Senior Scientist, Biochemistry
About The Position
The Senior Scientist, Biochemistry will lead the development and implementation of high-throughput biochemical assays to discover and characterize aminopeptidases with properties relevant to next-generation protein sequencing. The role focuses on screening diverse aminopeptidase candidates for activity, selectivity, kinetics, robustness, and performance across a broad range of substrates. The successful candidate will apply expertise in enzymology, protein biochemistry, assay development, and quantitative data analysis to advance enzyme reagents. The position involves integrating screening assays into enzyme-evolution pipelines and coordinating promising candidates through downstream development and sequencing-assay evaluation. The Senior Scientist will also develop reusable reporting tools, purify and characterize proteins, use laboratory automation and data-analysis tools, and transfer selected assays to downstream QC teams to support production-enzyme release. The role contributes to scientific rigor, execution, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing.
Requirements
- M.S. with 7+ years or Ph.D. with 3+ years of relevant academic or industry experience in protein biochemistry, enzymology, biophysics, biotechnology, chemical biology, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to independently and creatively design, optimize, and troubleshoot biochemical assays for challenging enzymology applications.
- Strong foundation in enzyme kinetics, protein-substrate interactions, assay controls, and quantitative interpretation of biochemical data.
- Experience developing enzyme-activity assays using fluorescence, absorbance, polarization, chromatography, or related readouts.
- Ability to analyze large experimental datasets and use computational or statistical tools to support assay optimization and candidate selection.
- Ability to learn, set up, and operate complex instrumentation and laboratory automation.
- Ability to plan and execute multiple scientific workstreams while maintaining high standards for experimental design, documentation, and data quality.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing and scaling high-throughput enzyme-screening workflows, including assay miniaturization and automation.
- Expertise in aminopeptidases, proteases, exopeptidases, or other proteolytic enzymes.
- Experience evaluating enzyme activity across diverse peptide substrates and sequence contexts.
- Experience with rapid-kinetics methods and instrumentation, including stopped-flow or quench-flow systems.
- Hands-on experience with protein expression, purification, and characterization using chromatography systems such as AKTA and HPLC.
- Experience with fluorescence polarization, fluorimeters such as Fluoromax, LC-MS, or other orthogonal methods for enzyme characterization.
- Experience with peptide synthesis, peptide conjugation, protein labeling, or single-molecule assay development.
- Experience with labeling and evaluation of proteins using ensemble and single-molecule assays.
Responsibilities
- Develop workflows and progression criteria for primary screening, hit confirmation, characterization, ranking, and advancement of enzyme candidates.
- Integrate screening assays into enzyme-evolution pipelines and coordinate promising candidates into downstream development and sequencing-assay evaluation.
- Develop clear, reusable reporting tools to communicate screening results, candidate recommendations, and pipeline status.
- Purify and characterize proteins to support assay development and candidate evaluation.
- Use laboratory automation and data-analysis tools to increase screening throughput, consistency, and traceability.
- Contribute to a culture of scientific rigor, execution, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing.
- Document and transfer selected assays to downstream QC teams to support the release of production enzymes.
Benefits
- Discretionary annual bonus program for full-time employees.
- May receive equity awards as part of the total compensation package.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options, where applicable.
- Company-paid life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources.
- Discretionary paid time off and company-paid holidays.
- Parental leave.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with both pre-tax and Roth contribution options.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
