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Protein Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Senior AI Protein Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

A well-funded, interdisciplinary medical research institute in Los Angeles is seeking a Senior AI Protein Design Engineer to spearhead a new initiative in de novo therapeutic engineering. This is a ...

Manifold Bio

AI/ML Scientist

Boston, MA · On-site

Manifold Bio is a platform biotechnology company pioneering AI-guided protein design and massively multiplexed in vivo screening to unlock tissue-targeted medicines. They are seeking an exceptional ...

Manifold Bio

AI/ML Scientist

Boston, MA · On-site

$140K - $225K/yr

Manifold Bio is a platform biotechnology company pioneering AI-guided protein design and massively multiplexed in vivo screening to unlock tissue-targeted medicines and organism-scale models of ...

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Protein Design information

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$42K

$114.5K

$201.5K

How much do protein design jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for protein design in the United States is $114,491.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,500.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.
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Protein Design jobs near you
Protein Engineering Scientist

Protein Engineering Scientist

Corteva Agriscience

Des Moines, IA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days 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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