Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need.
Our lead molecule, azetukalner, is a novel, potent, selective Kv7 potassium channel opener in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of epilepsy, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD).
We are also advancing an early-stage portfolio of multiple promising potassium and sodium channel modulators, including Kv7 and Nav1.7 programs in Phase 1 development for the potential treatment of pain.
We have offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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data-scientist

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on neuroscience drug discovery and development. It leverages human genetics, ion-channel biology, and novel chemistries to create selective modulators of central and peripheral nervous system ion channels. Its lead late-stage investigational candidate, azetukalner, is being developed for epilepsy and depression. The company emphasizes patient-centered research, clinical trials, and support for people affected by neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need. Our lead molecule, azetukalner, is a novel, potent, selective Kv7 potassium channel opener in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of epilepsy, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD). We are also advancing an early-stage portfolio of multiple promising potassium and sodium channel modulators, including Kv7 and Nav1.7 programs in Phase 1 development for the potential treatment of pain. We have offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Boston, Massachusetts.

• Design and implement agentic AI systems that allow scientists to query Oracle databases and scientific data platforms using natural language, generating interactive plots and structured reports from preclinical data.
• Integrate large language models into scientific data workflows using both cloud-hosted services (Azure OpenAI) and locally deployed open-weight models (Ollama, vLLM, or similar), including prompt engineering, tool/function calling, guardrails, output validation, and structured output parsing.
• Design and implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines over scientific documents and database schemas to ground LLM responses in domain-specific context.
• Evaluate, benchmark, and select appropriate LLM backends (cloud vs. local, model size, quantization) based on latency, accuracy, cost, and data privacy requirements.
• Build scalable data models and ETL pipelines that surface scientific data through web-based applications and GUIs in Python (Plotly Dash, FastAPI).
• Use Docker to build, test, and deploy containerized applications across on-premises and Azure environments.
• Communicate effectively with scientific and technical stakeholders, including presenting methods, architectures, and results to broader audiences.
• Write detailed application and system documentation using GitHub Pages, Sphinx, or similar professional tooling.

Data Scientist

Data Scientist designing and deploying AI-powered applications for querying and analyzing scientific data. Integrating large language models into workflows for enhanced data analysis and visualization.

systems-engineer

• Manage networking environment including Cisco switches, Palo Alto firewalls, HPE ClearPass, and Meraki Wi-Fi.
• Manage Microsoft Azure environment including virtual machines, networking, Azure Files, enterprise applications, and storage accounts.
• Manage enterprise certificate architecture.
• Support Citrix NetScaler.
• Support Microsoft Active Directory and Entra environments.
• Develop documentation including Standard Operating Procedures, Knowledge base articles, and System Design Specifications.
• Collaborate with IT business partners to evaluate and implement software solutions.
• Collaborate with IT Security to evolve the network environment to enhance performance, reliability, and security, remediate vulnerabilities and adhere to best practices within the IT infrastructure.
• Submit and present IT change controls, participate in IT problem management, and manage IT incidents.
• Troubleshoot a wide range of hardware and software issues, in consultation with other team members when necessary.
• Effectively manage and leverage managed service provider (MSP) resources.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports, if any.
• Some international travel may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Senior Network System Engineer

Network Systems Engineer/Senior Network Systems Engineer managing networking infrastructure at Xenon Pharmaceuticals. Overseeing enterprise networking, maintaining systems, and collaborating on solutions.

qa-engineer

• Contribute to the management of Xenon’s quality systems and activities including change control, nonconformance and deviation management, complaint and recall management, quality risk management, vendor qualification, audits, GxP training programs, data quality audits, and inspection readiness.
• Compile and evaluate quality metrics and trends for timely identification, resolution, and communication of compliance risks and to foster continual process improvement initiatives.
• Manage batch release operations activities, including but not limited to master and executed batch record review, deviations, investigations, change controls and CAPAs review, and analytical data review.
• Lead and manage critical activities and milestones of the CDMO life cycle: qualification and selection, technology transfer, management, and decommission.
• Facilitate and resolve quality issues with CDMOs and internal stakeholders; ensure that products meet all required quality standards and specifications.
• Maintain CDMO site readiness for Health Authority regulatory inspections.
• Apply risk-based review processes for GMP documentation by identifying key elements such as critical quality attributes, critical process parameters, and critical material attributes suitable for the phase of development.
• Contribute to training initiatives and GMP compliance interpretation to support and improve quality processes that assure product quality and data integrity.
• Participate in on-site regulatory inspections and Xenon audits.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships that promotes continuous application of quality principles and compliance with regulatory requirements while remaining independent. Develop strong working relationships with CMC, Quality Control, and Regulatory functions.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports, if any.
• Some domestic and/or international travel may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Associate Director, Quality Assurance, GMP

Associate Director, Quality Assurance, GMP at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, ensuring GMP compliance and supporting late-stage clinical development. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and leading quality systems management.

research-scientist

• Lead a team of scientists and research associates supporting the development of New Chemical Entities drug substance and drug product for preclinical and clinical programs within the CMC group in close collaboration with the CMC teams.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Discovery to transfer product candidates into the CMC group.
• Identify and recommend analytical methodologies to support chemical development, formulation development, QC, and stability testing. Lead and perform activities related to analytical method development, optimization, troubleshooting, qualification, validation, and transfer activities for starting materials, process intermediates, drug substances, drug products, internally and at CMOs.
• Work with multi-functional project teams to design and execute phase-appropriate analytical strategies including analytical method development, qualification/validation, and product characterization. Represent analytical function in CMC teams and interdepartmental meetings.
• Subject matter expert for impurity characterization. Track and evaluate impurity profiles for drug substance and drug product. Characterization and identify unknown impurities and their source. Develop new methods for impurity tracking.
• Resolve technical issues, review deviations and investigations at contractor sites in coordination with internal and external quality control, quality assurance, and regulatory groups, as appropriate. Provide SME technical input for OOS and OOT investigations.
• Author/review technical documents outlining analytical activities including method validation, reference standard and impurity characterization, stability, etc. Author/review analytical sections of chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) sections of regulatory submissions.
• Maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge through regular literature review and participation in conferences. Leverage external data, publications, and relevant benchmarking information to drive experimental design, data analysis, and functional/cross-functional strategy development.
• Keep up to date and detailed records of experiments and data analysis within an Electronic Lab Notebook system. Ensure experiments are counter-signed on a monthly basis.
• Ensure the laboratory environment is safe and well-organized; follow and keep up to date with Health & Safety policies.
• Recruit, lead, direct, develop, coach and evaluate direct reports, if any, in accordance with the Company’s Human Resource policies and practices.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports, if any.
• Some international travel may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Principal Scientist/Senior Principal Scientist, CMC, Analytical Chemistry

Principal Scientist/Sr. Principal Scientist leading analytical chemistry for drug product development at Xenon Pharmaceuticals. Seeking expert with extensive industry experience and analytical methodology knowledge.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

About the company

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Data Scientist

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Senior Network System Engineer

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Associate Director, Quality Assurance, GMP

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Principal Scientist/Senior Principal Scientist, CMC, Analytical Chemistry

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.