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Protein Design Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Mitch Miles

MANAGER R&D-HIGH PROTEINS

Irvine, CA · On-site

Design and develop products under multiple platforms and meet all product design targets. Platforms ... Gummies, bars, powders, ready-to-drink, and plant protein experience highly preferred. Proficient ...

Zymo Research Corporation

UX Designer (Contract)

Tustin, CA · On-site

$35 - $50/hr

This role goes beyond visual design-you'll play a central role in shaping how users engage with our ... Whether it's DNA, RNA, epigenetics, microbiomics, protein, or yeast-based research, our philosophy ...

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All JobsProtein Design JobsProtein Design Jobs in Riverside, CA

Protein Design information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$43.8K

$119.4K

$210.2K

How much do protein design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for protein design in Riverside, CA is $119,445.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,100.00 and $150,200.00 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.

What are popular job titles related to Protein Design jobs in Riverside, CA?

For Protein Design jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Protein Design jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Protein Design jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Protein Design jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Protein Design job openings:

Protein Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protein Design job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,445 per year, or $57.4 per hour.

Research Associate, Computational Protein Engineering (Contract)

Zymo Research Corporation

Tustin, CA • On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Zymo Research is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Computational Protein Research Associate to join our multidisciplinary research team focused on protein engineering, enzyme discovery, antibody design, and AI-driven molecular modeling.
The successful candidate will work at the intersection of computational biology, machine learning, structural biology, and protein engineering. Key responsibilities will include developing scalable protein sequence-structure-function analysis platforms, building predictive AI/ML models, and identifying or designing proteins with desired biological properties. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge platform technologies in enzymes, antibodies, synthetic biology, and molecular diagnostics.
Join us in making a meaningful impact!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Apply protein language models and other machine-learning approaches, including model fine-tuning, to analyze protein sequences, predict molecular properties, and annotate protein functions.
  • Use structural modeling and simulation tools, including AlphaFold 3, Rosetta, and molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate protein structures, conformational stability, molecular interactions, and functional mechanisms.
  • Apply AI/ML methods to de novo protein design, protein optimization, enzyme engineering, antibody design, and functional prediction.
  • Perform computational screening and prioritization of candidate proteins for experimental validation.
  • Collaborate closely with wet-lab scientists to design experiments, interpret results, and iteratively improve engineered proteins.
  • Contribute to active-learning-driven Design-Build-Test-Learn cycles for protein engineering and optimization.
  • Present research findings internally and externally through reports, publications, and scientific conferences.
  • Contribute to intellectual property generation and platform development.

Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in computational biology, bioinformatics, structural biology, computer science, biophysics, protein engineering, or related field.
  • Strong foundation in computational protein science, or structural biology.
  • Experience applying machine-learning or deep-learning methods to biological sequence, structure, or functional data.
  • Proficiency in Python and commonly used scientific computing and machine-learning libraries.
  • Experience with protein language models, structure-based modeling, or molecular simulation is highly desirable.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research environment.

About Us:
Since its inception in 1994, Zymo Research has been proudly serving the scientific community by providing innovative, reliable, and high-quality research tools and products. Whether it's DNA, RNA, epigenetics, microbiomics, protein, or yeast-based research, our philosophy remains the same: To provide the highest quality products in the industry while ensuring they are both simple to use and reliable in their performance.
Recognized as a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register in 2021, 2022, and named a Top Workplace USA in 2023, Zymo Research continues to be a vibrant community where employees thrive, feel connected, and are inspired by their work. If you are passionate about contributing to scientific advancement and want to be part of an exceptional team in a dynamic, growing company, we'd love to hear from you!
Compensation, Benefits, and Perks:
The estimated base compensation range for this position is $75,000-85,000 at the time of posting. Actual compensation details will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if applicable, and is based on several factors we believe fairly and accurately impact compensation, including geographic location, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other job permitted factors.
Zymo Research also offers competitive benefits and perks including:
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Coverages
  • EAP Sessions
  • Vacation Time plus Company Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Generous 401(K) with matching
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Complimentary fruit, snacks, and beverages
  • Complimentary catered lunches on Thursdays
  • Complimentary EV Charging
  • Cell phone stipend

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:
Zymo Research welcomes candidates of all backgrounds. These include sex, age, color, race, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical & mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other protected status as defined by federal, state, or local law.
Location:
Onsite - Zymo Research- 2961 Dow Ave, Tustin, CA, 92780
Disclaimer: At Zymo, we take the integrity of our hiring process seriously. Please be aware of fraudulent recruitment activities that may use our name to deceive job seekers. We will never ask for payment, sensitive personal information, or financial details during the recruitment process.
All legitimate communications will come from an official Zymo or TriNet Hiring email address. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to represent us using a free email service (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or asking for payment, please treat this as fraudulent and report it immediately to careers@zymoresearch.com

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