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Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

LabPersonnel

Protein Production Scientist

Lemont, IL · On-site

$27/hr

Our work integrated protein engineering, bioprocessing, and materials characterization to support circular and scalable textile innovation. The team is searching for a contract scientist to support ...

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Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist information

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$40.5K

$98.8K

$156.5K

How much do entry level protein engineering scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level protein engineering scientist in the United States is $98,759.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $116,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist, you need a solid background in molecular biology, biochemistry, and protein engineering, typically supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Proficiency in laboratory techniques such as PCR, mutagenesis, chromatography, and familiarity with bioinformatics tools and software like PyMOL or BLAST is important. Attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and effective teamwork enable you to excel in experimental design and data interpretation. These skills are crucial for advancing research goals, ensuring accurate results, and contributing to collaborative scientific projects.

What does an Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist do?

An Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist assists in the design, modification, and analysis of proteins to improve their properties for specific applications, such as drug development or industrial processes. They typically work in laboratories, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and collaborating with senior scientists to optimize protein function. Responsibilities may include molecular cloning, protein expression and purification, and using computational tools for protein modeling. This role often serves as a starting point for a career in biotechnology or pharmaceutical research, providing hands-on experience with advanced laboratory techniques and scientific problem-solving.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry-level protein engineering scientists when starting in the field?

Entry-level protein engineering scientists often encounter challenges such as adapting to complex laboratory protocols, mastering advanced analytical techniques, and interpreting experimental data accurately. Collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams and efficiently documenting research findings are also common hurdles. However, these challenges present valuable learning opportunities and, with mentorship and regular feedback, new scientists quickly build confidence and expertise.
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Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Protein Engineering Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,759 per year, or $47.5 per hour.
Protein Engineering Scientist

Protein Engineering Scientist

Corteva Agriscience

Des Moines, IA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 hours ago

Job description

Who Are We, And What Do We Do?
At Corteva Agriscience you will help us grow what's next. No matter your role, you will be part of a team that is building the future of agriculture - leading breakthroughs in the innovation and application of science and technology that will better the lives of people all over the world and fuel the progress of humankind.
Corteva Agriscience is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Protein Engineering Scientist to join the Protein Engineering Group within Protein Sciences & Analytical Core Technologies (PSACT). This role will contribute to the design, optimization, expression, and characterization of proteins that enable biotechnology and gene-edited seed product development.
We are seeking a scientist with a strong foundation in biochemistry, protein structure-function relationships, and molecular evolution technologies who is excited to apply those skills to complex real-world product challenges. This role is well suited for candidates with experience in protein therapeutics, biologics discovery, enzyme engineering, antibody engineering, or related pharma/biotech protein platforms who want to bring advanced protein engineering approaches into agricultural innovation.
The Protein Engineering Scientist will play a key role in advancing trait discovery and development by applying modern protein engineering approaches, including library design, screening, directed evolution, and high-throughput design-build-test-learn workflows, to deliver impactful solutions aligned with R&D and business strategies. This position will work in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, partnering closely with discovery, analytical, and development teams to accelerate portfolio progression while maintaining strong scientific rigor, data quality, and operational excellence.
This role will be on-site at our Corteva Seed Global Business Center located in Johnston, IA.
Responsibilities - What You'll Do:
  • Design, engineer, and optimize protein variants to improve activity, specificity, stability, expression, and overall developability.
  • Apply biochemistry, protein structure-function knowledge, and molecular design principles to solve protein performance challenges.
  • Develop and execute protein engineering strategies using approaches such as directed evolution, library design, mutagenesis, and screening/selection workflows.
  • Execute protein expression, purification, and characterization workflows using recombinant systems and analytical techniques.
  • Interpret biochemical, biophysical, and functional data to guide protein engineering strategy and next-step designs.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to advance proteins from early discovery through optimization and development decision points.
  • Contribute to development and continuous improvement of protein engineering platforms, screening workflows, and automation capabilities.
  • Maintain high standards of scientific rigor, reproducibility, data quality, and documentation.
  • Support generation of high-quality data packages and reagents for research, technology, and development milestones.
  • Stay current with emerging protein engineering and analytical technologies and help translate external innovation into internal capability building.

Qualifications and Experiences- What You'll Need:
  • Ph.D. (or equivalent experience) in biochemistry, protein engineering, structural biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, or a related field.
  • Strong background in protein biochemistry and understanding of protein structure, stability, folding, and mechanism/function relationships.
  • Hands-on experience in protein engineering, including one or more of the following:
    • directed evolution
    • display technologies (phage, yeast, ribosome, mRNA, or related platforms)
    • library design and screening/selection
    • rational or semi-rational protein design
  • Experience with recombinant protein expression and purification workflows.
  • Experience applying biochemical and analytical methods to characterize proteins, such as LC/MS, HPLC, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, binding assays, or biophysical characterization methods.
  • Strong data analysis skills and ability to use experimental data to drive decisions and iteration cycles.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-based R&D environment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with a high level of scientific rigor and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Industry experience in pharma, biotech, biologics discovery, enzyme engineering, or platform technology development.
  • Experience optimizing proteins for developability attributes such as stability, manufacturability, solubility, and expression.
  • Familiarity with high-throughput screening workflows, automation, or design-build-test-learn platforms.
  • Experience with computational protein design or integration of in silico methods with experimental workflows.
  • Familiarity with regulated environments or contributing to data packages that support downstream development decisions.

Benefits - How We'll Support You:
  • Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills
  • Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place
  • Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
  • Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays
  • Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father
  • Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program
  • Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits
  • Check out life at Corteva! www.linkedin.com/company/corteva/life

Are you a good match? Apply today! We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.
Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.

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