevailing wage level Genentech intends to use on your Labor Condition Application. Principal-level roles in the San Francisco Bay Area typically fall at wage levels III or IV, and a mismatch can create complications during H-1B filing.
Plan around H-1B cap timing if you're on OPT
If you're currently on F-1 OPT, your H-1B petition must be filed by April 1 to take effect October 1. Genentech has sponsored both standard cap and STEM OPT bridge scenarios, so clarify with your HR contact which pathway applies to your start date.
Prepare for PERM if a Green Card is part of your plan
For EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship, Genentech's legal team typically initiates PERM after you've been in role for a defined period. The DOL audit process for Principal-level positions in medical devices can extend timelines, so request an early conversation about your employer's green card process during offer negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Genentech sponsor H-1B visas for Principals?
Yes, Genentech sponsors H-1B visas for Principal-level roles. The company has a consistent track record of filing H-1B petitions for senior contributors across its medical devices and broader biotech functions. If you're in the H-1B cap lottery or transitioning from F-1 OPT, your recruiter and Genentech's immigration team will coordinate the petition timeline with your start date.
Which visa types are commonly used for Principal roles at Genentech?
H-1B is the most common visa type for Principal roles at Genentech. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT extensions are used as bridge arrangements for recent graduates before H-1B status begins. TN visas are available for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying specialty occupations. For longer-term pathways, Genentech supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card sponsorship for Principal-level employees.
What qualifications are expected for a Principal role at Genentech?
Principal roles at Genentech in the medical devices space generally require an advanced degree, most commonly a master's or Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, regulatory affairs, clinical sciences, or a related discipline. Employers at this level also expect demonstrated leadership on cross-functional projects, familiarity with FDA device regulations, and several years of hands-on industry experience in a comparable senior individual contributor capacity.
How do I apply for Principal jobs at Genentech?
You can browse and apply for Principal roles at Genentech directly through Genentech's careers portal. To find openings that explicitly include visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate to filter for Principal positions at Genentech before applying. When you apply, tailor your materials to highlight regulatory, clinical, or device-specific experience that aligns with the specific Principal track listed in the job description.
How do I manage the timeline between a Genentech offer and my visa filing?
Once you have a signed offer, Genentech's immigration counsel will initiate the relevant petition, whether that's an H-1B, TN, or another category. For H-1B cap cases, the April 1 filing window is fixed, so your offer timing relative to the lottery matters. For TN or H-1B transfers from a current employer, processing can move faster. Clarify expected start dates with your recruiter early so the filing timeline stays on track.