Senior Scientist, High Throughput Biology (Contract)

Xaira Therapeutics • South San Francisco, CA

6d • $65 - $80

About The Position

Xaira Therapeutics is seeking an accomplished Senior Scientist to join its team on a contract basis. The role leads the design and execution of experiments that accelerate drug discovery and development, applying functional genomics and synthetic biology approaches, developing high-throughput screens, and advancing new technology initiatives. The successful candidate will bring strong technical and laboratory expertise, communicate effectively, and work productively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment. The position also includes mentoring junior scientists and staying current with relevant literature and emerging technologies.

The contract is expected to last approximately nine months. The expected base pay range is $65–$80 per hour; actual pay may vary based on market conditions, job-related knowledge, skills, capabilities, and experience.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Functional Genomics, or a related field, with 4 or more years of postdoctoral or industry experience.
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, complex library construction, flow cytometry, and cell line engineering.
• Experience with pooled screening and NGS-based readouts, including library preparation and sequencing quality control.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex experimental issues independently and guide others through them.
• Strong data analysis capabilities, including proficiency with visualization and statistical software such as GraphPad Prism, R, or Python.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present scientific findings clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams and drive cross-functional projects.
• Track record of scientific contributions, such as publications, patents, or internal technology development.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with high-throughput antibody display technologies, including yeast, phage, or mammalian display.
• Familiarity with single-cell genomics workflows, such as scRNA-seq and barcoded or multiplexed assays.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of biochemical, molecular, and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening platform development.
• Scale high-throughput screening strategies for binder discovery in mammalian systems.
• Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies and experimental workflows, and recommend whether to adopt them.
• Develop and optimize automated workflows to ensure data quality, reproducibility, and process efficiency.
• Partner with drug discovery, computational biology, and AI-based protein design teams to analyze, interpret, and share screening data insights.
• Independently manage multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality data and alignment with team goals.
• Maintain accurate records of experiments, protocols, and findings, and contribute to scientific presentations.
• Mentor junior scientists and stay current with relevant literature and emerging technologies.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree