Senior Associate Scientist I/II - Protein Testing

Arzeda • Seattle, WA

18d • $92,000 - $115,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Arzeda is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Associate Scientist to join its collaborative Protein Testing team. The role contributes to Arzeda’s design-test cycle by generating and characterizing proteins to inform scientific decisions and advance programs. The successful candidate will be a rigorous, self-starting experimentalist with hands-on experience in protein expression, purification, and characterization, producing decision-quality data that supports protein performance improvement. The work is approximately 75% laboratory work and 25% data analysis, reporting, and collaboration, and reports to a senior member of the team.

This is an onsite position at Arzeda’s Seattle, Washington location. The position involves working Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work, and the ability to lift up to 20 pounds.

The role offers ownership of protein production activities that directly enable the design-test cycle, technical variety across protein and assay systems, contributions to programs already in commercialization, and collaboration with specialists in DNA and strain build, analytical chemistry, protein design, and related teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of relevant industry experience, or a Master’s degree and at least 2 years of relevant industry experience, in Biocatalysis, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with protein expression, purification, quantification, and characterization.
• Experience evaluating data sets, preparing reports, and presenting findings and/or results from data analysis.
• Initiative to independently identify, understand, and resolve experimental challenges.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Willingness to communicate openly within a team and be receptive to feedback and learning opportunities.
• Adaptability to changing plans as needed to meet goals.
• Ability to work onsite Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing or operating automated experimental workflows and high-throughput systems.
• Interest in coding or Python for data visualization and analysis.
• Cell-free protein synthesis experience.
• Hands-on experience programming a variety of automation equipment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct small- and mid-scale expression of bacterial and yeast strains using plate- and flask-based methods.
• Perform small-, mid-, and large-scale protein purification from bacterial and yeast hosts using plate-based methods, resins, magnetic beads, gravity columns, and FPLC.
• Perform basic protein quantification and characterization, including SDS-PAGE, LabChip, and plate-based protein quantification methods.
• Collaboratively plan and execute experiments, applying expertise and project awareness to adapt to changes as needed.
• Expand coverage of project workflows by executing biochemical assays using produced proteins.
• Independently propose, plan, and execute improvement projects to make workflows more robust, higher throughput, and more reproducible.
• Contribute to reporting experimental results and participate in technical discussions during project meetings.
• Partner with automation, software, and data infrastructure teams to implement robotic liquid handling, assay orchestration, and streamlined data analysis pipelines.
• Maintain accurate documentation of experimental results in the LIMS system.
• Support team members with general project activities and other work as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive compensation package including equity.
• Participation in a company bonus program.
• Paid time off.
• Company-observed holidays, including a company-paid holiday closure between December 25 and January 1.
• Paid medical and family leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including options for Health Savings Accounts.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior