1

Protein Design Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Biochemistry Tutor

Portland, OR · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... protein purification strategies, and interpreting gel electrophoresis results. Emphasizes molecular-level reasoning and connects biochemistry to drug design, clinical diagnostics, and genetic disease ...

AP Biology Tutor

Portland, OR · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at breaking down complex biological processes including DNA replication, protein synthesis, and signal transduction pathways. Guides students through experimental design, data analysis using ...

Protein Design information

See Portland, OR salary details

$44.5K

$121.4K

$213.7K

How much do protein design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for protein design in Portland, OR is $121,418.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,600.00 and $152,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.

Infographic showing various Protein Design job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,418 per year, or $58.4 per hour.

Senior Technical Product Manager

Absci Corporation

Vancouver, WA • On-site, Remote

$145K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

About Absci
Absci is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing novel therapeutics using generative AI. Our Integrated Drug Creation™ platform combines cutting-edge AI models with a synthetic biology data engine, enabling the rapid design of innovative therapeutics that address challenging therapeutic targets.
Absci is a global company headquartered in Vancouver, WA, and maintains offices in New York City, Switzerland, and Serbia. Learn more at www.absci.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@absci), X (@Abscibio), and YouTube.
Senior Technical Product Manager (AI Research & Development)
Remote within the United States. Hybrid work available in Vancouver, WA; New York City, NY.
We are currently seeking a Senior Technical Product Manager to join our AI Research and Development team. You will be responsible for developing and executing on the vision, strategy, and deployment of both AI and Lab Products at Absci. You will drive small, interdisciplinary teams of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Researchers, Software Engineers, Structural Biologists, and Screening Scientists to build delivery platforms that allow us to design, optimize, and validate biologics for treating conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. You will serve as a bridge between our AI Research and Biologics Discovery Technology teams, leading initiatives surrounding the development and/or application in one of two key areas:
AI-Guided Target Identification: An AI platform that leverages genetic-based evidence to discover novel target-indication pairs and de-risk in vivo or ex vivo pathway validation.
AI-Guided Drug Design: A platform that uses generative AI to design and optimize antibody-based drugs to grow Absci's internal pipeline and deliver on external partnerships.
Responsibilities:
  • Gather and synthesize product requirements from AI, Engineering, and Wet Lab Scientists and Business Development teams, then drive alignment with leadership for actionable product strategy
  • Own product roadmaps with decisive precision and bias for action; make trade-off decisions between competing priorities and risk
  • Partner with managers and technical leads with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to establish a cohesive product vision
  • Build detailed roadmaps, backlogs, and execution plans for assigned domain; partner with management to define OKRs and KPIs; track performance and adjust strategy based on data
  • Lead cross-functional teams through product initiatives from conception through deployment and optimization, proactively identifying and removing any blockers
  • Conduct research with product team and potential users to understand needs, pain points, and opportunities
  • Drive adoption and successful deployment of products within internal programs and external partnerships

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field
  • At least 5 years of professional experience working on production-grade software or technical products development
  • 3+ years of working or educational experience in AI/ML and/or Protein Engineering
  • Strong technical knowledge to enable effective collaboration with world-class engineers and scientists
  • Proven track record of creating and executing on product roadmaps to deliver high-impact work
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across diverse teams
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to explain complex technical and business concepts
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with autonomy, accountability, and bias for action

Preferred (but not required):
  • Masters or PhD degree in relevant field
  • Experience in the Biotech or Pharmaceutical Industries
  • Experience with generative AI (GenAI), NLP, or computer vision, large language models (LLMs), or protein language models
  • Experience with MLOps tools such as Weights & Biases
  • Deep knowledge of bioinformatics, computational protein design, computational genomics, immunology, structural biology, antibody engineering, or related fields
  • Experience with NGS, SPR, or Flow Cytometry data
  • Experience as an agile coach, product owner, or Scrum Master

The salary range for US-based employees in this position is $145,000 - $180,000/year. Competitive equity package applies. Pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to equity, compensation packages include a wide range of medical, dental, vision benefits and ability to participate in our employee stock purchase plan.
Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. Absci is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which they have applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact hiring@absci.com.