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Protein Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Arcadia Science

Protein Designer

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Our Validation team does this by closing the design-build-test-learn loop through lab validation across diverse organisms. Read more about our work through our publications. We are seeking a Protein ...

Latent Labs

Computational Protein Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$24.25 - $29.50/hr

Computational Protein Designer The opportunity We are seeking a Computational Protein Design Scientist to join our team working at the interface of generative AI and synthetic biology. Working ...

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All JobsProtein Design JobsProtein Design Jobs in California

Protein Design information

What is the difference between Protein Design vs Protein Engineering?

AspectProtein DesignProtein Engineering
Required CredentialsBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, BioinformaticsBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, biotech companies, academiaResearch labs, biotech companies, academia
Industry UsageDesigning novel proteins, drug development, synthetic biologyModifying existing proteins for improved function or stability

Protein Design focuses on creating new proteins with specific functions, often using computational methods. Protein Engineering involves modifying existing proteins to enhance or alter their properties. Both roles require similar skills and are used in research, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries, but their goals differ: one designs from scratch, the other optimizes existing proteins.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in protein design, and how are they addressed within a team setting?

Professionals in protein design often encounter challenges such as predicting accurate protein folding, ensuring stability, and achieving desired biological activity. These complexities are typically addressed through close collaboration with computational biologists, structural biologists, and experimental scientists. Teams frequently hold cross-functional meetings to troubleshoot issues, share findings, and iterate on design strategies based on laboratory results. This collaborative environment helps leverage diverse expertise and accelerates the development of novel proteins with desired functions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Protein Design Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Protein Design Scientist, you need a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational modeling, typically supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Proficiency with tools such as Rosetta, PyMOL, and molecular dynamics simulation software, as well as experience with protein expression and purification techniques, is essential. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are important soft skills to drive innovation and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for designing functional proteins, troubleshooting experiments, and advancing research goals in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development.

What is protein design?

Protein design is the process of creating new proteins or modifying existing ones to have specific functions or properties. This can involve using computational tools, laboratory techniques, or a combination of both to predict and engineer amino acid sequences that will fold into desired three-dimensional structures. Protein design is used in various fields, including medicine, biotechnology, and research, to develop novel enzymes, therapeutics, or materials. The field requires a strong understanding of biology, chemistry, and computer science to achieve successful outcomes.
What are popular job titles related to Protein Design jobs in California? For Protein Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Protein Design jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Protein Design jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Protein Design jobs? Cities in California with the most Protein Design job openings:
Protein Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protein Design job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution.
Senior Scientist - Computational Protein Design

Senior Scientist - Computational Protein Design

Amgen

South San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Amgen is a leading biotechnology company focused on serving patients with serious illnesses. In this role, you will develop and deploy automated computational pipelines for large-scale binder design, accelerating the generation of molecules to enhance discovery efforts in protein design.
Responsibilities:
• Develop and automate ML protein design workflows for binder generation
• Build scalable pipelines for designing large libraries of de novo proteins across multiple targets
• Apply computational methods to support multiplexed screening strategies and receptor discovery efforts
• Design and prioritize binders for individual targets and large target panels
• Contribute to shared tools, workflows, and best practices within the protein design community
• Collaborate closely with experimental scientists and data teams to enable rapid validation and iteration
Qualifications:
Required:
• Doctorate degree PhD
• OR PharmD
• OR MD [and relevant post-doc experience in Computational Biology, Structural Biology, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Computer Science, or related discipline with a focus on protein design]
• OR Master’s degree and 3 years of protein design experience
• OR Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of protein design experience
Preferred:
• Ph.D. with postdoc in Computational Biology, Structural Biology, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Computer Science, or related discipline with a focus on protein design.
• Demonstrated experience in computational protein design, including the design of binders such as minibinders and/or antibodies.
• Experience developing automated and scalable computational pipelines for protein design or structural modeling, ideally in high-throughput environments.
• Familiarity with modern AI/ML-driven protein design and structure prediction tools (e.g., AlphaFold, ProteinMPNN, RFdiffusion, or similar frameworks).
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or other scripting languages, with experience building maintainable workflows and automation for large-scale computational experiments.
• Experience working with large protein libraries or multiplexed design strategies, including design filtering, ranking, and diversity optimization.
• Knowledge of protein structure–function relationships, epitope targeting strategies, and protein–protein interaction design principles.
• Experience integrating computational design outputs with experimental validation workflows, including library generation, screening, or directed evolution approaches.
• Familiarity with cloud computing, high-performance computing (HPC), and workflow orchestration tools.
• Experience collaborating in cross-functional teams spanning computational scientists, experimental biologists, and data scientists.
• Strong communication skills and ability to contribute to a collaborative protein design community, including sharing tools, best practices, and design insights.
Company:
Amgen harnesses the best of biology and technology to fight the world’s toughest diseases, and make people’s lives easier, fuller and longer. Founded in 1980, the company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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