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Senior Protein Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior AI Protein Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท 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 ...

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Senior Protein Engineer information

See salary details

$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior protein engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior protein engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Protein Engineer vs Protein Scientist?

AspectSenior Protein EngineerProtein Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related fields; experience in protein engineeringBachelor's or Master's; often a Ph.D. for advanced research roles; expertise in protein analysis
Work EnvironmentBiotech or pharmaceutical R&D labs, manufacturing facilitiesAcademic labs, research institutions, biotech companies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in biotech, pharma, and industrial enzyme companiesCommon in academic research, biotech R&D, and pharmaceutical development

While both roles focus on proteins, Senior Protein Engineers typically work on designing and optimizing proteins for industrial applications, whereas Protein Scientists often conduct fundamental research to understand protein functions. The roles overlap in skills and industry but differ in focus and seniority.

What are Senior Protein Engineers?

Senior Protein Engineers are experienced scientists who design, modify, and optimize proteins for specific industrial, medical, or research applications. They use advanced techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational modeling to improve protein stability, activity, or specificity. These professionals often lead research projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to bring innovative protein-based solutions to market.

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

To thrive as a Senior Protein Engineer, you need expertise in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology, typically supported by a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in a related field. Proficiency in tools such as protein modeling software (e.g., Rosetta, PyMOL), high-throughput screening platforms, and familiarity with analytical instruments like mass spectrometers is essential. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and project management skills help drive innovation and successful cross-functional teamwork. These skills and qualities are crucial for efficiently designing, optimizing, and characterizing proteins to advance scientific discoveries and product development.

How does a Senior Protein Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the development of new protein therapeutics?

Senior Protein Engineers often work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including molecular biologists, biochemists, computational scientists, and regulatory specialists, to bring new protein therapeutics from concept to reality. They contribute their expertise in protein design and engineering, lead experimental planning, and interpret complex data to guide project direction. Regular meetings and collaborative problem-solving sessions are common, ensuring that project goals align across departments. This collaborative environment fosters innovation, but also requires strong communication and project management skills.
More about Senior Protein Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Protein Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Protein Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Protein Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Protein Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Protein Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Protein Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Senior Protein Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Protein Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Senior Protein Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.
Senior AI Protein Engineer

Senior AI Protein Engineer

AllSTEM Connections

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 14 hours ago


Job description

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 foundational role where you will build the computational architecture for next-generation peptide and protein discovery from the ground up.
You will work at the intersection of machine learning and structural biology, translating high-level computational designs into experimental reality through close collaboration with our in-house wet-lab and translational research teams.
Core Responsibilities:
- Pipeline Architecture: Develop and deploy robust computational pipelines for de novo protein and peptide design, utilizing state-of-the-art generative models.
- Lead Optimization: Leverage sequence- and structure-based modeling to predict stability, folding, and binding properties for therapeutic leads.
- Design-Build-Test: Drive iterative cycles by interpreting experimental data from production teams to refine and improve AI model performance.
- Technical Leadership: Shape the technical roadmap for the group's AI capabilities and mentor junior computational scientists.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Computational Protein Design, Structural Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in macromolecular modeling and sequence/structure prediction.
-Technical Proficiency: Expert-level experience with modern tools such as AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, RFdiffusion, or ProteinMPNN.
- Collaborative Track Record: Proven ability to work alongside experimental biologists and translate "in silico" results into actionable "in vitro" benchmarks.
- Therapeutic Insight: A strong understanding of protein folding, stability, and the constraints of drug development.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf
The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf
For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AllSTEM Connections is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
AllSTEM Connections participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Additional Skills
(none specified)
AllSTEM Representative Contact Info
Account Executive:
Giampaolo
Branch Phone:
(909) 244-1777
Location:
Ontario, CA