Scientist II, Delivery for Large Gene Insertion

Profluent is the frontier AI lab for biology. Profluent builds powerful foundation models for all of life's molecules, unlocking solutions that transform medicine, agriculture, and beyond. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Profluent is backed by leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Insight Partners, Air Street Capital, AIX Ventures, and Convergent Ventures and has raised over $150M to date.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, analytical, and innovative Scientist II to join our Platform Discovery team. In this role, you will lead efforts to solve fundamental challenges in non-viral delivery of DNA templates for recombinase-based large gene insertion. Your work will be foundational for expanding our broader gene editing toolbox and enabling new therapeutic opportunities.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of engineering molecular systems for mammalian cells, with expertise in gene editing, nucleic acid biochemistry, protein–nucleic acid engineering, or molecular virology. This is an excellent opportunity to work cross-functionally with a diverse team of experts across AI and machine learning, protein design, cell biology, and gene editing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, evaluation, and benchmarking of innovative non-viral methods for nucleic acid donor template delivery for recombinase-based large gene insertion
• Design and execute hypothesis-driven experiments to identify and overcome barriers to donor template stability, intracellular trafficking, and nuclear availability
• Develop quantitative assays to evaluate donor template delivery and connect these measurements to targeted insertion efficiency and fidelity
• Analyze data to drive critical go/no-go decisions, clearly present conclusions and rationale to stakeholders across the organization
• Collaborate with downstream translational teams to validate recombinase donor template delivery approaches in therapeutically relevant cell-based and in vivo systems.
• Stay up to date on the latest developments in gene editing technology, delivery systems, relevant clinical applications, and cellular models
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members and peers, helping align goals, troubleshoot experiments, and maintain high standards for execution and interpretation

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related field + 2-4 years of experience in an academic or biotechnology setting; title commensurate with level of experience
• Proven track record of solving challenging and impactful problems in gene editing, in vivo delivery, or protein engineering relevant to these applications
• Demonstrated ability to develop mechanistic cell-based assays and troubleshoot complex biological systems
• Deep understanding of the barriers and challenges surrounding nucleic acid delivery in mammalian cells and therapeutic applications
• Strong hands-on experience in molecular cloning, nucleic acid construct design, and mammalian cell engineering
• Extensive hands-on experience and deep understanding of NGS-based assays for evaluating genome editing outcomes
• Proven track record of independently and successfully leading multifaceted research projects
• Excellent communication skills, ability to present complex ideas, anticipated timelines, risks, and results to colleagues and stakeholders

Preferences

• Experience with process automation and scaling to develop high throughput workflows, ideally in a biotechnology/industry research setting
• Experience working with disease-relevant primary cells and translating early discovery work to preclinical development

What We Offer

• High-growth opportunity with meaningful impact on the future of protein design
• Competitive compensation package with equity participation
• 401(k) with a strong employer match
• Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
• Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities in a cutting-edge field at the intersection of AI and biology

Profluent Bio, Inc is an equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law.

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship. Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired must verify their identity and work eligibility and complete the required employment verification form upon hire.

Hiring Salary Range

$144,000—$160,000 USD

NOTICE TO STAFFING AND SEARCH FIRMS: Profluent does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions. We ask that agencies refrain from sending resumes to our careers inbox, hiring managers, or any Profluent employee. Any resume submitted without a signed agreement and an active search request from our Talent team will be treated as the property of Profluent, and no placement fee will be owed.