Senior Associate Scientist, High Throughput Protein Production (AI)

Location: South San Francisco, California, United States

Base salary: $101,000–$126,000 annually, plus bonus and equity.

Company

Biotech startup developing generative AI and foundation models for protein therapeutics, drug discovery, biology, and disease research.

What you will do

• Operate, optimize, automate, and scale high-throughput protein production workflows for antibody modalities.
• Implement and integrate automation platforms, work cells, liquid handling systems, and robotic workflows.
• Develop and validate automated protein purification methods and protocols.
• Troubleshoot automation issues and improve workflow efficiency, protein yield, and process performance.
• Design a data management system, analyze protein production data, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Document automated processes and prepare reports and presentations while collaborating across disciplines.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in protein expression and purification.
• Strong operational understanding of automation, work cells, protein science principles, and methodologies.
• Experience with high-throughput mammalian expression systems.
• Experience with protein purification techniques, including affinity chromatography and various polishing steps.
• Proven ability to design and optimize protein purification protocols.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice to have

• Experience with automated liquid handling systems and robotic platforms.
• Programming skills such as Python or R for scripting automation workflows.

Culture & Benefits

• Open, flexible, and friendly work environment.
• Opportunities to develop long-term career capabilities.
• Competitive package including base salary, bonus, and equity.
• Inclusive and equal-opportunity workplace focused on building a diverse team.