Principal Scientist, Protein Engineering (AI)

Location: South San Francisco, California, United States; on-site, lab-based position

Base salary: $164,000–$205,000 annually, plus bonus and equity

Company

hirify.global is a biotech startup using generative AI and foundation models for biology to design protein and antibody therapeutics and improve drug discovery and development.

What you will do

• Define scientific strategy for therapeutic programs, including target evaluation, therapeutic hypotheses, target product profiles, and AI-driven discovery plans.
• Partner with computational protein designers to identify structural and biological features and guide AI-driven design campaigns.
• Lead binder discovery, screening, hit identification, and optimization of affinity, specificity, and developability.
• Design, produce, purify, and characterize therapeutic proteins and antibodies using chromatographic, biophysical, and biochemical methods.
• Lead cross-functional program meetings, oversee CRO-supported work, prepare technical and regulatory documentation, and maintain complete ELN records.
• Mentor junior scientists and help define the Protein Engineering team’s project portfolio and scientific direction.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, or a related scientific discipline.
• At least 6 years of industry experience in biotech or biopharma R&D supporting large-molecule therapeutic programs.
• Extensive hands-on experience with protein engineering and structural and functional characterization of antibodies and other proteins.
• Deep expertise in antibody formats, production, purification, characterization, developability assessment, and stability studies.
• Proficiency with protein visualization and structure prediction tools such as PyMOL and AlphaFold.
• Strong scientific leadership, communication, problem-solving, organizational, and mentoring skills, with a record of publications or granted patents.

Nice to have

• Direct experience with structure prediction or machine learning tools for protein design.
• Experience collaborating with Process Development and supporting IND documentation.

Culture & Benefits

• Open, flexible, and collaborative startup environment.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, bonus, and equity.
• Benefits package and support for long-term career development.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity.