Protein Biochemist - Aether Biomachines

This is an Exempt, Full-Time position based in our Menlo Park, CA office. 

Aether Biomachines is on a mission to build the post-scarcity future using peptide-based nanotechnology as the driving force for the next industrial revolution. By creating the world's most advanced high-throughput robotic laboratory, we are generating data at unprecedented scales to fuel deep learning algorithms. We're assembling a diverse and dynamic team of self-starters, engineers, sci-fi enthusiasts, and visionaries, and we invite you to join us on this journey.

We're breaking barriers in laboratory automation to power world-class machine learning models with faster, broader, and more robust robotic sample processing systems. Our goal is to transform peptides from niche catalysts into general-purpose molecular assemblers using our platform, and enabling a future of abundance for the human race.

Our Biology team focuses on developing, improving, and implementing biological processes that enable design, build, test, learn cycles and product development. We craft new DNA and protein manipulation processes to enable program goals. We diagnose and troubleshoot workflows to improve performance and efficiency. We scale our methods to deliver on turnaround time and throughput goals. The Biology team works closely with our Software, Machine Learning, Automation, and Product colleagues to collectively succeed on Aether’s mission. As a team of scientists with diverse expertise, we collaborate and support each other extensively in a dynamic scientific environment. 

What we are looking for in you

We are looking for a talented and adaptable Protein Biochemist to join our Biology team to lead development and execution of bench-scale protein production and characterization. You will be involved with a range of activities that may include brainstorming protein production methods with colleagues to meet technical objectives, planning and executing method development experiments, and then executing production, purification, and characterization workflows to support product development. You will have the opportunity to build new capabilities which expand and deliver Aether’s product pipeline, and will gain exposure to a broad range of scientific, engineering, and computational disciplines. You will be a key contributor to supporting upcoming product development for one of our materials programs, as the methods you develop and the protein you produce will enable rapid materials prototyping. You will be on-site as this is mostly an in-person lab role with some flexibility for occasional remote work.

What you will be doing

• Own development and execution of a protein production, purification, and characterization pipeline to enable program and product development goals
• Explore an experimental parameter space to optimize protein processes toward performance objectives, for example improving yield and recovery to achieve a target purified protein mass
• Troubleshoot issues to identify failure modes and mitigation strategies, for example characterizing protein instability and developing purification and buffer conditions to improve stability Analyze data and share outcomes to both technical and general audiences
• Collaborate across teams to scope, iterate on, and implement our protein production pipeline
• Coordinate with Product team members to support product application development
• Communicate status of protein production method development and execution to broad stakeholders
• Contribute to and maintain a safe, efficient, and organized lab environment 

What you must have

• Minimum 5+ years of full-time laboratory experience
• Experience with a range of protein production strategies/hosts including E. coli, shake flask and bioreactor cultivation, cell-free protein synthesis, secretion systems/hosts, and peptide production
• Experience with a range of protein purification methods and operations, including development and operation of FPLC methods Knowledge of a variety of protein characterization techniques for determining yield, activity, stability, etc.
• 2+ years in a life science discipline (biochemistry, protein engineering, antibody engineering, molecular biology, synthetic biology, chemistry, or related fields), a plus
• Experience with beyond bench-scale protein production, CROs, and tech-transfer is a plus Experience with ELN and LIMS systems is a plus 
• Experience with additional commonly used protein production hosts such as Bacillus, Pichia, filamentous fungi, etc is a plus
• Demonstrated track record of developing and executing milligram- to gram-scale protein production workflows to support broader project goals

What you should have

• Detail-oriented record-keeping skills and methodical organization
• Growth mindset and the desire to give and receive feedback to improve yourself and your teammates 
• Clear, detailed, and effective communication of both low-level scientific details and big picture context
• Manages complexity
• Drives results
• Situational Adaptability
• Optimizes Work Processes

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? 

We encourage anyone who thinks they would excel at Aether to apply, no matter their background or how they identify.

Benefits and Perks

• Full suite of health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Aether pays 100% of the premiums for employees and 90% of the premiums for dependents.
• Basic Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability
• Health Savings Account
• $125 Aether contribution per month for individuals
• $250 Aether contribution per month for employees with dependents/partners
• Flexible Spending Accounts 
  • Up to $100 Aether match contribution per month
  • Lab Personnel: 
  • $200 per month Aether taxable bonus if you live more than 25 miles from the office
  • $100 per month Aether taxable bonus if you live less than 25 miles from the office
• Health Care FSA
• Dependent Care FSA
• Commuter FSA
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Flexible Time Off for Full-Time employees and 11 Paid Holidays
• Health Perks (EAP, Travel Assistance, Chiropractic and Acupuncture care)
• Company Perks (Equity, Socials, holiday parties, LifeMart Discounts, and more!)
• On-Site Services (Free EV charging, shuttle services, free meals while you work, free on-site fitness center, and more!)

EEO

Our company values diversity and believes diverse teams make innovation possible. We work on complex, difficult problems with no linear or clear solutions. We believe that a diverse team can bring different perspectives and approaches, and whose experiences reflect the full set of clients we seek to serve. As such, Aether Biomachines, Inc. is committed to a diverse representation among our employees. Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.  Aether Bio may agree to sponsor an individual for an employment visa now or in the future if there is a shortage of individuals with particular skills for this job.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position is based in our California location.